cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Shock and Extended Remnant around the Crab Nebula

The [O III] "skin" around the Crab Nebula was shown by Hester et al. to be the Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T)-unstable interface between the synchrotron nebula and swept-up ejecta from the supernova explosion. Unlike the bright photoionized filaments, this skin is most easily understood as the cooling region behind a shock driven into an extended remnant of freely expanding ejecta by the pressure of the synchrotron nebula. Shock models, which are tightly constrained by the physical parameters of the Crab, correctly predict the [O III] brightness of the skin, as well as the strength of C IV λ1549 emission from the skin seen in a Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) spectrum of the Crab published by Blair et al. and the remarkably strong [Ne V] λ3426 seen at two locations by Davidson. While it is possible to match the [O III] brightness with ad hoc photoionization models, such models generally underpredict C IV and [Ne V] by an order of magnitude or more. The existence of the shock in turn requires the existence of an extended remnant surrounding the Crab. The extended remnant could carry the majority of the mass and kinetic energy of the ejecta, yet remain undetected in the recent search by Fesen et al. The shock around the Crab is radiative near the equator of the elongated remnant, which has a symmetry axis running southeast to northwest and tipped into the sky by about 25°. We adopt a fiducial model for the shock at the location of the HUT spectrum having vs = 150 km s-1 and ρ0/mH = 12.7 cm-3. Material behind this shock cools in about 100 years, collects on the surface of the synchrotron nebula, and is concentrated into dense filaments by R-T instabilities. Near the poles of the remnant, however, the cooling time is probably longer than the age of the remnant. In this case, the density at the interface between the synchrotron nebula and shocked ejecta is low, and so the interface is stable. Lack of ongoing filament formation near the poles of the Crab could explain both the "open-ended" cylindrical filament distribution seen in the Fabry-Perot observations of Lawrence et al. and the apparent "breakout" of the radio synchrotron nebula to the northwest of the Crab. The walls of the Northern "jet" when seen in a deep [O III] image appear to be a continuation of the skin. We suggest that the jet walls result from a shock driven transverse to the jet axis by the pressure of the synchrotron nebula that fills the jet.
Treatment of rickets and tetany with a single massive dose of vitamin D

Summary Rickets and tetany can be cured by peroral administration of one single dose of 600,000 international units of vitamin D. The curative effect of this treatment is more prompt than that obtained with the daily administration of small doses. Serum calcium and serum phosphorus become normal and roentgenographic evidence of calcification shows within one week. The most impressive effect is the rapid rise of serum calcium. Tetanic convulsions did not recur after vitamin D shock therapy, and all other symptoms of hyperirritability disappeared usually within two days without any additional therapy. Hypernormal values of serum phophorus may occur after vitamin D shock therapy. They usually decline to a normal level in from two to four weeks after the treatment. The following conditions may be considered as indications for vitamin D shock therapy: neonatal and infantile tetany, severe rickets, rickets associated with pneumonia or pertussis, rickets associated with chronic infections, and indifference of the parents of a rachitic or tetanic child. No contraindication seems to exist. No toxicity was manifested in 150 children treated with massive doses of vitamin D. The proper dosage is 600,000 international units, incorporated in milk. Vitamin D is effective also when administered subcutaneously. The possibility of a successful vitamin D shock prophylaxis over the entire winter period with a single dose of 400,000 to 600,000 units is discussed.
A case of suspected child abuse by an adolescent mother: The use of short‐term psychotherapy

The incidence of pregnancy during adolescence has escalated dramatically in recent years, with an estimated half a million infants born to teenagers each year in the United States. A disproportionately high amount of child abuse and/or neglect is encountered among adolescent parents, underscoring the need for an effective intervention strategy. Short-term psychotherapy may be beneficial in these cases for forging a therapeutic alliance expeditiously and rigorously challenging the patient's resistance. The case described involves alleged abuse by a 16-year-old mother. An intervention was designed to clarify the allegations surrounding the abusive incident, help the mother confront episodes of loss in her own life and overcome feelings of hopelessness engendered by separation from her infant.
Coliform concentrations in Lake Erie — 1966 to 1970

Total coliform concentrations obtained from cruises of Lake Erie, conducted from the Canada Centre for Inland Waters between 1966 and 1970, have been analysed to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of total coliforms in the lake. Although year to year comparisons were made on a qualitative level due to the limitations in the data, some consistent seasonal features of the spatial distribution are evident. The location of zones of higher concentration have been attributed to proximity to large urban areas and lake currents. The contribution of fecal coliforms to the total coliform concentration has been examined with the conclusion that, at the low total coliform concentrations (⩽ 30 per 100 ml) observed in much of the lake, there is no relationship between the two concentrations but, over a broader range, fecal coliforms increase with total coliform concentrations and, at very high total coliform concentrations (⩾1000 per 100 ml), fecal coliforms are always present. The analysis demonstrates 1) the value of examining observed and fitted distributions to compare subsets of a large collection of data and 2) a clustering procedure which is generally applicable to data consisting of counts.
Measurement and evaluation of asphalt concrete thermal expansion and contraction

Thermal expansion and contraction (TE/TC) of asphalt concrete (AC) play a significant role in both the thermal fatigue and low-temperature cracking of AC pavements. This paper discusses a test method and procedure developed to determine the AC coefficients of thermal expansion and contraction (CTE and CTC, respectively). Cylindrical specimens were subjected to temperature variations in an environmental chamber and specimen deformations were measured using extensometers. Temperature was applied in the range of −5°C to 40°C during both expansion and contraction phases. A specimen made from ceramic with very low CTE/CTC was also tested so that the influence of the self TE/TC of extensometers could be accounted for, and therefore, the measured deformation of an AC specimen was properly adjusted. A finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate the thermal stresses and strains inside the specimen, and to provide means for reliable computation of CTE/CTC. For this FE model, required AC viscoelastic properties were determined from the dynamic modulus test. The CTE/CTC of AC were then determined by using the calibrated deformation-temperature relationship. The standard aluminum and rubber specimens were also tested for TE/TC within a temperature range to validate the developed test method and computation approach. It was found that the CTE/CTC of AC were nonlinear and temperature dependent. The CTE/CTC determined for the aluminum and rubber specimens were found to be close to the standard values, therefore, validating the proposed approach for determination of CTE/CTC of AC.
A Common Neural Code for Perceived and Inferred Emotion

Although the emotions of other people can often be perceived from overt reactions (e.g., facial or vocal expressions), they can also be inferred from situational information in the absence of observable expressions. How does the human brain make use of these diverse forms of evidence to generate a common representation of a target's emotional state? In the present research, we identify neural patterns that correspond to emotions inferred from contextual information and find that these patterns generalize across different cues from which an emotion can be attributed. Specifically, we use functional neuroimaging to measure neural responses to dynamic facial expressions with positive and negative valence and to short animations in which the valence of a character's emotion could be identified only from the situation. Using multivoxel pattern analysis, we test for regions that contain information about the target's emotional state, identifying representations specific to a single stimulus type and representations that generalize across stimulus types. In regions of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), a classifier trained to discriminate emotional valence for one stimulus (e.g., animated situations) could successfully discriminate valence for the remaining stimulus (e.g., facial expressions), indicating a representation of valence that abstracts away from perceptual features and generalizes across different forms of evidence. Moreover, in a subregion of MPFC, this neural representation generalized to trials involving subjectively experienced emotional events, suggesting partial overlap in neural responses to attributed and experienced emotions. These data provide a step toward understanding how the brain transforms stimulus-bound inputs into abstract representations of emotion.
Impacts and Challenges in Agritourism Development in Yunnan, China

Agritourism has received increasing attention in academic literature as it has been widely promoted both in developed and developing countries. Based upon an empirical study in a rural village in Yunnan, China, this study examines the impacts of agritourism on an ethnic community and discusses the challenges faced by residents who are attempting to improve their livelihoods through tourism. A qualitative study of selected households indicates positive experiences both economically and socioculturally. Agritourism has not only provided a supplementary income and new employment opportunities to the rural community, but has also increased the conservation of the environment and appreciation of minority cultures and rural lifestyle. However, the development of agritourism is facing a number of challenges, and government aid is needed to support farming families establishing and operating tourism enterprises.
A tunable wideband LNA for self-healing applications

The paper presents the design of a wideband low noise amplifier (LNA) with self-healing technology that can simultaneously adjust both the peak gain frequency and the input matching frequency to the operating frequency. The gain of proposed LNA is also adjustable. The proposed self-healing LNA is implemented in a 0.13um SiGe BiCMOS technology. The operating frequency of the proposed LNA can be adjusted from 4.5GHz to 7.8GHz. The LNA achieves typical gain of 19dB with 14dB continuous tuning range. The measured input matching is below −12dB over the entire frequency band. The measured noise figure of the LNA is 4.2dB at 7.8GHz, and the output 1dB compression point is −9dBm. The LNA dissipates 52mW power.
Angiotensin II stimulates synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cell proteoglycans with enhanced low density lipoprotein binding properties

One mechanism by which Angiotensin II (AII) may promote atherogenesis is through modulation of proteoglycan (PG) metabolism by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of AII on PG synthesis by human aortic SMC and the ability of the newly synthesized PG to bind low density lipoprotein (LDL). AII stimulated PG synthesis by SMC in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the presence of 1 microM AII, medium and cellular PG increased by 73 and 97%, respectively. AII caused a 55% increase in biglycan mRNA which resulted in a 52% increase in biglycan synthesis. Losartan, an AII receptor antagonist, and broad and isoform-specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors abolished the AII-induced up-regulation of PG synthesis. Moreover, direct activation of PKC with phorbol ester stimulated PG synthesis significantly. Similarly, inhibitors of tyrosine kinase also caused inhibition of PG synthesis. AII increased the size and charge density of the newly synthesized PG. In addition, AII stimulated the synthesis of PG that bound LDL with very high affinity by 2.5-fold to 3-fold over control. These results suggest that the AII-mediated alterations in vascular SMC PG metabolism may contribute to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow through a stationary and rotating infinite serpentine passage

Serpentine passages are found in a number of engineering applications including turbine blade cooling passages. The design of effective cooling passages for high-temperature turbine blades depends in part on the ability to predict heat transfer, thus requiring an accurate representation of the turbulent flow field. These passages are subjected to strong curvature and rotational effects, and the resulting turbulent flow field is fairly complex. An understanding of the flow physics for flows with strong curvature and rotation is required in order to improve the design of turbine blade cooling passages. Experimental measurements of certain turbulence quantities for such configurations can be challenging to obtain, especially near solid surfaces, making the serpentine passage an ideal candidate for a direct numerical simulation (DNS). A DNS study has been conducted to investigate the coupled effect of strong curvature and rotation by simulating turbulent flow through a fully developed, smooth wall, round-ende...
Management of a recalcitrant periprosthetic fluid collection

Abstract Axillofemoral bypass grafts have been in common use for more than 20 years in the treatment of severe aortoiliac occlusive disease in poor-risk patients. A persistent periprosthetic fluid collection is an unusual complication of this procedure. We describe a technique by which a tense periprosthetic collection was kept successfully decompressed by the construction of a "window" from the cavity to the peritoneum. In our hands it proved to be safely and easily performed with the patient given local anesthetics; no morbidity occurred. (J VASC SURG 1987;6:77-80.)
Hyperbaric Oxygen Reduces Matrix Metalloproteinases in Ischemic Wounds through a Redox-Dependent Mechanism

Little is known about the impact of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production in pre-existing high-oxidant wounds. This study aimed to investigate whether HBOT modulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MMP regulation in ischemic wound tissue. Using a validated ischemic wound model, Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups for daily treatment: HBOT, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), HBO and NAC, and control (normoxia at sea level). High levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), gp91-phox, and 3-nitrotyrosine were detected in ischemic wounds, indicating high-oxidant stress. HBOT not only increased antioxidant enzyme expression, such as Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, but also significantly decreased pro-oxidant enzyme levels, such as iNOS and gp91-phox, thereby decreasing net oxygen radical production by means of negative feedback. This effect was blocked by NAC treatment in ischemic wounds. HBO-treated ischemic wounds also manifested reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and c-Jun, indicating downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Furthermore, HBOT decreased the expression of several MMPs while simultaneously increasing tissue inhibitor of MMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2). These results indicate that HBOT acts via the ROS/MAPK/MMP signaling axis to reduce tissue degeneration and improve ischemic wound healing.
Antibody responses and cross protection against lethal influenza A viruses differ between the sexes in C57BL/6 mice.

A mouse model was used to determine if protective immunity to influenza A virus infection differs between the sexes. The median lethal dose of H1N1 or H3N2 was lower for naive females than males. After a sublethal, primary infection with H1N1 or H3N2, females and males showed a similar transient morbidity, but females generated more neutralizing and total anti-influenza A virus antibodies. Immunized males and females showed similar protection against secondary challenge with a homologous virus, but males experienced greater morbidity and had higher lung viral titers after infection with a lethal dose of heterologous virus. Females develop stronger humoral immune responses and greater cross protection against heterosubtypic virus challenge.
Birth control and the fertility of the U. S. Black population, 1880 to 1980.

PIP: Black fertility in the U. S. declined sharply in the latter part of the 19th century and continued declining up to 1940. Common expert opinion has held that this decline in fertility was not attributable to an increase in birth control practice. Instead, experts hypothesized that the fertility decline was due almost entirely to deleterious changes in health factors among blacks. The health hypothesis is faulty because those black groups with socioeconomic advantages most conducive to good health were the very groups with the lowest fertility rates. A number of recent fertility studies seem to show fairly widespread use of birth control among blacks during the 60 years up to 1940. This widespread use did not increase precipitously in the 1930s but grew gradually over the previous 1/2 century. Knowledge and acceptance levels of birth control were also high during those years among blacks. Similarly, the experts' beliefs that birth control, even if practiced among blacks, did not have much effect on black fertility because "infective" methods were used, birth control was not practiced "effectively," and blacks started birth control practice too late in their reproductive lives have been shown by studies to have no empirical bases.
Processing of iron-doped titania powders in flame aerosol reactors

A flame aerosol reactor was used to synthesize Fe(III)-doped titania powders. The processing conditions were controlled to obtain varying ratios of Fe:Ti in the as processed powders. The iron was incorporated into the titania lattice and promoted the conversion of the anatase to the rutile phase. With an increase in the iron dopant concentration, a decrease in the crystal size of the resultant titania particles was observed, along with a conversion to the amorphous state. The defect structure was further explored by Raman spectroscopy, revealing an increased shift and broadening of the anatase peaks with an increasing iron dopant concentration, and was attributed to shrinkage in the grain size. Absorption spectra revealed a shift of the absorption band toward the visible frequencies. Powders with Fe:Ti ratio exceeding 0.8 resulted in a binary mixture that had superparamagnetic characteristics.
Bruton's tyrosine kinase as a molecular target in treatment of leukemias and lymphomas as well as inflammatory disorders and autoimmunity.

Importance of the field: Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) has emerged as a new anti-apoptotic molecular target for the treatment of B-lineage leukemias and lymphomas. Preclinical and early clinical results indicate that BTK inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas. BTK inhibitors may also be helpful in prevention and treatment of thromboembolic complications as well as inflammatory disorders.Areas covered in this review: We provide a comprehensive review of the target diseases for which the use of BTK inhibitors may be helpful as well as the activity profiles of BTK inhibitors.What the reader will gain: We review the currently available translational research, biomarker as well as patent literature regarding BTK molecular target and BTK inhibitors.Take home message: BTK inhibitors may provide the foundation for therapeutic innovation against B-lineage leukemias/lymphomas, inflammatory disorders and autoimmunity.
Reaction of methanol with chlorate ions in acid solution containing Hg+2 by NMR

The reaction rate of methanol was measured in solutions of sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid at several levels of temperature and concentration, in the presence of mercuric nitrate. The progress of the reaction was monitored by proton NMR signals corresponding to methanol and formic acid. Chlorine dioxide formation was suppressed by adding mercuric nitrate, which was shown earlier to catalyze the disproportionation of the intermediate species, chlorous acid, and sequester chloride ions. The reaction is first order in methanol and chlorate concentration and in the Hammett acidity function. The reaction of formic acid, sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid was also studied using the same technique. Formic acid was stable and did not react with chlorate at a measurable rate, even at concentrations and temperatures of a commercial process. This study related to commercial processes that produce chlorine dioxide by reducing chlorate ions with methanol. Chlorine dioxide is an oxidizing chemical that is used in water purification and is replacing chlorine in many chemical bleaching processes because of environmental concerns.
Evaluating the effect of the global ionospheric map on aiding retrieval of radio occultation electron density profiles

Radio occultation (RO) has been proven to be a powerful technique for ionospheric electron density profile (EDP) retrieval. The Abel inversion currently used in RO EDP retrieval has degraded performance in regions with large horizontal gradients because of an assumption of spherical symmetry as indicated by many studies. Some alternative methods have been proposed in the past; the global ionospheric map (GIM)-aided Abel inversion is most frequently studied. Since the number of RO observations will likely increase rapidly in the near future, it is worthwhile to continue to improve retrieval method. In this study, both the simulations and the real data test have been done to evaluate the GIM-aided Abel inversion method. It is found that the GIM-aided Abel inversion can significantly improve upon the standard Abel inversion in either the F or the E region if an accurate GIM is available. However, the current IGS GIM does not appear accurate enough to improve retrieval results significantly, because of the spherical symmetry assumption and sparse global navigation satellite system (GNSS) stations used in its creation. Generating accurate GIM based on dense GNSS network to aid the Abel inversion might be an alternative method.
The Unbearable Lightness of Retirement Ritual and Support in a Modem Life Passage

Participants in a longitudinal study of retirement experienced various forms of frustration and fulfillment in the rituals that were held to mark their transition from workers to retirees. Official workplace ceremonies were relatively ineffective as a formal support system, whereas informal rites created by intimates, and postretirement travel, were more helpful in negotiating this liminal period. The content of rhetoric, the way gifts and guest lists were chosen, and the role of fantasy and physical separation in the ritual process all proved to be key variables. The lightness with which retirement is culturally conceived and the uneven nature of its ritual celebration thus prove to be among its heaviest burdens.
Characterization of electron bunches from a diamond current amplifier

Free Electron Lasers (FELs) make significant demands on the photocathode / drive laser used to generate electron bunches, but no photocathode source simultaneously satisfies needed demands of lifetime, quantum efficiency, and response. High gain mm-wave (and beyond) amplifiers make analogous demands. A diamond current amplifier may enable progress by exploiting the high yield associated with secondary emission. Questions loom, however, about the relationship of pulse shape, repetition frequency, and needed bunch characteristics with what can be produced by a diamond thin film.
Management of multiple sclerosis: current trials and future options.

Purpose of the reviewThe present review of multiple sclerosis (MS) therapeutic trials published in 2002 is intended to assist the reader in understanding the most current advances in the care of their patients.Recent findingsA substantial number of pivotal and preliminary reports continue to demonst
Modeling an Integral Dual Solar/Gas-Fired Generator for a Water-Lithium Bromide Absorption Chiller

This paper presents a design procedure for a dual solar/gas-fired generator of an absorption chiller. The solar energy is the primary driving source for the generator, while the natural gas serves as the backup heat when the solar energy is unavailable or insufficient. Saturated forced convective boiling for binary mixtures has been considered to account for the reduction in the heat transfer coefficient observed for most mixtures. The simultaneous solar and gas-fired desorption process was investigated. The generator constructed based on modeling results yielded good performance in the experiment.
Detailed Grain Size and Heavy Mineralogy of Sands of Northeastern Texas Gulf Coast—Implications with Regard to Coastal Barrier Development: ABSTRACT

The large volume of literature available on Gulf Coast sedimentology, along with recent advances in computerized analytical methods, now enables more detailed work to be accomplished. Numerous grain-size (automated settling tube) and heavy mineralogical analyses have been conducted on sand samples from the northeastern Texas Gulf Coast. Analyses of local point-bar samples result in the delineation of major river sand sources in the region. Kyanite/garnet/hornblende+pyroxene ratios seem to be the most useful criteria for distinguishing these sources. Grain-size data show combinations of discrete modes characteristic of each river system, whereas the subaerial delta lobes of these rivers consist of finer, better sorted sands, which are believed to represent the coarsest par icles transported in suspension. Beach sands are slightly finer and much better sorted than wave-dominated delta sands. The oldest sands of Galveston Island were derived from the Trinity River, implying a possible deltaic origin for the island. However, most of the island is comprised of Mississippi River, Brazos River, and Trinity-Sabine River sands, mixed in approximately equal proportions, suggesting an offshore Pleistocene source for these features. These sands were deposited on an irregular Pleistocene erosional surface, resulting in dramatic thickness variations. Modern offshore sands and those currently being accreted to barriers, contain a high proportion of Mississippi River sand. This change results from the depletion of offshore mixed sands and marks the onset of barrier retreat. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1427------------
The Not Quite So Inevitable Origins of Commercial Broadcasting in America

The development of radio in the US shows the debates about how the new medium of communications should be controlled and financed. Generalisations about capitalist business ethics having uncontested sway in creating an advertiser‐supported, private‐sector medium rest on ignorance of the concerns aired in the press during the 1920s. However, the final outcome in the US did depend on a reliance on advertising to pay for the medium.
World Refugee Day in One Country: Celebrating Refugees and UNHCR in Malaysia

While UNHCR and its local partners in Malaysia have commemorated World Refugee Day with a number of ‘awareness-raising’ activities and festive events each year, starting in 2005, the Malaysian authorities have pursued a range of increasingly punitive measures targeting ‘illegal migrants’ during this period. In the context of a country which is, at the same time, a non-signatory to the 1951 Convention and a destination for significant refugee populations in the region, the celebration and commemoration of the figure of the refugee raise a number of questions. First of all, how does the figure of the refugee appear, as such, in Malaysia when seen through the prism of the various activities, events and campaigns held in conjunction with World Refugee Day since 2005? Second, how is it possible for this figure—an ‘illegal migrant’ under the Immigration Act—to emerge, however sporadically and incompletely, in Malaysian public discourse as another Other, one deserving of ‘our encouragement, support, and respect’, to quote UNHCR's official website? Third, how does the case of Malaysia help illuminate our understanding of the slippage produced in the encounters between national body politic and international humanitarian spirit?
Simulation of Flow in the Silk Gland

Spiders and silkworms employ the complex flow of highly concentrated silk solution as part of silk fiber spinning. To understand the role of fluidic forces in this process, the flow of silk solution in the spider major ampullate and silkworm silk glands was investigated using numerical simulation. Our simulations demonstrate significant differences between flow in the spider and silkworm silk glands. In particular, shear flow effects are shown to be much greater in the spider than the silkworm, the silkworm gland exhibits a much different flow extension profile than the spider gland, and the residence time within the spider gland is eight times greater than in the silkworm gland. Lastly, simulations on the effect of spinning speed on the flow of silk solution suggest that a critical extension rate is the initiating factor for fiber formation from silk solution. These results provide new insight into silk spinning processes and will guide the future development of novel fiber spinning technologies.
Coupling a Single Trapped Atom to a Nanoscale Optical Cavity

Hybrid quantum devices, in which dissimilar quantum systems are combined in order to attain qualities not available with either system alone, may enable far-reaching control in quantum measurement, sensing, and information processing. A paradigmatic example is trapped ultracold atoms, which offer excellent quantum coherent properties, coupled to nanoscale solid-state systems, which allow for strong interactions. We demonstrate a deterministic interface between a single trapped rubidium atom and a nanoscale photonic crystal cavity. Precise control over the atom's position allows us to probe the cavity near-field with a resolution below the diffraction limit and to observe large atom-photon coupling. This approach may enable the realization of integrated, strongly coupled quantum nano-optical circuits.
Central line-associated blood stream infections in pediatric intensive care units: Longitudinal trends and compliance with bundle strategies

Background Knowing the temporal trend central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates among U.S. pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), the current extent of central line bundle compliance, and the impact of compliance on rates is necessary to understand what has been accomplished and can be improved in CLABSI prevention. Methods This is a longitudinal study of PICUs in National Healthcare Safety Network hospitals and a cross-sectional survey of directors and managers of infection prevention and control departments regarding PICU CLABSI prevention practices, including self-reported compliance with elements of central line bundles. Associations between 2011-2012 PICU CLABSI rates and infection prevention practices were examined. Results Reported CLABSI rates decreased during the study period, from 5.8 per 1,000 line days in 2006 to 1.4 in 2011-2012 ( P Conclusion There was a nonsignificant trend in decreasing CLABSI rates as PICUs improved bundle policy compliance. Given that few PICUs reported full compliance with these policies, PICUs increasing their efforts to comply with these policies may help reduce CLABSI rates.
Addendum to "A new proof of the Bott periodicity theorem" (Topology Appl. 119 (2002) 167-183) ✩

Abstract A. Elmendorf has found an error in the approach to Lemmas 2.2 and 2.3 of “A new proof of the Bott periodicity theorem” (Topology and its Applications, 2002, 167–183). There are also errors in the definitions of the maps in Sections 4.2 and 4.5. In this paper we supply corrections to these errors. We also sketch a major simplification of the argument proving real Bott periodicity, unifying the eight quasifibrations appearing in the real case, using Clifford algebras.
Teaching Ethics through Community Service.

Community service learning, when combined with a program of ethics education, is an effective means of enhancing students' personal, social and moral development as well as their academic performance.
Visualization of adaptive mesh refinement data

The complexity of physical phenomena often varies substantially over space and time. There can be regions where a physical phenomenon/quantity varies very little over a large extent. At the same time, there can be small regions where the same quantity exhibits highly complex variations. Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is a technique used in computational fluid dynamics to simulate phenomena with drastically varying scales concerning the complexity of the simulated variables. Using multiple nested grids of different resolutions, AMR combines the topological simplicity of structured-rectilinear grids, permitting efficient computational and storage, with the possibility to adapt grid resolutions in regions of complex behavior. We present methods for direct volume rendering of AMR data. Our methods utilize AMR grids directly for efficiency of the visualization process. We apply a hardware-accelerated rendering method to AMR data supporting interactive manipulation of color-transfer functions and viewing parameters. We also present a cell-projection-based rendering technique for AMR data.
Recurrent TIPS Thrombosis after Polyethylene Stent-Graft Use and Salvage with Polytetrafluoroethylene Stent-Grafts

Increasing data support the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) stent-grafts for de novo and revision transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) applications. Animal experiments have indicated that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) stent-grafts provide no improvement or actually worsen TIPS patency compared with controls, but human TIPS experience with PET grafts is more limited. Herein we describe three patients who underwent de novo creation of TIPS with PET-covered stent-grafts at outside institutions, which resulted in immediate and recurring TIPS thromboses despite repeated thrombectomies. After the failed TIPS were revised with PTFE stent-grafts, the presenting symptoms resolved and uninterrupted patency was achieved.
Optimal state estimation in the presence of deterministic perturbations of uncertain structure occuring at unknown times

The problem of optimally generating state estimates in the presence of uncertain deterministic perturbations is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the question of rapidly coping with such changes. It is demonstrated that Bayes structures for priors with a finite number of points of positive support are optimal even if the underlying uncertainty cannot be described by a finite number of models. Such structures provide a simple way to properly choose reduced order models without compromising estimation accuracy. The resulting estimators are adaptive and precisely allocate identification and estimation effort in order to minimize state estimation error. A decision theoretic paradigm resulting in a non pessimistic minimax estimate is used to obtain the above results. Analytic asymptotic performance results and a design example are included.
Chronic pain and parent-child relations in later life: An important, but understudied issue

Chronic pain is a debilitating and pervasive health problem, particularly among older adults. Researchers and clinicians acknowledge that pain conditions do not occur in isolation, but rather exact a toll on the individual sufferer and the family system at large. No research, however, has explicitly explored the impact of older parents' chronic pain symptoms on their adult children. In this article, we present relevant predictions from theoretical models that identify the interpersonal effects of chronic illness and pain on family relationships. Guided by theory and empirical research on these topics, we present a conceptual framework of hypothesized risk factors for adult children of parents with chronic pain. We conclude by offering an agenda for future research.
GPU and CPU Cooperative Accelaration for Face Detection on Modern Processors

Along with the inclusion of GPU cores within the same CPU die, the performance of Intel's processor-graphics has been significantly improved over earlier generation of integrated graphics. The need to efficiently harness the computational power of the GPU in the same CPU die is more than ever. This paper presents a highly optimized Haar-based face detector which efficiently exploits both CPU and GPU computing power on the latest Sandy Bridge processor. The classification procedure of Haar-based cascade detector is partitioned to two phases in order to leverage both thread level and data level parallelism in the GPU. The image downscaling and integral image calculation running in the CPU core can work with the GPU in parallel. Compared to CPU-alone implementation, the experiments show that our proposed GPU accelerated implementation achieves a 3.07x speedup with more than 50% power reduction on the latest Sandy Bridge processor. On the other hand, our implementation is also more efficient than the CUDA implementation on the NVidia GT430 card in terms of performance as well as power. In addition, our proposed method presents a general approach for task partitioning between CPU and GPU, thus being beneficial not only for face detection but also for other multimedia and computer vision techniques.
Bending waves and the structure of Saturn's rings

The surface mass density profiles at four locations within Saturn's rings are calculated using Voyager spacecraft images of spiral bending waves. The identification of a feature in Saturn's outer B ring as Mimas's 4:2 bending waves is confirmed, and these 4:2 waves are analyzed to determine the surface density in Saturn's B ring. A fourth set of bending waves, the Mimas 7:4, located in the inner A ring, is identified and analyzed. Mimas's 5:3 and 8:5 bending waves, observed in the middle and outer A ring respectively, are reanalyzed.
Study of Uranium Removal from Groundwater by Supported Liquid Membranes

Abstract The separation of uranium from synthetic Hanford site groundwater by liquid-liquid extraction and by supported liquid membranes (SLM) was atudied. Bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid, H[DTMPeP], contained in the commercial extractant Cysnex 272, was selected for the membrane carrier because of its selectivity for uranium over calcium and magnesium. n-Dodecane was used as diluent and polypropylene membranea were used as the support. A water soluble complexing agent, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphoaphonic acid, HEDPA, was used as atrlpping agent. The permeability coefficient of U(V1) was evaluated from a detailed study of the permeation of U(VI) through flat-sheet SLMs as a function of the membrane carrier concentration. The diffusion coefficient of the uranium complex in the organic phase was also evaluated from permeation experiments performed under loading conditions. Experiments were also carried out with Cs(II) and Fe(III) to measure the membrane selectivity for U(VI) over these two cations. ...
Inositol triphosphate, cyclic AMP, and cyclic GMP in rat brain regions after lithium and seizures

Abstract The mechanism of action of lithium, the primary treatment for bipolar affective disorder, is unknown but may involve inhibition of second messenger production in the brain. Therefore, the concentrations of three second messengers, inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate (Ins 1,4,5P 3 ), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP), were measured in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus after acute or chronic lithium administration, as well as after treatment with the cholinergic agonist pilocarpine alone or in combination with lithium at a dose that induces seizures only in lithium pretreated rats. Neither acute nor chronic lithium treatment altered the hippocampal or cortical concentration of Ins 1,4,5P 3 , cyclic AMP, or cyclic GMP. Pilocarpine administered alone increased Ins 1,4,5P 3 in both regions, did not alter cyclic AMP, and slightly increased cyclic GMP in the cortex. Coadministration of lithium plus pilocarpine caused large increases in the concentrations of all three second messengers and the production of each of them was uniquely attenuated: lithium reduced pilocarpine-induced increases of Ins 1,4,5P 3 in the cortex at 60 min; chronic lithium administration reduced stimulated cyclic AMP production in the hippocampus; and chronic lithium treatment impaired stimulated cyclic GMP production in both regions. In summary, chronic lithium treatment appeared only to reduce Ins 1,4,5P 3 and cyclic AMP concentrations after a long period of stimulation whereas cyclic GMP production was reduced by chronic lithium administration after both short and long periods of stimulation. Thus cyclic GMP was most sensitive to lithium and lithium attenuation of second messenger formation may be most important in excessively activated pathways.
Petroleum Fingerprinting with Organic Markers

Petroleum fingerprinting is an invaluable tool in forensic geochemistry. This article summarizes applications of fingerprinting in several oil spills and natural oil seepages that we have studied during the last 25 years. It shows how each unique chemical fingerprint can be used to correlate or differentiate oils. Fingerprints can provide information about processes in the environment that impact oils such as weathering and microbial degradation. They can be used to evaluate organic matter that contributed to oils, and classify oils with regard to the geological framework of their source, such as evaluating geological facies, age, lithology, and depositional environment.
La eficacia de un modelo de instrucción directa en la enseñanza de la comprensión de ideas principales

RESUMENLa comprension de las ideas principales es una destreza lectora importante, y suele ser lo que discrimina los buenos lectores de los deficientes. El proposito de este estudio es desarrollar un metodo de instruccion directa para ensenar a los ninos la comprension de las ideas principales, y evaluar su eficacia frente al metodo tradicional (instruccion por medio de libros de lectura basicos). El grupo entrenado (grupo estrategia) con instruccion directa rindio mejor en la aptitud para recoger las ideas principales que el grupo basico (que siguio el metodo tradicional) y adquirieron estas destrezas con mayor profundidad y comprension. Pero no hubo diferencias en la aptitud para las ideas principales en el recuerdo.
The 26Mg(p, n)26Al and 23Na(α, n)26Al reactions near threshold

Abstract Cross sections and angular distributions for the 26 Mg(p, n) 26 Al and 23 Na(α, n) 26 Al reactions, populating the ground state and the first three excited states in 26 Al, have been measured between 5.3 and 7.0 MeV proton bombarding energy and between 3.9 and 5.9 MeV alpha bombarding energy, using the neutron time-of-flight technique. The measured total cross sections were used to derive the cross sections for the astrophysically interesting reactions 26 Al(n, p 0 ) 26 Mg and 26 Al(n, α 0 ) 23 Na. The 26 Mg(p, p′) 26 Mg and 26 Mg(p, α) 23 Na cross sections were also measured at E p = 5.3–6.1 MeV. A resonance analysis of the measured 26 Mg+p excitation functions is used to obtain information on cross sections for the 26 Al(n, p') 26 Mg reaction.
Holmium : YAG laser-assisted coronary angioplasty with multifiber delivery catheters

Mid-infrared lasers are attractive for coronary angioplasty based upon their excellent fiberoptic transmission and enhanced tissue absorption. Using a solid-state, mid-infrared holmium:YAG laser with prototype multifiber laser delivery catheters, we performed coronary laser angioplasty with or without adjunctive balloon angioplasty or directional atherectomy in 14 patients with 17 stenoses. Procedural laser success was obtained in 13/14 (93%) patients and 16/17 (94%) lesions; however clinical success was achieved in 9/14 (64%) patients and 12/17 (71%) stenoses. Angiographic restenosis at 4.6 ± 1.6 months was found in 5/8 (63%) patients. We achieved an excellent procedural laser success rate in patients with generally unfavorable angioplasty anatomy. However, our clinical success rate was not different from that expected with conventional angioplasty alone. The holmium laser remains an attractive energy source for laser angioplasty; but as is the case for all coronary laser systems, its utility as a stand-alone therapy is limited by catheters which create small channels. In this small group, we could demonstrate no clinical benefit for laser-assisted angioplasty in complex coronary lesions. Our results suggest that a randomized trial comparing laser-assisted angioplasty and conventional angioplasty be performed to determine the clinical benefits of this more expensive therapy.
Generalizing Riemann: from the L -functions to the Birch/Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture

Abstract To prove: that the generalized Riemann hypothesis is true, namely, that all the zeta zeros of L -functions are balanced on the one-half number line, using the scale of the harmonic zeta function. Now that the Riemann hypothesis has been proven (in “Summa Characteristica and the Riemann Hypothesis: Scaling Riemann’s Mountain”, Journal of Interdisciplinary Mathematics, Vol. 11 (6) (December 2008)), it can be extended by analytical continuation to prove the generalized hypothesis concerning L-functions. The initial “gene” or generating (one half) principle that proves the Riemann hypothesis also proves that no L-series has a zero with real part on the complex plane other than one half. As a result of this proof, the Birch/Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture is also resolved. Finally, what impact, if any, do these proofs have on security codes based upon prime numbers?
Preserving subject variability in group fMRI analysis: performance evaluation of GICA vs. IVA

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a widely applied technique to derive functionally connected brain networks from fMRI data. Group ICA (GICA) and Independent Vector Analysis (IVA) are extensions of ICA that enable users to perform group fMRI analyses; however a full comparison of the performance limits of GICA and IVA has not been investigated. Recent interest in resting state fMRI data with potentially higher degree of subject variability makes the evaluation of the above techniques important. In this paper we compare component estimation accuracies of GICA and an improved version of IVA using simulated fMRI datasets. We systematically change the degree of component spatial variability and evaluate estimation accuracy over all spatial maps (SMs) and time courses (TCs) of the decomposition. Our results indicate the following: (1) at low levels of SM variability or when just one SM is varied, both GICA and IVA perform well, (2) at higher levels of SM variability or when more than one SMs are varied, IVA continues to perform well but GICA yields SM estimates that are composites of other SMs with errors in TCs, (3) both GICA and IVA remove spatial correlations of overlapping SMs and introduce artificial correlations in their TCs, (4) if number of SMs is over estimated, IVA continues to perform well but GICA introduces artifacts in the varying and extra SMs with artificial correlations in the TCs of extra components, and (5) in the absence or presence of SMs unique to one subject, GICA produces errors in TCs and IVA estimates are accurate. In summary, our simulation experiments (both simplistic and realistic) and our holistic analyses approach indicate that IVA produces results that are closer to ground truth and thereby better preserves subject variability. The improved version of IVA is now packaged into the GIFT toolbox (http://mialab.mrn.org/software/gift).