cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The WeeFIM [R] instrument--a paediatric measure of functional independence to predict longitudinal recovery of paediatric burn patients.

Introduction: Burns create a myriad of complications that affect the child's developmental, functional and aesthetic status. The WeeFIM is a standardized measure of functional performance developed...
Predicting employee satisfaction from congruency among individual need, job design, and system structure

SUMMARY Theoretical models designed to predict employee affective reactions from congruency among individual growth need strength, job attributes, and organizational structure have suffered from imprecision in predictions (Porter et al., 1975; Nemiroff and Ford, 1976) or inconsistency in the application of integration rules (Pierce et al., 1979). The present study competitively tested predictions generated by a congruency-weighted model with predictions generated by previous congruency models. For two data-sets which manifested evidence of congruency interactions, the results indicated that a congruency-weighted model was a superior predictor of job satisfaction relative to previous congruency models.
Principles of oncologic orofacial surgery

The most common orofacial tumors of dogs are malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and acanthomatous epulis. These tumors vary significantly in their metastatic potential, but are consistently locally invasive. Bone involvement is common, and complete excision often requires partial mandibulectomy or partial maxillectomy. Survival times after surgery are most strongly influenced by tumor type (or metastatic rate) and tumor location. Recent large retrospective studies have reported median survival times ranging from 4.6 to 26 months. The most common oral tumor of cats is squamous cell carcinoma. This is a highly invasive tumor that occasionally can be effectively treated with surgery alone, but that often requires a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.
Injured workers' assessment of vocational rehabilitation services before and after retraining.

Purpose Workers’ compensation-based vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are costly and challenging to operate effectively. This study aimed to: (1) describe injured workers’ assessment of Washington State’s VR system before and after vocational retraining, (2) describe the factors affecting injured worker satisfaction with VR services, and (3) gather suggestions for program improvement from injured workers. Methods Telephone surveys were conducted in two distinct samples: (1) 361 workers were interviewed after determination of retraining eligibility but before retraining plan development, and (2) 360 workers were interviewed after cessation of vocational services and claim closure. Results Injured workers interviewed before retraining were more often satisfied with the VR system (69 %) than were those interviewed after VR services ended (46 %). Although 55 % were initially somewhat/very certain they would return to work (RTW) after retraining, only 21 % had RTW 3–6 months after claim closure. Poor health, poor functional ability, and multiple retraining attempts were significantly associated with dissatisfaction. Suggestions for program improvement fell most frequently into the following areas: (1) more training choices, more worker input into the retraining goal, and/or a better fit of the retraining goal with the workers’ experience and abilities (25 %); (2) listen to, respect, and/or understand the worker with regard to their interests, goals, and limitations (17 %); and (3) more support with job placement, work re-entry skills, and RTW in general (9 %). Conclusions There is substantial room for improvement in worker satisfaction with VR. Injured workers’ feedback may facilitate identification of opportunities to improve the VR process and RTW outcomes.
Theory of spall damage accumulation in ductile metals

Abstract S pall damage is a type of fracture produced when large tensile stresses are developed in material bodies as a result of the interaction of stress waves. The damage develops independently at various points in the body because of the short duration of stress application, but interacts in a complicated way with the stress wave. A theory of these phenomena is presented for the case where the basic response of the material is viscoplastic, and where the damage takes the form of a distribution of small rounded voids. This theory is specialized to the case of rectilinear motion and an example problem solved numerically.
Measurement of Cutaneous Inflammation: Estimation of Neutrophil Content with an Enzyme Marker

We examined the hypothesis that myeloperoxidase (MPO), a plentiful constituent of neutrophils, might seve as a marker for tissue neutrophil content. To completely extract MPO from either neutrophils or skin, hexadecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) was used to solubilize the enzyme. With this detergent treatment, 97.8 ± 0.2% of total recoverable MPO was extracted from neutrophils with a single HTAB treatment; 93.1 ± 1.0% was solubilized with a single treatment of skin. Neutrophil MPO was directly related to neutrophil number; with the dianisidine-H 2 O 2 assay as few as 10 4 neutrophils could be detected. The background level of MPO within uninflamed tissue was 0.385 ± 0.018 units per gram of tissue, equivalent to only 7.64 ± 0.36 × 10 5 neutrophils. In experimental staphylococcal infection, skin specimens contained 34.8 ± 3.8 units MPO per gram, equivalent to 8.55 ± 0.93 × 10 7 neutrophils. These studies demonstrate that MPO can be used as a marker for skin neutrophil content: it is recoverable from skin in soluble form, and is directly related to neutrophil number. Further, normal skin possesses a low background of MPO compared to that of inflamed skin.
XPS Characterization of In situ Prepared Ti/Glass Interfaces

An in situ method is described for studying the reactions between thin titanium films and SiO 2 or Na 2 O. 2SiO 2 glasses. It involves fracturing the glass under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, depositing titanium thin films on the fractured surfaces and then characterizing interface reactions using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) ; the whole process is carried out without interrupting the ultrahigh vacuum. Owing to the extremely clean interface formed by this method, titanium silicide forms in both glass systems, even at room temperature. However, for glass surfaces that have been chemically cleaned in air, silicide formation is suppressed because carbon species from contamination at the interface consume the titanium film. The superiority of the in situ method to investigate thin film reactions is thus established.
A content analysis of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender topics in multicultural education textbooks

This research examines the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) topics in 12 popular multicultural education textbooks. Following a line‐by‐line analysis of each textbook, the findings report the extent to which LGBT topics were included in each text and the themes that became apparent in how LGBT topics were treated. The authors conclude with a discussion of the texts’ contents and the suggestion that texts do more to include LGBT topics and provide more complex and complete representations of LGBT identities. This analysis sets a basis for comparison for future studies to gauge how levels of LGBT inclusion have changed both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Regulation of alternative macrophage activation by chromatin remodeling

The regulation of gene expression through changes in chromatin structure is increasingly recognized as a chief component of activation of cells of the immune response. It now seems that histone demethylation of the promoter of the gene encoding the transcription factor IRF4 contributes to alternative macrophage activation.
Is MRCP equivalent to ERCP for diagnosing biliary obstruction in orthotopic liver transplant recipients? A meta-analysis

Background Biliary complications are the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) is considered the diagnostic criterion standard for post-orthotopic liver transplantation biliary obstruction, but incurs significant risks. Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of MRCP for biliary obstruction in OLT patients. Design A systematic literature search identified studies primarily examining the utility of MRCP in detecting post-orthotopic liver transplantation biliary obstruction. A meta-analysis was then performed according to the Quality of Reporting Meta-Analyses statement. Setting Meta-analysis of 9 studies originally performed at major transplantation centers. Patients A total of 382 OLT patients with clinical suspicion of biliary obstruction. Interventions MRCP and ERCP or clinical follow-up. Main Outcome Measurements Sensitivity and specificity of MRCP for diagnosis of biliary obstruction. Results The composite sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.98) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.97), respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 17 (95% CI, 9.4-29.6) and 0.04 (95% CI, 0.02-0.08), respectively. Limitations All but 1 included study had significant design flaws that may have falsely increased the reported diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions The high sensitivity and specificity demonstrated in this meta-analysis suggest that MRCP is a promising test for diagnosing biliary obstruction in patients who have undergone liver transplantation. However, given the significant design flaws in most of the component studies, additional high-quality data are necessary before unequivocally recommending MRCP in this setting.
THE DF-1 CHICKEN FIBROBLAST CELL LINE : TRANSFORMATION INDUCED BY DIVERSE ONCOGENES AND CELL DEATH RESULTING FROM INFECTION BY AVIAN LEUKOSIS VIRUSES

DF-1 is a continuous cell line of chicken embryo fibroblasts. The cells are free of endogenous sequences related to avian sarcoma and leukosis viruses and have normal fibroblastic morphology. DF-1 cells support the replication of avian retroviruses; diverse oncogenes induce foci of oncogenic transformation on monolayers of DF-1, and avian leukosis viruses of envelope subgroups B, D, and C induce cell death and form plaques. The new cell line will greatly facilitate studies on oncogenic transformation and cell killing by avian viruses.
Analytic method to estimate multiple equivalent permeability components from a single rectilinear experiment in liquid composite molding processes

Abstract Presented is an approach for determining multiple permeability components from a single rectilinear experiment modeled similarly to a VARTM infusion. Values are estimated for in-plane and transverse (through-thickness) permeability of the fabric, as well as distribution media permeability in the flow direction. An effective permeability for the combination of fabric and distribution media is also defined. The approach is based on tracking the resin flow-front during linear infusion along the top and the bottom surface over a sample representing several material layups (a segment of which includes the flow enhancement media). Analytic solution of flow progression is used to derive estimates for permeability of all components/layups. The solution, the error due to the assumptions and approximations made, and its limits of applicability are presented. Experimental validation is also provided. Numerical techniques using flow simulation results are utilized to execute a data correction algorithm to further improve experimental estimates.
Future Testing Opportunities to Ensure Sustainability of the Biofuels Industry

For the soil and plant analysis community, development and expansion of biofuels will create many opportunities to provide a wide variety of analytical services. Our objective is to explore potential areas where those services could be marketed to support sustainable development of biofuels. One of the first is to provide soil fertility and plant nutrition information for sustainable feedstock production. Chemical, physical, and biological indicators of soil quality should also be monitored and interpreted using tools such as the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) to ensure soil resources can continue to meet global food, feed, and fiber demands as well as the new demands for biofuels. Feedstock sugar profile information will be needed to help manage conversion processes, calculate economic drivers such as the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP), and determine suitability for other bioproducts. There will also be an increasing need to evaluate a variety of coproducts created by corn (Zea mays) m...
Quantitative analyses of osteoclasts, bone loss and inflammation in human periodontal disease

Human autopsy specimens bearing posterior teeth with interproximal areas were studied by quantifying various histological parameters. Osteoclasts were found to be equally frequent on the crestal, alveolar wall and endosteal alveolar bone surfaces. Evidence of previous resorption in the form of scalloping suggested that osteoclastic activity had also occurred in the past. The size of the inflammatory infiltrate was significantly correlated with the degree of bone loss, but not with the number of osteoclasts. However, the distance from the apical border of the inflammatory infiltrate to the alveolar bone crest was significantly correlated with both the number of osteoclasts on the alveolar crest, as well as their total number. These findings in the human periodontitis lesion support those from the animal model system which have indicated that the proximity of the inflammatory infiltrate to the bone surface is a significant factor in the osteoclastic resorption of alveolar bone.
Quinua biosystematics I: Domesticated populations

Domesticated populations of the South American grain chenopod quinua (Chenopodium quinoa subsp.quinoa) have been formally classified on the basis of pigmentation and inflorescence morphology, and informally grouped according to ecotypic variation. Comparative analysis of morphometric and electrophoretic data taken from 98 populations reveals two fundamental elements: a coastal type from southwestern Chile and an Andean type distributed at elevations above 1,800 m from northwestern Argentina to southern Colombia. Andean quinua can be further divided into northern and southern groups, with the northern populations weakly marked by broad, unlobed leaf blades, sharply margined fruit, and relative uniformity. With the exception of allozymes unique to coastal quinua, characteristics that differentiate populations from the Chilean coast and the northern Andes represent a subset of variation present in the southern Andes. This could reflect diffusion from a possible center of origin in the southern highlands. Overall phenetic association places populations from the Altiplano of Peru and Bolivia in a central, linking position. The high genetic identities among all quinua populations argue against a polyphyletic origin for the crop and specific differentiation among cultivar groups. The overall pattern of variation supports the ecotypic approach toward landrace classification of quinua, although congruence between ecological and morphogenetic variation is not complete. While genetic diversity is clearly centered in populations of the southern Andes, conservation efforts should focus on well differentiated quinua populations at the poorly marked northern and southern extremes of distribution.
Pools, transformations, and sources of P in high-elevation soils: Implications for nutrient transfer to Sierra Nevada lakes

Abstract In high-elevation lakes of the Sierra Nevada (California), increases in P supply have been inferred from shifts in P to N limitation. To examine factors possibly leading to changes in P supply, we measured pools and transformations in soil P, and developed a long-term mass balance to estimate the contribution of parent material weathering to soil P stocks. Common Sierra Nevada soils were found to not be P-deficient and to be retentive of P due to the influence of Fe- and Al-oxides. Total P averaged 867 μg P g − 1 in the top 10 cm of soil (O and A horizons) and 597 μg P g − 1 in the 10–60 cm depth (B horizons), of which 70% in A horizons and 60% in B horizons was freely exchangeable or associated with Fe and Al. Weathering of parent material explained 69% of the P found in soils and lost from the catchment since deglaciation, implying that long-term atmospheric P deposition (0.02 kg ha − 1 yr − 1 ) represented the balance of P inputs (31%) during the past 10,000 years of soil development. During spring snowmelt ~ 27% of the total soil P was transferred between organic and inorganic pools; average inorganic P pools decreased by 232 μg P g − 1 , while organic P pools increased by 242 μg P g − 1 . Microbial biomass P was highest during winter and decreased six-fold to a minimum in the fall. Interactions between hydrology and biological processes strongly influence the rate of P transfer from catchment soils to lakes.
Short- and medium-range structures of cerium aluminophosphate glasses: A molecular dynamics study

Abstract Properties of rare earth aluminophosphate glasses depend profoundly on the local coordination environments and the distribution of rare earth ions, as well as the glass-forming network structures that accommodate these rare earth ions. In this paper, we have studied the structure of a series of cerium aluminophosphate glasses with both Ce 3 + and Ce 4 + oxidation states using larger classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (with over 13,000 atoms) for a wide range of cerium oxide concentrations (1.8–23.8 mol%). The simulated structure models were validated by comparing with the structure factor and correlation function from high energy X-ray diffraction studies. The short- and medium-range structure characteristics of these glasses as a function of composition have been obtained. P 5 + ions are found to be fourfold coordinated and their local structure remains unchanged in the entire series while the coordination environments around Al 3 + , Ce 3 + , and Ce 4 + ions show composition dependence. Aluminum ions are mainly four-coordinated with considerable increase of five-coordinated with increasing alumina content. Cerium distribution was analyzed by clustering analysis, [CeO x ] polyhedra connectivity analyses, and Ce–Ce pair distribution functions. It was found that relatively high cerium oxide concentration (~ 14 mol%) can be incorporated in the glasses while maintaining the desired cerium ion distribution. With higher cerium content, cerium cluster formation is inevitable and characterized by increasing cluster size by the formation of direct Ce–O–Ce linkages.
Activity-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala

Much evidence indicates that fear conditioning involves potentiation of some thalamic inputs to the lateral amygdala (LA). In turn, the LA would excite more neurons in the central nucleus (CE), leading to the generation of fear responses via their brainstem and hypothalamic projections. However, the posterior thalamus not only projects to LA but also to the medial sector of CE (CEm), suggesting that CEm might also be a site of plasticity. To test whether CEm also exhibits activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, we performed whole-cell recordings of CEm neurons in amygdala slices and stimulated thalamic axons coursing through the internal capsule and, as a control, the basolateral (BL) nucleus. High-frequency stimulation of thalamic inputs led to a long-lasting potentiation of thalamic responses, whereas BL-evoked responses remained unchanged. This thalamic long-term potentiation (LTP) developed even when slices were prepared with a cut severing the connections between the LA and CEm but was greatly reduced when an NMDA receptor antagonist was added to the perfusate shortly before and during LTP induction. Yet, intracellular dialysis with the NMDA receptor antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate did not prevent induction of the thalamic LTP, suggesting that presynaptic NMDA receptors are required for its induction. Consistent with this, the thalamic LTP also developed when the cells were dialyzed with a calcium chelator or kept hyperpolarized during induction. Finally, this thalamic LTP was associated with reduced amounts of paired-pulse facilitation, suggesting that it is expressed presynaptically. These results are consistent with the idea that the CEm plays an active role in fear conditioning.
Studying the effects of scripts and technology on cooperative learning

The experimental study investigated the effects of a cooperation script with technology and face-to-face forms of group learning. The results revealed that the use of scripted cooperation and the scripted-unscripted sequence for instructions had a positive effect on group-efficacy. When face-to-face groups used scripted instructions they felt more satisfied with discussion process than when using unscipted instructions. In contrast, computer mediated groups felt equally satisfied when using both forms of instruction.
Preliminary assessment of sandwich plates subject to blast loads

Abstract The question motivating the present study is whether metal sandwich plates with sufficiently strong cores are able to sustain substantially larger blast loads than monolithic solid plates of the same material and total mass. Circular plates clamped at their edges are considered under blast loads large enough to produce substantial deflections. The material is elastic–perfectly plastic. Material strain-rate dependence and fracture are neglected. A dynamic finite element formulation for elastic–plastic solids is employed to analyze the plate response. Uniformly distributed blast impulses are considered. As a basis for comparison, complete results are obtained for solid plates for both zero-period and finite-period impulses. Similar computations are carried out for a set of sandwich plates having tetragonal truss cores. The potential for superior strength and energy absorbing capacity of the sandwich plates is demonstrated compared with solid plates having the same mass. The importance of both the strength and energy absorbing capacity of the core are highlighted for superior blast resistance. Proposals for further research are made.
Children with epilepsy in school: Special service usage and assessment practices.

Special services usage and related assessment procedures were investigated for 50 students with epilepsy. Fifty-six percent of students with epilepsy received special education services, with mental retardation designation and self-contained placement common, especially among individuals with epilepsy plus a coexisting neurological diagnosis. Sixteen percent of participants had an “other health impairment” designation, and several of these were deemed eligible in at least one other special education category. The majority of students who had been evaluated were administered IQ, adaptive behavior, speech/language, and sensorimotor components, whereas few were assessed for executive or memory functions. Little information about antiepileptic drugs, their effects, or the actual manifestation of students' seizures appeared in special services school documents. Additional empirical information regarding services for children with chronic health conditions, such as epilepsy, is necessary to improve school psychologists' practice. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 169–181, 2006.
An adaptive smart lighting system

This demo abstract introduces an adaptive lighting testbed in the Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center located at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to highlight the advantages and capabilities of smart lighting systems. This testbed has been designed for experiments on a variety of topics such as color control, energy efficiency, self-commissioning, human factor studies, and localization. Section 2 describes the hardware and software used in the adaptive lighting testbed. Section 3 presents different types of experiments carried out using the testbed. The graphical user interface designed to monitor different performance criteria and adjust the design parameters is described in section 4.
Optimization of switching amplifiers for piezoelectric actuators

The formulation of an optimization problem for the design of a current controlled switching power amplifier to drive a piezoelectric actuator is the subject of this paper. The design is formulated as a continuous optimization problem. A detailed model that includes the anhysteretic nonlinearity between the electric field and polarization is developed and is coupled with a dynamic model of the amplifier. The design specifications are formulated as optimization constraints. The objective function is chosen to be the weight of the inductor. Optimization results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed design morphology.
High-order implicit hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin methods for acoustics and elastodynamics

We present a class of hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) methods for the numerical simulation of wave phenomena in acoustics and elastodynamics. The methods are fully implicit and high-order accurate in both space and time, yet computationally attractive owing to their following distinctive features. First, they reduce the globally coupled unknowns to the approximate trace of the velocity, which is defined on the element faces and single-valued, thereby leading to a significant saving in the computational cost. In addition, all the approximate variables (including the approximate velocity and gradient) converge with the optimal order of k+1 in the L^2-norm, when polynomials of degree k>=0 are used to represent the numerical solution and when the time-stepping method is accurate with order k+1. When the time-stepping method is of order k+2, superconvergence properties allows us, by means of local postprocessing, to obtain better, yet inexpensive approximations of the displacement and velocity at any time levels for which an enhanced accuracy is required. In particular, the new approximations converge with order k+2 in the L^2-norm when k>=1 for both acoustics and elastodynamics. Extensive numerical results are provided to illustrate these distinctive features.
College students’ attitudes toward abortion and commitment to the issue

Abstract Male and female participants were surveyed on abortion attitudes, commitment, and abortion experience. Results revealed a normal distribution of abortion attitudes rejecting the notion that the vast majority of the sample would have significantly pro-choice views. No significant difference was found in overall abortion attitudes of males vs. females, however, individuals with direct abortion experience were found to have significantly stronger pro-choice attitudes than individuals without direct abortion experience. Overall, college students reported a moderate degree of commitment to the issue of abortion. Females were significantly more committed than males, individuals with direct abortion experience were significantly more committed than individuals without direct abortion experience, and individuals with more extreme abortion attitudes were significantly more committed than those with weaker, more ambivalent, attitudes. No significant difference was found in level of commitment between pro-choice and pro-life individuals.
Imaging diffraction points using the local image matrices generated in prestack migration

Energy-angle distributions in the local image matrix, which is a function of local incident and receiving angles at a subsurface point, are different for a planar reflector and a diffraction point. The former exhibits a linear distribution along a certain dip direction, whereas the latter shows a scattered distribution in the entire matrix. Therefore, the singular values of the local image matrix in the local angle domain indicate the energy distribution along different dip directions. The difference between the auto- and crosscorrelation coefficients of the sets of singular values between adjacent image points can be used to distinguish these two types of targets and obtain prestack images which contain only diffraction points. Using three synthetic examples, we found that the method can effectively image diffraction points. Seismic images of diffraction points may provide important information about geological discontinuities and diffraction points can be taken as secondary sources for potential applications in imaging subsalt structures which are poorly illuminated by primary waves.
Hedgehog Signaling in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

The Hedgehog pathway is critical for many developmental processes, including the formation of several epidermal appendages. In the mammary gland strict regulation of the Hedgehog pathway is required for normal development. Alterations in Hedgehog signaling result in defects in both the embryonic and postnatal mammary gland. Activation of Hedgehog signaling either by mutation or misexpression of pathway members can lead to the development and/or progression of cancers in multiple organs. This review addresses the current understanding and controversies of Hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development and its potential role in promoting breast carcinogenesis and cancer progression.
Effect of valproic acid on zinc metabolism in the rat.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that the mechanism of valproic acid (VPA) hepatotoxicity may involve a drug-induced Zn deficiency. To test this hypothesis, the uptake of 65Zn or tissue Zn concentration was determined in plasma, liver, bone, kidney, and brain of adult male rats, administered parenteral VPA according to one of 3 schedules: 750 mg/kg; 500 mg/kg; and 100 mg/kg/day × 7 days. Histopathological changes in liver and weight loss were observed in rats 5 days after administration of VPA (750 mg/kg). The plasma Zn level in VPA toxic rats was significantly depressed compared to saline-injected controls, although the Zn content of liver and bone was unaffected. Furthermore, tissue uptake of 65Zn was not altered in rats 6 h after receiving VPA 500 mg/kg or after chronic administration at 100 mg/kg/day. On the basis of the present study, there is no evidence that Zn deficiency is induced by hepatotoxic doses of VPA in rats.
Microstructured polymer composites with enhanced thermal and electrical conduction capabilities

This paper introduces polymer composites with locally micro-tailored electric and thermal conductive properties. We concentrate on specially designed orthotropic composites that have modified thermal properties in one preferable direction. This preferable direction can vary from region to region in the composite part to fulfill design objectives. Required local micro-tailoring and optimization of structure for given thermal applications is achieved by exposing liquid polymer suspensions to an electric field and then curing the obtained structure. We present testing results for epoxy resin with various fillers including graphite, silica etc. Obtained orthotropic composites are tested for mechanical and thermal and electrical properties. Elastic modulus, thermal expansion, and thermal conduction are measured for various compositions, directions and degree of orthotropy. The potential of obtained materials for electronic, aerospace and automotive applications are briefly discussed.
Advanced analysis of OCT optics

This report presents an advanced analysis of the optics of optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. Study indicates that spectral filtering functions are contributed by the system optics, the coupling efficiency of both sample and reference arms, and the position of the sample relative to the optics. Simulations by advanced optical software, experiments on two existing OCT systems and the modified theoretical formula demonstrate that the different optics give different filtering functions. These filtering function narrow down the spectrum, shift the center of the spectrum and drop the amplitude of the intensity. Defining a composite standard deviation and a composite center wavelength of the two filtered spectra, we developed a new formula to describe the interference term of OCT, which clearly indicates the detail of the filtering function. An experiment in an extreme condition has been investigated in one of our existing OCT systems. We placed a narrow bandwidth filter into the reference arm. The filter has a center wavelength of 1313.6 nm with a full bandwidth of 6.4nm. The light source has a center wavelength of 1292nm with a bandwidth of 34nm. Experimental resolutions are 19 microns and 85 microns, with and without filter respectively. The calculations are 21.6 and 85.5 microns, respectively, using our new formula.
Stability of UV/visible transmission spectra of cross-linked poly(methylphenylsiloxane) after gamma irradiation—A note

Abstract Gamma irradiation is known to induce a bathochromic shift in the UV/visible transmission spectra of glassy polymers. This shift, which is often primarily due to formation of free radical color centers, can decrease, or anneal with time after irradiation. The effect of aging on the UV/visible spectra of silicone elastomer, poly(methylphenylsiloxane) (PMPS), was compared to that of a glassy polymer, poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBMA). Radiation induced a slight, initial, bathochromic shift in the transmission spectra of the elastomers. This shift became more pronounced after aging for one year. In contrast, PBMA exhibited a pronounced, initial bathochromic shift upon irradiation which diminished considerably after aging for one year.
Severe Odontogenic Infections, Part 2: Prospective Outcomes Study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify significant predictors of 4 outcomes in patients with severe odontogenic infections: abscess formation, penicillin therapeutic failure (PTF), length of hospital stay (LOS), and need for reoperation. Patients and Methods We used a prospective case series study design and enrolled 37 consecutive patients admitted for severe odontogenic infection between March 1996 and June 1999. Treatment consisted of intravenous penicillin (PCN) or clindamycin in PCN-allergic patients, surgical incision and drainage, and extraction(s) as soon as possible. Study variables were categorized as demographic, preadmission, time-related, preoperative, anatomic, treatment, microbiologic, and complications. The primary outcome variables were abscess formation, PTF, LOS, and reoperation. Multivariate linear and logistic regression techniques were used to measure associations between study variables and the outcome variables. Results The sample consisted of 37 subjects (23 male, 14 female) with a mean age of 34.9 ± 15.8 years. Multivariate analyses, controlling for confounding variables, indicated that culture of Peptostreptococci was a negative predictor of abscess formation. LOS was predicted by the number of infected spaces and duration of operation. There was no significant predictor of PTF or reoperation on multivariate analysis, although PCN-resistant organisms were isolated in all cases of PTF. Conclusion Increased LOS in severe odontogenic infections is predicted by the anatomic extent and severity of the infection and the occurrence of complications such as PTF and the need for reoperation. PTF is significantly associated with later identification of PCN-resistant organisms. The role of Peptostreptococci in abscess formation warrants further investigation.
Limiting form of taylor series used in extrapolating components of the geomagnetic intensity

In the extrapolation of geomagnetic components, a theoretical treatment of the Taylor series shows that the ratio of the absolute value of successive terms of the series approaches the limit h/a where h is the extrapolation distance and a is the radius of the Earth. Expressions are presented for the limiting form of the remainder after a certain finite number of terms of the series. These expressions, which comprise the product of a computed term and a binomial series, may be used to limit the number of partial derivatives that need to be computed
Predicting noise voltage from trace crossing split planes on printed circuit boards

Printed circuit Boards (PCBs) often have high speed data traces crossing splits in the adjacent reference planes due to space limitations and cost constraints. These split planes are usually different power islands on nearby layers. This work quantifies the effect of the split plane and the associated stitching capacitor for various stackup configurations.
Impact of Enteral Methadone on the Ability to Wean off Continuously Infused Opioids in Critically Ill, Mechanically Ventilated Adults: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND:Continuously infused opioids are frequently used to optimize patient comfort in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, concerns about rebound pain and opioid withdrawal may delay efforts to discontinue this therapy.OBJECTIVE:To measure the association between use of scheduled enteral methadone according to a protocol in mechanically ventilated, medical critically ill adults receiving prolonged continuously infused fentanyl and the time to discontinue continuously infused fentanyl therapy.METHODS:This case-control study included 20 consecutive mechanically ventilated adults in a medical ICU, without a history of chronic opioid use, who received 72 or more hours of continuously infused fentanyl and were prescribed scheduled enteral methadone as part of a protocol medical ICU strategy to wean off continuously infused fentanyl. Patients were matched in a 1:2 fashion, by duration of mechanical ventilation, to 40 consecutive preprotocol medical ICU patients meeting the same criteria but who were nev...
Incorporation of tracers and dazomet by rotary tillers and a spading machine

Soil fumigant efficacy in forest-tree and ornamental nurseries depends on the tillage tool used for incorporation. Maximum depth and uniformity of incorporation of surface applied materials by three rotary tillers and a spading machine were compared in a loamy sand nursery using ceramic-sphere tracers (1-3 mm diameter) and dazomet (tetrahydro-3,5,dimethyl-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazone-2-thione) micro-granules. Depth of incorporation in the top 30cm of soil was evaluated by (1) recovery of incorporated spheres in 2cm increments, (2) biocidal activity in 6cm increments, and (3) cone resistance by 1.5cm increments to 45cm. Uniformity of incorporation was evaluated by sphere recovery and biocidal activity. Depths above which more than 95% of the spheres were recovered for the four implements were: 12.5cm, Kuhn and Fobro rotary tillers; 17cm, Northwest rotary tiller; 21cm, Gramegna spading machine. The spading machine produced a distribution of spheres through the soil profile closest to a uniform distribution compared with that produced by the three rotary tillers. Lettuce seed (Lactuca sativa L.) germination was inhibited in the upper 12cm in low and high dazomet rate treatments, indicating that all four implements effectively incorporated dazomet into that zone. Maximum depth (24cm) for total inhibition of germination was observed for the spading machine regardless of chemical rate. Cone index values showed the following maximum penetration: 14cm, Fobro rotary tiller; 22cm, Kuhn and Northwest rotary tillers; 27cm, spading machine. All three measures of depth show a distinct superiority of the spading machine when the chemical fumigant must reach depths greater than 18cm. Within transects across the width of the implement, variations of sphere counts among 5cm³ volumes were much larger for the rotary tillers than for the spade machine.
Demographics and treatment of the American family

AbstractThere have been numerous changes to the US family over the past several decades. Traditional family roles have changed, and the conception of what Americans consider a ‘family’ has likewise shifted with differing societal views regarding gender, gender roles, race, and ethnicity. This review examines demographics of the American family as well as a number of family therapies that have been historically and are presently used to treat family problems. We expect that with the changes present in US society, family therapies will need to continue to be sensitive and adaptive to these shifts in order to be effective.
Nuclei-size distributions as predictive tools of hematopoietic cell proliferation.

Background Current protocols for transplantation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells may be limited by donor-cell availability and the long time needed to restore neutrophil and platelet counts to normal levels. Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic cells has the potential to decrease the required harvest size, and to enhance the transplant outcome, by providing greater numbers of progenitor and post-progenitor cells. However, widespread application of ex vivo expansion in the clinical setting is complicated by sample-to-sample variability in the extent and kinetics of cell expansion. For example, the lag time before active cell expansion may vary by several days and some samples may never expand under the culture conditions employed. An early determination regarding the fate of a culture would save time and resources, and would allow corrective action to be taken if desired. Furthermore, anticipation of the onset of cell cycling should prove useful in the development of culture-feeding strategies, as...
The kinematics and mechanism of prey capture in the African pig-nosed frog (Hemisus marmoratum): description of a radically divergent anuran tongue.

High-speed videography and muscle denervation experiments were used to quantify the feeding kinematics of Hemisus marmoratum and to test hypotheses of muscle function. The feeding behavior of H. marmoratum, which feeds on ants and termites, differs radically from that of other frogs that have been studied. During feeding in H. marmoratum, the tongue 9telescopes9 straight out of the mouth, as opposed to the 9flipping9 tongue trajectory observed in most other frogs. At the time of prey contact, two lateral lobes of tissue at the tongue tip envelop the prey. These lateral lobes are capable of applying significant pulling forces to the prey and the tongue is, therefore, described as prehensile. The trajectory of the tongue can be adjusted throughout protraction so that the frog can 9aim9 its tongue in all three dimensions; distance, azimuth and elevation. Bilateral denervation of the genioglossus muscles results in a complete lack of tongue protraction, indicating that the genioglossus muscle is the main tongue protractor in H. marmoratum, as in other frogs. Thus, H. marmoratum provides strong evidence of functional conservatism of the genioglossus muscle within anurans. Bilateral denervation of the hyoglossus muscle indicates that although the hyoglossus is involved in several aspects of normal tongue retraction, including the prehensile capability of the tongue tip, it is not necessary for tongue retraction. Unilateral denervation of the genioglossus muscle causes significant deviation of the tongue towards the denervated side, providing evidence for a mechanism of lateral tongue aiming. On the basis of the kinematics of prey capture, the anatomy of the tongue and the results of the denervation experiments, we propose that H. marmoratum uses a hydraulic mechanism to protract its tongue.
STUDIES ON THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE: E Mead Johnson Award Address

The nature and diversity of acid mucopolysaccharides of connective tissue have been discussed. It is probable that these substances play a variety of physiologic roles. Insulin affects the rate of synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides in skin. There is a striking decrease in concentration in the skin of diabetic animals. This is restored toward normal by the administration of insulin. Acid mucopolysaccharides are excreted in the urine of patients with Hurler syndrome. At least two different polysaccharides are involved. The amount of each in the tissues and urine vary in different patients.
Nutritionally Improved Agricultural Crops

Agricultural innovation has always involved new, science-based products and processes that have contributed reliable methods for increasing productivity and sustainability. Biotechnology has introduced a new dimension to such innovation, offering efficient and cost-effective means to produce a
THE LOSS THAT HAS NO NAME: Social Womanhood of Foreign Wives

The data from a sample of wives living in countries not their own led to a challenge of the assumption that womanhood is an ascribed status. The article contrasts social womanhood with biological womanhood and shows the ways wives attempted to bridge the gaps between definitions of womanhood in their own and in their husbands' societies. If womanhood is an achieved status, further work is needed to define the dimensions and the criteria for this status.
Protease-activated receptor signaling: new roles and regulatory mechanisms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Protease-activated receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that transmit cellular responses to coagulant proteases in a variety of cell types in the vasculature and other tissues. Several other proteases can activate protease-activated receptors in vitro and may affect their function in vivo. While a role for these receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis has been established, their functions in inflammatory and other responses have yet to be fully elucidated. In addition, the mechanisms responsible for protease and cell type-specific signaling mediated by these receptors are largely undefined. Here, we highlight recent advances in understanding the roles and regulation of protease-activated receptor signaling. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have increased our knowledge of the function of protease-activated receptor signaling in platelets and its contribution to thrombosis. In other cell types, recent work has revealed new connections between these receptors and signaling effectors important for vascular development and inflammatory responses. Other studies have advanced our understanding of protease and cell type-specific responses as well as novel regulatory mechanisms for control of protease-activated receptor signaling. SUMMARY: Thus, elucidating the signaling and regulatory mechanisms of protease-activated receptors in various tissues and cell types is important for understanding their biological function as well as for designing therapeutic strategies to control their function.
XV—Self-Interest and Self-Sacrifice

Stephen Darwall has recently suggested (following work by Mark Overvold) that theories which identify a person's good with her own ranking of concerns do not properly delimit the ‘scope’ of welfare, making self-sacrifice conceptually impossible. But whether a theory of welfare makes self-sacrifice impossible depends on what self-sacrifice is. I offer an alternative analysis to Overvold's, explaining why self-interest and self-sacrifice need not be opposed, and so why the problems of delimiting the scope of welfare and of allowing for self-sacrifice are distinct. If my analysis is correct, desire theories may allow for self-sacrifice however they delimit the scope of welfare.
Rotating disk with uniform suction in streaming flow

We investigate the flow as it occurs above a single rotating disk when uniform suction is applied at the disk surface. It has been demonstrated by others that at zero suction repeated branching of the solution occurs as the parameter s is varied, where s is the ratio of the angular velocity of the fluid at infinity to the angular velocity of the disk. We show multiplicity of solution also at −0·82⩽α⩽1·15, where α is the suction parameter; for large absolute values of α the solution fails to turn back on itself and we obtain only the von Karman solution. We then generalize the von Karman solution for flow above a single rotating disk with uniform suction to include non-axisymmetric solutions due to streaming at infinity. These solutions are continuous in an arbitrary parameter, the streaming velocity at infinity; for zero value of this parameter the asymmetric flow degenerates into the classical von Karman flow. Thus the classical solution is never isolated when considered within the framework of the Navier–Stokes equations: there are asymmetric solutions in every neighbourhood of the von Karman solution.