cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Blind Equalization with Multichannel CRIMNO Algorithm

Abstract A new adaptive blind equalization algorithm for multichannel systems is presented in this paper. The cost function is an augmented version of CRIMNO (criterion with memory nonlinearity), which also includes the mean-square error criterion between the outputs of the multichannel equalizers. It is shown that by forcing the outputs of the equalizers to be equal, as should be during perfect equalization, the convergence of the MCRIMNO (Multichannel CRIMNO) technique is faster than its individual single-channel versions. The convergence of the new algorithm is independent of time or frequency shifts of the received sequences. Simulation results clearly demonstrate the improved performance of the MCRIMNO technique.
Adolescents' reactions to the World Trade Center destruction: A study of political trauma in metropolitan New York

This study examined the emotional response of 110 adolescents living in the New York metropolitan area one month and five months after the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) by terrorists. The purpose of the study was to assess emerging hypotheses in political psychology that suggest that there are differential emotional responses to a national trauma that recede in predictable directions. The results followed predictions and indicate that adolescents experienced a higher level of emotions related to the Crisis and Bereavement dimension than affect associated with Vulnerability and that the emotional response decreased during the four-month follow-up period. There was no effect on emotional response from the biological sex or political orientation of the respondents, which is inconsistent with other studies in the literature. The absence of a political orientation effect is explained in terms of the lack of a domestic ideological difference in response to the terrorist attack.
In search of the false-negative exercise treadmill testing evidence-based use of exercise echocardiography.

Background Controversy exists regarding the role of exercise treadmill testing (ETT) versus exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) as the appropriate initial noninvasive test to risk-stratify patients with chest pain. The majority of studies to date that evaluated these methodologies included patients with poor functional status and baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, potentially limiting the sensitivity of ETT. Hypothesis We examined the hypothesis that given stringent standards of exercise duration and ECG interpretability, the ETT would have a high diagnostic sensitivity for the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Results of concurrent ETT and ESE in 3,098 patients were examined, and the subset of patients with a negative ETT and positive ESE (−ETT/ + ESE) were reviewed for the presence of CAD as a function of exercise duration (< or ≥ 6 min) and baseline ECG normality. Results In those patients with a − ETT/ + ESE who exercised ≥ 6 min, 54 had a normal baseline ECG, 22 underwent angiography and 6 had CAD (all of whom had either small, grafted or collateralized vessels). Patients with a − ETT/ + ESE who were incapable of exercising 6 min were more frequently older and female. Mortality was significantly greater in the < 6 min exercise duration group (31.4 versus 3.1%). Conclusions These findings support the use of the ETT without imaging as the initial test in patients with chest pain who have a normal baseline ECG and are able to exercise 6 min. Using these criteria, false negative findings are generally seen in patients without critical large vessel epicardial disease. The ESE should be reserved as the initial test for patients with an abnormal baseline ECG or reduced functional capacity. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical, Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Mechanism of K-H Instability and Ring Generation behind Supersonic MVG

This paper illustrates the dominant mechanism of the ring-like vortex formation which was found generated by micro vortex generated (MVG) for shock-boundary layer interaction control by our implicit large eddy simulation (ILES) with high order accuracy and our experiment. An averaged velocity profile after MVG is taken as the base flow. The disturbed viscous incompressible and inviscit compressible stability equations have been derived in a 3D coordinates, axially symmetric in particular. After we introduced the effect of simplified spanwise counter-rotating vortices, we theoretically conclude that the structure of vortex rings behind the MVG is a consequence of the momentum deficit according to the axisymmetic instability theorem.
Striving for the Sacred: Personal Goals, Life Meaning, and Religion

Religion invests human existence with meaning by establishing goals and value systems that potentially pertain to all aspects of a persons' life. A goals approach provides a general unifying framework to capture the dynamic aspect of religion in people's lives. Empirical research on the measurement of spirituality and religion through personal goals is described. To illustrate the application of the goals framework, data from the author's research program on personal goals and quality of life in persons with neuromuscular diseases are described. Framing subjective quality-of-life outcomes in terms of goals can lead to new possibilities for understanding adaptation to physical disabilities and in particular, the understanding of the religious and spiritual dimensions of disability and rehabilitation.
The prevention of child maltreatment recidivism through the Solution-Based Casework model of child welfare practice

Abstract The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Solution-Based Casework model of child welfare practice to prevent recidivism of child maltreatment for families involved with the public child welfare system. Previous research has focused primarily on casework, child, and family characteristics associated with maltreatment recidivism. Most prevention models have targeted high-risk families who have not yet entered this public child welfare system (primary prevention). Hence, this study addresses the need for the field to identify viable practice models for the public child welfare system to prevent re-abuse (secondary or tertiary prevention). This research compared recidivism referrals for a sample of workers who used the Solution-Based Casework model to those who did not use the model. There were 760 cases tracked over a 6-month time period. Results indicate that cases in which the Solution-Based Casework model was used experienced significantly fewer recidivism referrals than those in which the model was not used.
Note on the conserved current in the weak interactions

The relation between the lack of renormalization and the conserved current is investigated. Furthermore, it is proved under some conditions that we cannot construct a conserved current for the strangeness-violating process. However, if we neglect the mass-differences between baryons, then this is possible to do and some examples are given. Finally, some speculations on the weak interactions are given.
Studies on Practical Low Complexity Decoding of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

This paper studies practical low complexity decoding of Low Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes. We first investigate VLSI implementation issues of two state-of-the-art Weighted Bit Flipping (WBF) based decoding algorithms that were recently proposed in the literature. Then we present an optimized 2-bit soft decoding approach. It is shown that the proposed approach has comparable hardware complexity with either of the two WBF-based algorithms while it has significantly better decoding performance.
Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition of Cu−Pd Films: Alloy Growth Kinetics

We have examined the formation of copper films alloyed with small quantities of palladium. Independent control studies of palladium and copper deposition from palladium bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate) [Pd(hfac)2] and (hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(I)(vinyltrimethylsilane) [(hfac)Cu(I)(vtms)], both in the presence and absence of H2, were carried out. The growth kinetics for both metals were feed-rate-limited under similar reactor conditions. No significant variation in deposition rate (100 nm/min, Pd; 100−500 nm/min, Cu), morphology, resistivity, and purity of the copper films was observed due to the addition of H2. Simultaneous introduction of both precursors yielded Cu−Pd alloy films. The absence of pure palladium grains was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis which showed binary solid solutions (Cu99.5Pd0.5−Cu80Pd20) as the only crystalline phases. Auger electron spectroscopy analysis showed a significant reduction in the palladium content of the films as compared to that expected on the basis of ...
Effect of Cooling Rate on Crystallization of Model Waxy Oils with Microcrystalline Poly(ethylene butene)

The crystallization of long-chain n-paraffins and their binary mixtures from model waxy oils with decane as the solvent has been studied as a function of cooling rates by rheology, optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The yield stresses of the gels formed upon cooling solutions of n-hexatriacontane (C36) and n-dotriacontane (C32) in decane increase with faster cooling rate, while for n-octacosane (C28) they decrease. DSC shows that the pure C28 wax precipitated from solution comprises multiple metastable phases as has been shown previously by X-ray scattering. Crystallization of C36 + C32 mixtures gives solid solutions with the yield stresses increasing with cooling rate, similar to the behavior of the pure component waxes. C36 and C28 crystallize separately from their mixed solution as observed by DSC. Addition of microcrystalline poly(ethylene butene) (PEB) wax crystal modifiers to single or mixed solutions greatly reduces the gel yield stress. The PEBs reduce crystal sizes a...
Field-induced population inversion of distant donor-acceptor pairs

In a wide-gap semiconductor or insulator containing deep donors and acceptors, the electron exchange between donor-acceptor pairs can be made to proceed in either direction A → D or D → A by applying, removing, or reversing a high electric field. Different emission spectra are expected in the three cases.
Psychosocial Determinants of Cigarette Smoking Among College Students

Although the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents and adults consistently declined in the past decade, smoking among college students rose sharply. To reduce the morbidity and premature mortality caused by smoking, antismoking interventions need to target this vulnerable population. Anonymous self-report data were collected from a convenience sample of 224 college students who voluntarily completed a Web-based survey developed to assess the relation of risk-taking tendency, depression, social normative beliefs, and smoking resistance self-efficacy to cigarette smoking behavior.¹ Employing structural analysis using LISREL (Joreskog & Sorbom,1996), all 4 factors were confirmed as determinants of smoking. Resistance self-efficacy, the only direct antecedent, mediated the link to risk-taking tendency, depression, and social normative beliefs. Antismoking interventions that focus on enhancing refusal skills and are delivered to homogeneous groups are proposed as an effective approach to reducing c...
Three-dimensional measurements of single bubble dynamics in a small diameter pipe using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry

Abstract The particle tracking velocimetry combined with the shadow image measurement techniques were used to study the velocity field generated by the passage of a single air bubble through a small volume, as it was rising in quiescent water, in a small diameter pipe. This technique provides the velocity field in conjunction with the bubble size and shape. The tracer particles were first tracked through four consecutive frames, using a Hough transform and an architecture resonance theory 2 (ART 2) neural network. Then, the three-dimensional reconstruction of the flow field in the whole measurement volume was achieved through a stereoscopic matching technique. Detailed information about the three-dimensional reconstruction of the bubble shape, calibration, particle tracking, and stereoscopic vector matching algorithms is presented. Error analysis to evaluate the accuracy of the measurements is also included. The effect of the wall on the flow field was studied by dividing the test volume into two regions; namely, center region and wall region. This allowed grouping similar bubble rise trajectories to perform conditional averages of the transient behavior of the velocity field. The vorticity generated from the velocity field is described and discussed for the bubble trajectory along the pipe core.
Gene Transfer to the Nervous System: Prospects for Novel Treatments Directed at Diseases of the Aging Nervous System

In the past 3 decades, gene therapy has moved from a theoretical construct to an active field of basic research, animal studies, and clinical trials. In this article, we describe the conceptual basis underlying the use of gene therapy for diseases of the aging nervous system, the principal techniques used for gene delivery, and review preclinical animal studies in 4 different classes of neurologic dysfunction: 1) focal neuronal degeneration in the central nervous system; 2) global neuronal dysfunction in the central nervous system; 3) degenerative disease affecting components of the peripheral nervous system; and 4) intractable focal pain. The full potential of this approach will not be established until the human trials are completed.
Kinetic analysis of cholesterol turnover in rat tissues.

Abstract A number of studies have been conducted on serum cholesterol disappearance following a single injection of tracer. They have shown 2 or 3 component curves depending on the length of time of observation. They have been interpreted to indicate pools of cholesterol in fast or slow equilibrium with serum and generally depicted as representing groups of tissues. A cholesterol kinetic study was conducted using rats so that each tissue could be analyzed for appearance-disappearance of cholesterol from 30 minutes to 75 days. Serum and liver appeared to die-away for 30 days in a 2 component configuration, then exhibited a repetition of the same curve in the next 30 days. Skeletal muscle and kidney had a slow buildup for 2 weeks, then a plateau for 2 weeks then a 2 component die-away. Adipose showed a high plateau from 30 minutes to 30 days then a 2 component die-away, with specific activity higher than serum at all times. The data are interpreted to indicate that adipose tissue sequestered part of the tracer dose and all tissues reached equilibrium at about 30 days. After that time all tissues had a statistically significant 2 component die-away curve. The mathematical models tested suggest that in the steady state, cholesterol enters and exits the slow pool of serum, kidney, muscle and adipose and in liver enters both pools. Interpretation of the complete die-away is that the tracer dose first equilibrates with membrane free cholesterol, then with the intracellular cholesterol, and finally dies-away at the rate of release by the slow intercellular pool.
The effects of patchy food availability on nest‐site selection and movement patterns of reproductively active female meadow voles Microtus pennsylvanicus

Radiotelemetry was used to study the movements of female meadow voles Microtus pennsylvanicus Ord through the reproductive cycle. The study was conducted on a commercial field of crownvetch Coronilla varia L., a plant which provides excellent cover but contains a toxin making it unsuitable as forage. In this habitat, food is limited to small patches of grass and other non-crownvetch species dispersed throughout the fields. Four measures of movement (activity radius, distance moved per hour, nest radius, and area covered) showed significant reductions at parturition. Females maintained low levels of movement throughout the first week of nursing as they concentrated activity around the brood nest. After seven days of lactation, they began to spend less time at the nest. A slight increase in median activity radius occurred through the last six days of gestation. Brood nests were constructed in a portion of the home range that contained a relatively high concentration of food. Chi-square tests revealed a significant positive association of females with non-crownvetch plants during the first six days of lactation but no association with non-crownvetch was found before parturition. Females chose nest locations in which, prior to parturition, they had spent little or no time presumably because nutritious plants were less grazed there.
INCREASED ADIPOSE-TISSUE LIPOPROTEIN-LIPASE ACTIVITY IN MODERATELY OBESE MEN AFTER WEIGHT REDUCTION

Most of the many metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity are corrected by weight reduction. Adipose-tissue lipoprotein-lipase activity per cell is increased in obesity. Adipose-tissue lipoprotein-lipase was significantly higher in seven previously obese men studied at a stable reduced weight than in a control population. In fact, enzyme activity was significantly higher than would have been predicted from the obese men's maximum weight. These results indicate that abnormalities in adipose-tissue lipoprotein lipase may have a primary role in the development of obesity.
Magnetoplasma modes of the two-dimensional electron gas at nonintegral filling factors.

Two approaches are used to discuss the collective excitations of a two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field B, which occur at energies near \ensuremath{\Elzxh}${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}$=\ensuremath{\Elzxh}eB/mc. The first approach, a time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation, becomes exact at integral Landau-level filling in the strong-field limit. The second approach, a generalized single-mode approximation, incorporates the strong correlations among electrons in a partially filled Landau level and is more reliable but can be conveniently implemented only in the strong-field limit. Both approaches predict the existence of poles in the density response function at finite wave vector for \ensuremath{\omega}=${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}$, which may lead to anomalies in the cyclotron-resonance line shape.
Low energy ion-surface interactions

Abstract In this paper we present measured energy and angular distributions for 10–100 eV Na+ scattering from Cu(001). Excellent agreement with the measured spectra is achieved with a simulation that uses a model potential for the ion-surface interaction. From these spectra we can extract information about the scattering dynamics, such as the scattering trajectories, energy transfer to the surface, and particle trapping. For energies below 50 eV we find that these quantities are particularly sensitive to the attractive well in the potential. We also present measurements that probe the charge transfer process (the exchange of electrons between the atom and surface) for 5–1600 eV alkali ion scattering from Cu. We briefly discuss the role that charge transfer plays in influencing the scattering dynamics.
On local linear functionals for L-splines

Abstract Quasi interpolant fumnctionals for L -splines are constructed. With them as a tool, an explicit construction of LB -splines is given, as well as a quick proof of the existence and uniqueness of the expansion of an L -spline in an LB -spline series. Moreover, a necessary and sufficient condition for a function to generate a local linear functional that vanishes at all LB -splines but one, is obtained.
Development of a detector model for generation of synthetic radiographs of cargo containers

Creation of synthetic cargo-container radiographs that possess attributes of their empirical counterparts requires accurate models of the imaging-system response. Synthetic radiographs serve as surrogate data in studies aimed at determining system effectiveness for detecting target objects when it is impractical to collect a large set of empirical radiographs. In the case where a detailed understanding of the detector system is available, an accurate detector model can be derived from first-principles. In the absence of this detail, it is necessary to derive empirical models of the imaging-system response from radiographs of well-characterized objects. Such a case is the topic of this work, where we demonstrate the development of an empirical model of a gamma-ray radiography system with the intent of creating a detector-response model that translates uncollided photon transport calculations into realistic synthetic radiographs. The detector-response model is calibrated to field measurements of well-characterized objects thus incorporating properties such as system sensitivity, spatial resolution, contrast and noise.
Intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumors: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

BACKGROUND Intraabdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumors (IDSRCT) are uncommon but aggressive tumors that occur in young males. To the authors' knowledge, only limited data are available on the natural history and optimal treatment of this disease. METHODS The authors reviewed 12 patients with IDSRCT who were treated at their institution between January 1991 and December 2001. RESULTS All patients were males, with a median age of 26 years. All patients were symptomatic at the time of presentation, with a mean duration of symptoms of 2 months. Common presenting symptoms and signs were abdominal pain (67% of patients), palpable abdominal mass (58% of patients), abdominal distension (42% of patients), and hepatomegaly (33% of patients). Six patients (50%) had distant metastases at presentation. Five patients underwent biopsy only. Surgical resection was attempted in seven patients and included macroscopic total resection in three patients and debulking in four patients. All of those patients subsequently developed recurrent or progressive disease, which required a second operation in six patients. Overall, 6 patients (50%) developed symptomatic intestinal obstruction requiring surgical management, and 3 patients (25%) developed ureteral obstruction. All 12 patients received multiagent chemotherapy. Seven patients (55%) also received radiation therapy. The median survival of patients who underwent surgical resection was 34 months, whereas the median survival of patients who underwent biopsy alone was 14 months. One patient remained alive 72 months after he underwent complete resection of primary and recurrent tumors, and 1 patient remained alive with disease 32 months after he underwent complete resection of a primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS Patients with IDSRCT presented with a short duration of nonspecific symptoms, and the disease was fatal almost uniformly, regardless of the treatment modality used. Surgical resection may prolong survival in some patients. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Enhanced field emission of vertically oriented carbon nanosheets synthesized by C2H2/H2 plasma enhanced CVD

Abstract Carbon nanosheets, free-standing, two-dimensional, carbon nanostructures with atomically thin edges, were synthesized by radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This work reports nanosheet growth using acetylene as a feedstock gas. The maximum acetylene nanosheet growth rate was found to be 16 μm/h or ∼8 times that of previously reported methane nanosheets. The acetylene nanosheets have a smooth surface morphology, an ordered, vertical orientation, a uniform sheet height distribution and a graphitic structure containing some defects. In emission current density vs. applied electric field ( J – E ) field emission measurements, the acetylene nanosheets have a threshold field, for 10 μA/cm 2 current density, of ∼3.0 V/μm. In direct current emission mode, a stable continuous milliampere level emission current, corresponding to a current density up to 9.4 mA/cm 2 , was collected from acetylene nanosheet samples for more than 100 h.
Elastic scattering of polarized 4.4 MeV neutrons from 6Li and 7Li

Abstract The polarization of 4.4 MeV neutrons scattered from 6Li and 7Li has been measured for centre-of-mass scattering angles between 46° and 126°. The angular dependence of polarization observed with both isotopes exhibits a dominant sin 2Θ dependence.
A multivariate analysis of neuroanatomic relationships in a genetically informative pediatric sample

An important component of brain mapping is an understanding of the relationships between neuroanatomic structures, as well as the nature of shared causal factors. Prior twin studies have demonstrated that much of individual differences in human anatomy are caused by genetic differences, but information is limited on whether different structures share common genetic factors. We performed a multivariate statistical genetic analysis on volumetric MRI measures (cerebrum, cerebellum, lateral ventricles, corpus callosum, thalamus, and basal ganglia) from a pediatric sample of 326 twins and 158 singletons. Our results suggest that the great majority of variability in cerebrum, cerebellum, thalamus and basal ganglia is determined by a single genetic factor. Though most (75%) of the variability in corpus callosum was explained by additive genetic effects these were largely independent of other structures. We also observed relatively small but significant environmental effects common to multiple neuroanatomic regions, particularly between thalamus, basal ganglia, and lateral ventricles. These findings are concordant with prior volumetric twin studies and support radial models of brain evolution.
An epidemic of streptococcal infection in a skin hospital.

SUMMARY. The epidemic spread of a streptococcus through the wards of a skin hospital is described. Nineteen patients had lesions infected with a Group A Type T 8/25/Imp 19 streptococcus resistant to tetracycline and neomycin. Five skin or nasal carriers were also detected.
When Thinking Beats Doing: The Role of Optimistic Expectations in Goal-Based Choice

We propose that, in the pursuit of ongoing goals, optimistic expectations of future goal pursuit have greater impact on immediate actions than do less optimistic considerations, such as retrospections on past goal pursuit or less optimistic expectations. Further, we propose that the direction of the impact is determined by the framing of goal pursuit: it motivates goal-congruent actions when goal pursuit is framed as commitment to the goal but motivates goal-incongruent actions when the pursuit is framed as progress toward the goal. Four studies provided consistent support for the proposed hypothesis.
Software reuse through re-engineering the legacy systems

Abstract Software reuse is widely considered to be a way to increase the productivity and improve the quality and reliability of new software systems. Identifying, extracting and re-engineering software components that implement abstractions within existing systems is a promising cost-effective way to create reusable assets and re-engineer legacy systems. This paper summarizes our experiences with using computer-supported methods to develop a software architecture to support the re-engineering of the Janus Combat Simulation System. In this effort, we have developed an object-oriented architecture for the Janus Combat Simulation Subsystem, and validated the architecture with an executable prototype. In this paper, we propose methods to facilitate the reuse of the software components of the legacy systems by recovering the behavior of the systems using systematic methods, and illustrate their use in the context of the Janus System.
Optimal adaptive price search

Consider the problem of a consumer desiring to buy a good which is sold at a variety of prices. Such a buyer will be able to obtain a sequence of price quotations from various sellers. When should the buyer stop searching for a lower price? If he continues, he may obtain a lower price, but he incurs additional time, effort and expense in searching. The optimal price search decision is one of balancing the expectation of a possibly lower price obtained by continued search against cumulative costs from search. When the prices arise from a known probability distribution, the optimal search strategy has certain well-defined and desirable properties. In the more realistic case that the buyer has only partial information about the price distribution and must update his beliefs after observing prices in the marketplace, the problem becomes more complex, and search strategies become less well behaved. The major purpose of this article is to determine new conditions under which optimal policies have these desirable characteristics in the case where the consumer possesses only incomplete information about the distribution of prices. Price quotations he receives, in addition to providing him with price possibilities, provide him with information about that distribution. Rothschild [ 151, in citing an unpublished paper of Gastwirth, has noted that small specification errors for an assumed distribution can lead to substantial changes in expected number of searches and expected cost. Consequently, the assumption of a known distribution of prices can have a profound effect on total cost. 1 0022-053 l/8 l/040001-20$02.00/O
The effect of cessation of smoking on body weight in 57,032 women: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Abstract This study of 57,032 female members of TOPS, a national weight reducing organization, is based on data from a questionnaire administered in 1969 and 1970. We discuss possible biases that use of this population may have introduced and cite earlier publications supporting the accuracy of our questionnaire. Previous cross-sectional studies have found smokers in general to be lighter than non-smokers. This study confirms this result. We find a U-shape relationship between the independent variable, amount smoked, and the dependent variable, obesity level in women. This agrees with the results reported in Welsh steelworkers. Previous longitudinal studies, all on males and all 5 yr or less, have reported weight gain ranging from 0 to 12 lb upon cessation of smoking. Our results for females agree with the higher weight gains. Since our data reflect the complete adult experience of these women, we report here that weight change associated with cessation of smoking is permanent: the ‘quit’ cohort remains heavier than the ‘continued’ smoking cohort for at least 25 yr after cessation. In the longitudinal analysis, light smokers who smoked one-half pack per day gained about 5 lb after they quit. Heavy smokers, consuming over two packs a day. on the average gained 30 lb. Moderate smokers gained an intermediate amount.
An engineering analysis of dental occlusion principles.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to develop an analytical model of contacting teeth, based on principles of basic engineering statics. The model would be used to demonstrate the interactions between occlusal contacts and tooth loading (forces and moments) and to critique occlusion-related dogma. Methods Free-body diagrams were drawn to depict 2 teeth in occlusal contact. In combination with the concept of the center of resistance, the governing equilibrium equations were derived and used to solve for the forces and moments on the teeth and to investigate the influences of tripod and cusp-fossa occlusal schemes. Results With a specific load on a tooth, it was demonstrated that the load on the opposing tooth and the concomitant occlusal scheme dictated crown-crown contact forces that can be computed. Conclusions This engineering analysis suggests flaws in widely held notions about the mechanics of occlusion. Loading that is generally considered clinically desirable is certain to produce undesirable loading on the opposing tooth. The complex relationships between the loads on teeth and crown-crown occlusal contacts make it virtually impossible to control tooth loading with occlusal equilibration. For computational and conceptual reasons, it is essential to consider the center of resistance.
Challenges & compromises in Spike Lee's Malcolm X

–This study looks at Spike Lee's Malcolm X as an important text in understanding Afrocentric perspectives that challenge the ideological stereotypes of mainstream Hollywood film. Malcolm X intervenes between Lee, the filmmaker, and the powerful media industry and is emblematic of the larger discussion of hegemonic and counter-hegemonic views in media culture. This film is not only an interesting case study but a significant part of an ongoing cultural discourse that is as relevant now as when Malcolm X lived. The relevance of this essay lies in its contribution to the discussion of media perspectives with a focus on furthering media literacy. It aids the viewer in understanding the social discourse surrounding a mediated racist ideology and the ongoing cultural work of social equality in the United States. This research finds that in the continuing struggle over media representation, Lee's film is an instrument of media politics, controversy, and commercialization.
Preparation of carbon micro-ribbon targets and open-edged stripper foils for the IUCF cooler ring☆

Abstract The use of 5–15 μg/cm 2 films of vacuum-evaporated carbon as targets and stripper foils in the IUCF cooler ring requires compliance with the characteristics of the ring. One way to circumvent the upper limit in target thickness of 10 15 nuclei/cm 2 (less than 100 ng/cm 2 ) for stationary targets is to move a somewhat thicker ribbon quickly through the beam. Our current methods for fabricating, handling, and mounting carbon micro-ribbons are described. Stripping-injection of 90 MeV H 2 + beam from the cyclotron into the cooler is accomplished using 5–15 μg/cm 2 stationary carbon foils. The requirement that these foils be mounted on a “C”-shaped frame with an open side of 31 mm, proved surprisingly easy to fulfill. A technique will be described for producing single-layer stripper foils which have a relatively straight edge that is unsupported across one side.
In Vivo Human Head Regional Conductivity Estimation Using A Three-sphere Model

A precise estimate of the electrical conductivity of each constituent tissue of the head is necessary for proper biophysical modeling of the EEG and MEG. A method is proposed and tested to calculate scalp, skull, and brain conductivities based on measurement of the induced potential field produced by injection of a known current across the head in vivo. Initial estimates in four subjects give the ratio of scalp to skull conductivities in the range 100-300. This is higher than expected, but may be caused by imprecise localization of the measuring electrodes.
Establishment and Performance of a Magnetic Resonance Cardiac Function Clinic

Our objective was to establish a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) cardiac function clinic to provide an assessment of cardiac volume, mass, and function in patients with heart failure on the same day as their cardiology outpatient clinic appointment. Sixty-four patients attended the CMR function clinic. The reproducibility, patient acceptability, and time efJiciency of the CMR clinic were assessed and compared with radionuclide ventriculography (RW) and echocardiography (echo). Reports were available in the cardiology outpatient clinic within 2 hr of the CMR appointment time. The reproducibility of volumes, ejection fraction, and mass in this heart failure population was good and comparable with CMR studies in the normal population. CMR was more acceptable to the patients than both RhVand echo (p < 0.05). The total time for CMR was less than that of RhW (42 t 4 and 61 ? 4 min, respectively; p < 0.001) but more than that of echo (echo, 23 t 2 min; p < 0.001). Comparison of ejection fractions revealed a correlation between CMR and RW of 0.7, but BlandAltman limits of agreement were wide (-10.5% to 18.9%). For CMR versus echo, the correlation was 0.6, and the limits of agreement were wider (-29.9% to 23.3%). The correlation between RNV and echo was 0.2 with wider limits of agreement (-29.8% to 24.9%). In conclusion, CMR can provide a rapid, reproducible, and patient acceptable assessment of cardiac function in heart failure patients, whereas other methods appear to have a wider variance. The high reproducibility of CMR lends itself to the follow-up of clinical progression and the effect of treatment in patients with heart failure.
Regular copolyamides. II. Preparation and characterization of regular aliphatic copolyoxamides

Regular copolyoxamides were prepared from diamine-oxamides and aliphatic diacid chlorides by interfacial and solution polymerization. Interfacial polymerization is preferred with diamineoxamides where the diamine portion has two to six methylene groups and the diamine-oxamides are readily soluble in water. Regular aliphatic polyoxamides from diamine-oxamides are readily soluble in water. Regular aliphatic polyoxamides from diamine-oxamides with more than six methylene groups in the diamine portion of the molecule are better prepared by solution polymerization in dimethyl acetamide. Regular aliphatic oxamides are soluble in trifluoroacetic acid and hexafluoroisopropanol and show a considerable alternation of the melting point behavior in the diamine portion of the polyamides with up to five methylene groups. Copolyoxamides with two and four methylene groups melt higher than the copolyoxamides with three and five methylene groups. Aliphatic copolyoxamides/adipamides melt at approximately 260°C and show a steady decrease in melting points to about 220°C for polyoxamides with twelve methylene groups.
Monolithic voltage regulators

Voltage regulation has been a specialty of semiconductors since the introduction of the Zener diode well over a decade ago. Now, there is a new dimension to the field?the monolithic voltage regulator. Available in a number of configurations that have specific advantages ranging over a variety of applications, this new component not only is giving its discrete counterpart a run for the money, but is showing a potential that easily surpasses even the most optimistic of earlier predictions.
Convex Curvature Effect on the Wake Including Recovery from the Curvature

Streamwise convex-curvature effect including recovery process is discussed. Previous studies have demonstrated that even mild streamwise curvature has a marked effect on turbulence structure, heat transfer and skin friction coefficient. This effect is further investigated in the present study with Coles wake law. Coles previously reported that flows in or near equilibrium have a constant wake parameter depending on the strength of streamwise pressure gradient. Turbulent boundary layers on the curved and following recovery wall may not be in or near equilibrium and the wake parameter may depend upon the strength of curvature, &#x03B4;/R. Different streamwise curvature strength, ranging 0.01&#8211;0.1, is tested to confirm the validity of the wake law. The ratio of wake parameter between the curved and flat wall is found to be proportional to that of skin friction coefficient for the flows in both convexly curved and recovery sections. This relationship describes the deviation of wake behavior from the flat-plate turbulent boundary layer due to convex curvature.
LabVIEW-Based Wireless Monitoring System of CNC Machine Tools

As the development of industry wireless networks, sensor network, innovative sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID), and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technologies, the industry sector has made great progress in data acquisition, treatment, transfer and analysis, greatly expanded people’s ability to access information, and to control and use them. This paper developed a wireless data acquisition and storage system of CNC machine tools based on LabVIEW graphical programming language and IEEE 802.11 wireless communication protocol, effectively expanded the ability to access and use the CNC machine status information; solved the problem of data collection caused by the environment complexity of manufacture workshop and the hardness of wiring; eliminated the dead zone of manufacture workshop in the processing of the data acquisition of state information of bottom processing equipment; made the bottom machining unit no longer be the information island for manufacturing enterprises.
Past, present and future of carotid artery stenting: a critical review of randomized studies and registries

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been the standard of care in primary and secondary stroke prevention following the publication of seminal trials comparing CEA to medical therapy for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients determined to require revascularization. In recent years, carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as a potential alternative to CEA, as it is less invasive and associated with less surgically related morbidity and the potential for an accelerated convalescence. A large body of literature, including randomized clinical trials and real-world registries, has attempted to compare the safety and efficacy of CAS with that of CEA. Unfortunately, despite the wealth of data, studies have been, for the most part, conflicting and inconclusive. What appears clear is that CAS provides long-term stroke prevention equal to surgery at least to 4 years, and is a reasonable alternative to CEA in patients regardless of surgical risk or symptomatic status in the hands of experienced operators. After t...
Attachment and trait forgivingness: The mediating role of angry rumination

Integrating theories of attachment and forgiveness, we predicted that secure attachment reduces angry rumination and promotes forgiveness. To examine this prediction, in Study 1 (n = 213), participants completed the Experience in Close Relationships Scale (ECR; Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998) and the Trait Forgiveness Scale (TFS; Berry, Worthington, O’Connor, Parrott, & Wade, 2005). Individuals who were classified as securely attached displayed greater dispositional forgivingness than did insecurely attached individuals. In Study 2 (n = 218) we included the Dissipation-Rumination Scale (DRS; Caprara, 1986). Results from Study 2 replicated the association between attachment security and greater dispositional forgivingness and confirmed the mediating role of angry rumination in the attachment–forgivingness relation. 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
RESPONSE OF 0.6 M CAST-IN-STEEL-SHELL PILE IN LIQUEFIED SOIL UNDER LATERAL LOADING

This paper presents results from a full-scale lateral load test on a 0.6 m cast-in-steel-shell (CISS) pile in sand liquefied by controlled blasting. Lateral loads were applied by a hydraulic actuator to simulate seismic inertial forces. The CISS pile was instrumented to provide the data necessary for back calculating lateral soil resistance and displacement. Details of the pile instrumentation and testing procedure are described. The back-calculated soil resistance and displacement are presented as p–y curves and compared to static sand p–y curves. Results from three simplified analyses are presented, where liquefied soil resistance was accounted for by modifying standard static p–y curves, and compared to measured test results. Limitations of the simplified methods are discussed. Test results show the blast induced liquefied sand did not provide resistance to lateral pile movement at displacements up to 50 mm . At displacements of sufficient magnitude, a phase transformation in the sand occurred resultin...
Same-sex couples matter in cancer care.

The authors hope this discussion will spark interest in examining the process of coping with cancer among sexual minority individuals and same-sex couples and lead to enhanced services for this underserved and underrepresented group.
The Ribosomal Database Project: improved alignments and new tools for rRNA analysis

The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) provides researchers with quality-controlled bacterial and archaeal small subunit rRNA alignments and analysis tools. An improved alignment strategy uses the Infernal secondary structure aware aligner to provide a more consistent higher quality alignment and faster processing of user sequences. Substantial new analysis features include a new Pyrosequencing Pipeline that provides tools to support analysis of ultra high-throughput rRNA sequencing data. This pipeline offers a collection of tools that automate the data processing and simplify the computationally intensive analysis of large sequencing libraries. In addition, a new Taxomatic visualization tool allows rapid visualization of taxonomic inconsistencies and suggests corrections, and a new class Assignment Generator provides instructors with a lesson plan and individualized teaching materials. Details about RDP data and analytical functions can be found at http://rdp.cme.msu.edu/.
Common causes of false positive F18 FDG PET/CT scans in oncology

PET/CT is a common imaging modality used in the evaluation of oncology patients. While being extremely sensitive to identifying sights of malignancy F18FDG is very non-specific. We attempted to provide a brief review of some of the more common processes that a nuclear radiology physician may encounter in daily clinical practice that could result in a false positive diagnosis with F18FDG PET/CT. A fundamental understanding of the limitations of this technology by the interpreting physician is necessary to avoid making inaccurate diagnosis and potentially limiting important treatments for our patients.
Homozygosity for a Dominant Negative Thyroid Hormone Receptor Gene Responsible for Generalized Resistance to Thyroid Hormone

Generalized resistance to thyroid hormones (GRTH) commonly results from mutations in the T3-binding domain of the c-erbAβ thyroid hormone receptor gene. We have reported on a novel deletion mutation in c-erbAβ in a kindred, S, with GRTH. One patient from this kindred was the product of a consanguineous union from two affected members and was homozygous for the β-receptor defect. This patient at 3.5 weeks of age had unprecedented elevations of TSH, free T4, and free T3 (TSH, 389 mU/L; free T4, 330.8 pmol/L; free T3, 82,719 fmol/L). He displayed a complex mixture of tissue-specific hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. He had delayed growth (height age, 1 yr at chronological age 2 yr) and skeletal maturation (bone age, 4 months), and developmental delay (developmental age, 8 months), but he was quite tachycardia The homozygous patient of kindred S is markedly different from a recently reported patient with no c-erbA β-receptor. This difference indicates that a dominant negative form of c-erbAβ in man can inhi...
Spontaneous Language Markers of Spanish Language Impairment.

Spanish-speaking (SS) children with language impairment (LI) present with deficits in morphology and verb argument structure. These language areas may be useful for clinical identification of affected children. This study aimed to evaluate the discrimination accuracy of spontaneous language measures with SS preschoolers to tease out what combination of grammatical measure(s) were responsible for the LI deficits, and to determine the role of verb argument structure and syntactic complexity in identifying SS children with LI. Two sets of experiments were conducted on the spontaneous language samples of SS preschoolers with and without LI using discriminant function analyses. The study found that (a) mean length of utterance in words (MLUW) and ungrammaticality index in combination are fair to good discriminators of preschoolers with LI; (b) a morphology model combining correct use of articles, verbs, and clitics fairly discriminates LI children but may miss children whose language has limited syntactic complexity; and (c) semantic–syntactic complexity measures, such as MLUW, theme argument omissions, and ditransitive verb use, should be considered in the assessment of Spanish LI. The children who were bilingual and Spanish dominant in the study were classified as accurately as the Spanish-only children.