cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deliberate self-harm in children- a growing problem

Pattison and Kahan first described ‘deliberate self-harm’ as a syndrome in 1983 [1]. The typical pattern described was that of onset in late adolescence, multiple recurrent episodes, low lethality and harm deliberately inflicted upon body. Most authors distinguish between deliberate self-harm and suicide, based on the absence or presence of the apparent intent to kill oneself. While others use it as an all encompassing term that includes a wide range of behaviors ranging from attempted hanging to superficial cutting [2]. Regardless of the definition, it is known that a prior attempt of deliberate self-harm is one of the strongest predictors of future completed suicide [3]. While much has been talked about suicide attempts and acts of deliberate self-harm among adolescents, there is a relative paucity of research evidence regarding acts of deliberate selfharm amongst children under the age of 13 [4]. A study by Sourander, et al. [5] suggested that deliberate self-harm among children is a herald for self-harm behavior in adolescents
Structure and Propagation of Methanol–Air Triple Flames

Abstract The structure and propagation for a methanol (CH3OH)–air triple flame are studied using direct numerical simulations (DNS). The methanol (CH3OH)–air triple flame is found to burn with an asymmetric shape due to the different chemical and transport processes characterizing the mixture. The excess fuel, CH3OH, on the rich premixed flame branch is replaced by more stable fuels CO and H2 which burn at the diffusion flame. On the lean premixed flame side, a higher concentration of O2 leaks through to the diffusion flame. The general structure of the triple point features the contribution of both differential diffusion of radicals and heat. A mixture fraction–temperature phase plane description of the triple flame structure is proposed to highlight some interesting features in partially premixed combustion. The effects of differential diffusion at the triple point add to the contribution of hydrodynamic effects in the propagation of the triple flame. Differential diffusion effects are measured using two methods: a direct computation using diffusion velocities and an indirect computation based on the difference between the normalized mixture fractions of C and H. The mixture fraction approach does not clearly identify the effects of differential diffusion, in particular at the curved triple point, because of ambiguities in the contribution of carbon and hydrogen atoms’ carrying species.
Joint image compression and indexing technique using wavelet transform

In this paper, a joint image compression and indexing technique using wavelet transform is presented. For compression, scalar quantization and classified vector quantization are applied in the wavelet domain to remove redundancies from different sub-bands according to their distinct characteristics. For indexing, two statistical feature vectors are constructed directly from compression outputs (quantized sub-band data before entropy coding), which facilitate a hierarchical (coarser to finer) indexing procedure and achieve image indexing in the compressed domain. Experimental results show that the joint technique performs with equal effectiveness as either compression or indexing standing alone, while the computational cost for decompression is greatly reduced (only entropy decoding is needed). Thus, the advantages of this joint (dual) image compression-indexing technique and its feasibility for online distributed image retrieval in the arena of exploding networked image applications are demonstrated.
The Simultaneous Oscillation of Barometers along and near the Equator

Oscillations of surface pressure which, within the observational error, occur at the same time over very large oceanic regions, have been described by Frolow in the tropical Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. Similar oscillations in the equatoral Pacific are reported and the widespread, presumably planetary, extension of the pressure variations emphasized. Statistical investigation suggests that simultaneous falls of pressure along the equator are associated with solar disturbances. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1956.tb01252.x
Response of Selected Quail Lines to Heat Stress

Abstract Three quail lines (P developed by 25 generations of selection for 4-week body weight on a 28% protein diet, T similarly established on a 20% protein diet containing 0.2% thiouracil and nonselected controls) were subjected to temperature stresses of 44.4°–45.6°C. Quail from the T-line, which had developed an inherent ability to resist the growth depressing effects of thiouracil stress, were observed to be as susceptible to heat stress as the P-line. Selected quail lines were observed to be less tolerant to high temperature stress than nonselected controls.
A Procedure for Qualitative Study of Light Level Variations and System Performance

The use of visibility levels (VL) as a method of design and evaluation of room lighting systems in work spaces is analyzed. The procedure used here is a modification of the Lumen 2 computer program. Several alternative power-budgeted lighting designs are evaluated to demonstrate the process. This analysis includes: calculation of classical footcandles, calculation of ESI footcandles, a plotting of VL for typical younger workers, and a similar plotting for typical older workers. Possible modifying factors related to subjective impressions of visual clarity are also discussed.
more than an ethnic marker: Toraja art as identity negotiator

In this article I suggest that art can be more than a passive ethnic marker. Focusing on the architecturally based carvings of the Toraja of Indonesia, I argue that artistic forms are sites for the assertion, articulation, and negotiation of various hierarchical identities and relationships. I trace the contested transformation of Toraja architectural symbols of elite authority into generalized icons of Toraja ethnic identity. As I chronicle these shifts I also illustrate how Toraja architectural carvings serve as vehicles for the rearticulation of assorted sets of rank, ethnic, regional, and political relationships. A key objective in this article is to highlight the complicated and often ironic relations between material culture, identity negotiation, and human agency. Drawing on Scott (1985, 1990), I suggest that while art may serve as a weapon of the weak, it can also be a weak weapon, [identity, art, ethnicity, tourism, agency, Indonesia, Toraja]
Treatment of Thermophoretic Deposition in Tube Flow for Materials Processing Applications

Material processing techniques based on vapor or particle transport involve a number of interrelated hydrodynamic and thermal effects. For cases with large temperature gradients or small (nano) particles, thermal gradients can induce motion referred to as thermophoresis. Thermophoresis directly impacts material quality and production rates for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and related processes. A simple yet useful geometry for the study of thermophoretic deposition is axial tube flow. This geometry is particularly useful as it closely represents one process used to produce fiber optic preforms. While considerable research has been conducted on thermophoretic deposition, a global description and understanding of the phenomena is still difficult. This paper will first review the analytical study of thermophoretic deposition. Starting with the simple Graetz problem the development of more complex solutions to the governing Navier-Stokes equations will be detailed from the literature. Next, the creation of a coupled, two code Eulerian approach to solve this problem will be presented. Finally, the results of numerical case studies performed by the author will be discussed. These results will be used to compare and contrast the influence of different factors.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Human and climate influences on frequent fire in a high-elevation tropical forest

Summary Surface fire has increasingly been regarded as a critical threat to tropical forests, but much of the research documenting degradation of tropical forests by fire comes from the low-elevation humid tropics. Fire in high-elevation tropical forests has received less research attention, but these forests are of high conservation value because they support unique ecosystems, which are often isolated due to their restriction to widely separated peaks. We investigated the frequency and ecological impact of fire on a high-elevation tropical forest of Pinus hartwegii in Pico de Orizaba National Park in central Mexico. This forest was previously thought to have been degraded by excessive human-caused fires. We assessed human-caused changes to the fire regime as well as the impact of climate on fire occurrence, both previously undocumented in this region. We found no increase in fire frequency or evidence of degradation of the forest. We found that the forest was uneven-aged and contained many large and old trees (maximum age 483 years). In the twentieth century, the forest experienced a frequent surface fire regime, with fires scarring trees in 90 of 100 years. However, most fires were small and asynchronous among sites. Inter-annual climatic variability was not an influential driver of fire, and El Nino–Southern Oscillation was not significantly related to the occurrence of widespread fire. Synthesis and applications. Our results show that this high-elevation tropical forest has not been degraded but has existed with frequent fires for at least a century. A trend in the 21st century towards less-frequent fire could be cause for concern, as a decrease in fire frequency could lead to an increase in tree density and a loss of resilience in the face of climate change and other future disturbance. We recommend that managers take into account historical fire regimes in their local areas: frequent surface fires in the case of Pico de Orizaba. It is important to recognize that although fire can be detrimental in many low-elevation tropical forests, it is an integral part of this high-elevation tropical forest ecosystem, and other high-elevation forests may show similar patterns.
B-type natriuretic peptide levels: diagnostic and therapeutic potential.

A blood test that would aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with congestive heart failure would have a favorable impact on the staggering costs of the disease. B-type naturetic peptide (BNP) is synthesized, in the cardiac ventricles and its release is directly proportional to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. Levels of BNP correlate with left ventricular pressure, amount of dyspnea, and the state of neurohumoral modulation. BNP also correlates closely with New York Heart Association classification. A cut point of 100 pg/mL appears to discriminate patients with congestive heart failure from those without congestive heart failure. Measurement of BNP may also be an excellent screening tool for LV dysfunction.
Applications Of Biostereometrics To Biomedical And Anthropological Research

The field of biostereometrics provides us with three dimensional measurements (x,y,z coordinates) by utilizing stereopairs of either photographs or radiographs. The recent rapid development of sophisticated equipment and advanced computergraphics methods give an impetus for applications of biostereometrics to biomedical imaging. The combination of these two areas, that is, biostereometrics and advanced computergraphics, can be used to enhance our ability to make instantaneous (within 1/30 second), interactive surgical simulations and representations, and continuous, comparative, superimposed, quantitative displays. These procedures are applicable for serial observation and diagnosis and treatment planning for craniofacial anomalies, dermatologic lesions, gingival inflammatory processes and skeletal anthroplogy.
Unabated Adenovirus Replication following Activation of the cGAS/STING-Dependent Antiviral Response in Human Cells

ABSTRACT The cGAS/STING DNA sensing complex has recently been established as a predominant pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) for DNA-directed type I interferon (IFN) innate immune activation. Using replication-defective adenovirus vectors and replication-competent wild-type adenovirus, we have modeled the influence of the cGAS/STING cascade in permissive human cell lines (A549, HeLa, ARPE19, and THP1). Wild-type adenovirus induced efficient early activation of the cGAS/STING cascade in a cell-specific manner. In all responsive cell lines, cGAS/STING short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown resulted in a loss of TBK1 and interferon response factor 3 (IRF3) activation, a lack of beta interferon transcript induction, loss of interferon-dependent STAT1 activation, and diminished induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Adenoviruses that infect through the coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) (Ad2 and Ad5) and the CD46 (Ad35) and desmoglein-2 (Ad7) viral receptors all induce the cGAS/STING/TBK1/IRF3 cascade. The magnitude of the IRF3/IFN/ISG antiviral response was strongly influenced by serotype, with Ad35>Ad7>Ad2. For each serotype, no enhancement of viral DNA replication or virus production occurred in cGAS or STING shRNA-targeted cell line pools. We found no replication advantage in permissive cell lines that do not trigger the cGAS/STING cascade following infection. The cGAS/STING/TBK1/IRF3 cascade was not a direct target of viral antihost strategies, and we found no evidence that Ad stimulation of the cGAS/STING DNA response had an impact on viral replication efficiency. IMPORTANCE This study shows for the first time that the cGAS DNA sensor directs a dominant IRF3/IFN/ISG antiviral response to adenovirus in human cell lines. Activation of cGAS occurs with viruses that infect through different high-affinity receptors (CAR, CD46, and desmoglein-2), and the magnitude of the cGAS/STING DNA response cascade is influenced by serotype-specific functions. Furthermore, activation of the cGAS cascade occurred in a cell-specific manner. Activation of the cGAS/STING response did not impact viral replication, and viral immune evasion strategies did not target the cGAS/STING/TBK1/IRF3 cascade. These studies provide novel insight into the early innate recognition response to adenovirus.
The collaboration of Antoine and Marie-Anne Lavoisier and the first measurements of human oxygen consumption

Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) was one of the most eminent scientists of the late 18th century. He is often referred to as the father of chemistry, in part because of his book Elementary Treatise on...
Turning cities inside out: transportation and the resurgence of downtowns in North America

North American urban areas have changed dramatically over the last four decades. While downtowns were thought to be in long-term decline 40 years ago, central business districts are today the most vibrant residential and commercial centers throughout a largely suburban continent. This paper examines the role of transportation technology and policy in the earlier decline and recent revival of American downtowns and examines challenges to the continuation of urban regeneration. Major recent investments in physical improvements in central cities have been complemented by a dramatic shift in the locus of logistical and goods processing activities from city centers to outlying areas. While many tout the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of walkable and denser inner cities, a more complete accounting of their impacts also requires analysis of increasing urban congestion and the steady rise in urban goods movement in support of the new development patterns.
Climate Change, American Agriculture, and Natural Resources: Discussion

Among the economically relevant aspects of climate change raised in Rosenzweig's readable and balanced introduction are (a) the continual, gradual nature of change; (b) the potential for negative and positive economic effects varying by economic agent, geographically, and temporally; (c) the global nature of trace gas emissions and climate effects; (d) the high degree of uncertainty; and (e) irreversibility with the full effects of trace gas emissions delayed by years or decades.
Evaluation of the Suprasellar Cistern by Computed Tomography

The normal suprasellar cistern is a five- or six-pointed, starshaped, fluid-filled structure as demonstrated by computerized axial tomography (CAT). At various levels the normal suprasellar cistern contains the major intracranial vessels and their anastomotic channels, the optic nerves, chiasm, and infundibular stalk. The existence of lesions, either intrinsic structures of or extrinsic structures contiguous to the suprasellar cistern can be detected by their effect on the normal anatomy of the suprasellar cistern or by filling defects produced when studied with metrizamide cisternography.
Vibration-induced tilt error model for aircraft interferometer data: sample position errors

The Scanning High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS) instrument is a cross track scanning Fourier-transform interferometer with 0.5 wavenumber resolution. It is comprised of three detectors, which are the shortwave (SW), midwave (MW), and longwave (LW). Vibration experienced during flight can cause a significant level of spectrally correlated noise in the calibrated spectra. The S-HIS instrument has a wavefront tilt measurement system that monitors vibration induced optical tilts, which both reduces the interferometric noise and makes it possible to remove it with post processing. This two-axis tilt measurement system records small changes in the wavefront angles during the data collection of both scene and blackbody interferograms. The amplitude-modulation errors dominate the SW band while sample-position errors are found in the LW and MW bands. Here we show that the sample-position errors can be removed from the final calibrated radiances.
Feeding ecology of olive baboons (Papio anubis) in Kibale National Park, Uganda: preliminary results on diet and food selection

Essential to an understanding of the ecology of anyorganism is knowledge of nutritional aspects of their diet,as adequate nutrition is critical for successful reproduc-tion (Barboza, Parker & Hume, 2009). While the feedingand nutritional ecology of baboons (Papio) has beenwidely documented (Norton et al., 1987; Whiten et al.,1991; Barton et al., 1993; Byrne et al., 1993; Altmann,1998; Kunz & Linsenmair, 2008; Swedell, Hailemeskel S Bentley-Condit, 2009), most research onolive baboons (P. anubis) has focused on savannah-dwelling populations, with comparatively little researchin forested habitat (Rowell, 1966, 1969; Okecha N Paterson, 2006; Ross et al., 2011).Here, we report preliminary results on diet and nutri-tional ecology of forest-dwelling olive baboons in KibaleNational Park, Uganda. Additionally, we report a preli-minary assessment of the baboons’ nutritional objectivesby comparing the nutrient content of consumed foodswith that of parts rejected in food preparation. Foodselectivity in olive baboons has been previously studiedby Barton & Whiten (1994), who compared the nutrientcontent of seven matched foods and discarded nonfoodsin savannah-dwelling olive baboons, and found foods tobe higher in protein and lower in both ﬁbre and pheno-lics than nonfoods. Here, we report preliminary resultson food choice in forest-dwelling olive baboons to furtherelucidate macronutrient properties governing diet selec-tion in this species.
Roles of the FOXA transcription factor Fork head in autophagic developmental cell death

Fork head (Fkh) is the only fruit fly ortholog of the FOXA subgroup of FOX transcription factors. Recent studies on the role of Fkh in autophagic cell death during Drosophila metamorphosis identified Fkh as a competence factor for steroid-induced cell death. Microarray analyses suggest that, in addition to controlling essential apoptosis genes, Fkh controls autophagic and cell survival pathways. The data support a model in which Fkh promotes cell growth and survival by coordinating the cell’s ability to respond to death and autophagy-controlling signals.Addendum to: Liu Y, Lehmann M. Genes and biological processes controlled by the Drosophila FOXA orthologue Fork head. Insect Mol Biol 2008; 17:91-101.
3D Optics for Ultra Thin Cameras

In 3D optics, the optical transfer function is determined by light interaction with an entire refractive-index-modulated volume. We discuss the physics of sub-wavelength, non-periodic 3D optical elements, and their applications to ultra-thin computational imagers.
Precision and Accuracy of DXA and pQCT for Densitometry of the Rat Femur

Abstract Measurements of bone mineral density and bone mineral content are key data in the study of osteoporosis and pathologic skeletal disease. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography are used in human and small animal studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the precision, accuracy, and systematic bias of measurement of the rat femur. Comparing machine-measured parameters with standard, nonradiographic measurements, we assessed validation of relative and absolute accuracy. Regression analysis and calculations of percent difference from standard values were used to determine the accuracy of each densitometry technique. Machine-specific and subject-specific precision was evaluated for each densitometer using repeated scans to calculate coefficients of variation. Each of the methods of densitometry examined in this study produced comparable results and was sensitive to small changes following experimental stimuli. Further, our assessment of the precision and accuracy observed between methods of scanning excised rat femurs validates our data acquisition method and serves as a foundation for future densitometry studies.
Graphical Representation of University Image: A Correspondence Analysis

(1996). Graphical Representation of University Image: A Correspondence AnalysisJournal of Marketing for Higher Education. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 75-84.
Effect of Gold Thickness and Annealing on Optical and Electrical Properties of TiO 2 /Au/TiO 2 Multilayers as Transparent Composite Electrode on Flexible Substrate

Multilayer structures of TiO2/Au/TiO2 have been deposited onto flexible substrates by room temperature sputtering to develop indium-free transparent composite electrodes (TCEs). The effect of Au thicknesses on optical, electrical properties and the mechanism of conduction have been discussed. The electrical conductivity of the TCEs is solely contributed by the middle metal layer. The critical thickness (t c) of the Au mid-layer to form a continuous conducting layer is 10 nm, and the multilayer has been optimized to obtain a sheet resistance of 12.2 Ω/sq and an average optical transmittance of 86% at 590 nm. The Haacke figure of merit (FOM) for t c has one of the highest FOM with 18 × 10−3 Ω−1. The samples were annealed in various environments for 24 h up to 150°C.
Heat Transfer Measurements On Unequally Loaded Underground Power Cables With Constant And Cyclic Currents

A test site was constructed with underground power cables in a typical distribution-type duct bank arrangement. The site can be used to obtain temperatures throughout the duct bank and surrounding soil medium for known cable currents. A personal computer with an analog to digital converter system is used to independently set the currents in each cable to any load so that steady, cyclic, and transient experiments can be performed. Results of a number of constant and cyclic current experiments show good agreement between experimental temperature data and the calculated temperatures from an ampacity computer program.
Anxiety about a stranger in relation to the mother-infant relationship: a preliminary report.

Summary.-10 male and 12 female 9-mo.-old infants were observed with their mothers in a laboratory situation that included a stranger's approach, an interview, and a problem to solve. No sex differences in average reaction to a stranger were noted. The pattern of correlates which predicted the infants' reactions to a stranger differed for the two sexes. Mothers who centered their attention on and responded to their girls had girls who reacted more positively FO the stranger. These same maternal variables did not predict the boys' reaction to a stranger. The implications of these results for the prediction of reaction to a stranger are discussed. This paper reports a preliminary investigation of a psychoanalytic hypothesis: the mother's acceptance of both her infant's dependence and emerging independence facilitates ego development which is manifested in many ways. One of these ways according to the psychoanalyst and observer of infants, Margaret Mahler, is a reaction to strangers that is more positive than negative (Mahler, Pine, & Bergman, 1975). The current investigation assessed the relationship between several measures of the mothers' handling of dependency and autonomy issues and their infants' reactions to strangers.
A novel power distribution system using a central buck-based current source for multiple individually regulated outputs

This paper presents a novel power distribution system for supplying multiple individually regulated outputs from a central power supply acting as a controlled current source that contains all the magnetic components. The individual output voltages are filtered by means of capacitors. The current source is realized with a buck converter. The outputs are connected to the current source on a time-shared basis and regulated individually by constant frequency PWM. The buck converter is controlled using average current control. Simulation results and experimental results from a laboratory prototype are presented.
THE POLICY AND PREMISES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACTION GRANT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: A Comparative Analysis of the Carter and Reagan Presidencies

ABSTRACT: This article sketches the key dimensions of the pattern of politics which characterized the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) program during the Carter presidency and compares and contrasts that with the pattern which has emerged during the Reagan years. The article suggests strongly that Reagan policy initiatives have quickened a shift in the politics of the program away from an emphasis on targeting to defined need toward a more distributional focus. The article highlights some of the reasons for that shift, analyzes the vehicle by which it has been accomplished, and traces its implications for administrative implementation of the program.
Highly specific and sensitive method for measuring nucleotide excision repair kinetics of ultraviolet photoproducts in human cells

The nucleotide excision repair pathway removes ultraviolet (UV) photoproducts from the human genome in the form of short oligonucleotides ∼ 30 nt in length. Because there are limitations to many of the currently available methods for investigating UV photoproduct repair in vivo, we developed a convenient non-radioisotopic method to directly detect DNA excision repair events in human cells. The approach involves extraction of oligonucleotides from UV-irradiated cells, DNA end-labeling with biotin and streptavidin-mediated chemiluminescent detection of the excised UV photoproduct-containing oligonucleotides that are released from the genome during excision repair. Our novel approach is robust, with essentially no signal in the absence of UV or a functional excision repair system. Furthermore, our non-radioisotopic methodology allows for the sensitive detection of excision products within minutes following UV irradiation and does not require additional enrichment steps such as immunoprecipitation. Finally, this technique allows for quantitative measurements of excision repair in human cells. We suggest that the new techniques presented here will be a useful and powerful approach for studying the mechanism of human nucleotide excision repair in vivo.
Critical Time Intervention: Model Description and Implications for the Significance of Timing in Social Work Interventions:

Relatively little attention has been paid to the dimension of time in the design of social work interventions. Critical time intervention (CTI), an empirically supported psychosocial intervention intended to reduce the risk of homelessness by enhancing continuity of support for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) during the transition from institutions to community living, is a model that was explicitly developed to address a timing-specific need. After describing the model and summarizing research that supports its effectiveness, this article considers examples of other time-sensitive interventions in social work and related fields and speculates on some potential advantages to such strategies. Further attention to various dimensions of timing in the design and evaluation of social work interventions is warranted.
Some scattering problems of interstellar grains

Some general effects of size, shape, and material on the scattering properties of small particles are considered with a view to determining their relative importance to interstellar dust interpreatations.
Effective reduction of anxiety and pain during venous cannulation in children: a comparison of analgesic efficacy conferred by nitrous oxide, EMLA and combination.

Background: EMLA cream is the current technique of choice to reduce pain during venous cannulation in most paediatric practice. Its use is limited by logistic arrangements and failure to improve cooperation and allay anxiety. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) would appear to be an effective alternative. A combination technique may be useful in selected patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty unpremedicated ASA 1 and 2 day surgery patients, aged 8-15 years were randomized into group 1 (EMLA + air/O 2 ), group 2 (50% N 2 O/50% O 2 ) and group 3 (EMLA + 50% N 2 O/50% O 2 ). All patients underwent cannulation on the dorsum of the hand with a 22-G intravenous catheter. Pain behaviour before cannulation was assessed by an observer with Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS). Pain during cannulation was evaluated with CHEOPS by an observer and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-100 mm) by the patient. Satisfaction score (0-100%) for the experience were reported by the patient. Degree of ease of cannulation, time for cannulation were assessed. Heart rate, oxygen saturation were compared before, during and after cannulation. Results: The self-reported VAS for group 3 (10.10 ± 14.99) was significantly lower than group 1 (26.13 ± 27.59) and group 2 (18.35 ± 18.11) (P = 0.003). No significant difference existed between VAS for group 1 and 2. There were also significantly more patients with VAS = 0 in group 3 (23/40) versus group 2 (11/40) versus group 1 (10/40), P = 0.004. The satisfactory score in group 3 (93 ± 9.96) was significantly higher (P = 0.039) than group 1 (81.13 ± 24.61) and group 2 (84 ± 22.02). The increase in CHEOPS from before to during cannulation was significant only in group 1 (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference between frequency of patients with side-effects, ease of cannulation and time taken for cannulation in the three groups. Conclusions: EMLA and 50% N 2 O are equally effective for pain reduction while a combination technique provides superior analgesia and satisfaction. N 2 O has an advantage over EMLA in reduction of pain related behaviour in older children.
Real-Time Monitoring of the Surface and Total Composition of Aerosol Particles

ABSTRACT Laser desorption ionization is used to characterize the products of an aerosol reaction in real time. Sodium chloride aerosols are mixed with vapor phase ammonia and nitric acid to produce an ammonium nitrate surface layer. The product aerosols are sampled directly into a mass spectrometer where the surface and total compositions are distinguished by laser desorption ionization. With a low laser irradiance, only material near the particle surface is desorbed and ionized. In this case, the mass spectra are independent of the amount of ammonium nitrate deposited, and simply indicate a nitrate-enriched surface layer. With a higher laser irradiance, both the surface layer and core are ablated. The relative intensities of ions originating from the surface layer and core reflect the total composition. That is, the relative intensities of ions produced from the ammonium nitrate surface layer increase with increasing surface layer thickness. The laser irradiance dependences of the mass spectra allow the ...
Computations of Two-Phase Flow in Aiuminized Solid Propellant Rockets

The present study focuses on the simulations of two-phase flows pertinent to solid-propell ant rocket motors. Modern propeilant have aluminum particles added to the mix. The burning of Al droplets accounts for up to 30% of the heat generation. Our interest is the design and analysis of a comprehensive computational approach that includes the motion of aluminum particles as they are injected from the propeilant combustion interface (PCI), accelerated through the rocket chamber and exit from the nozzle. To achieve this objective, a Lagrangian particle tracking module has been developed and works in concert with an Eulerian fluid solver. The highly parallel implementation permits to solve for millions of fluid cells while tracking several millions of aluminum droplets. We will describe in this paper the preliminary results obtained for a test case problem where up to 1,000,000 particles are tracked.
Adenosine in the treatment of stroke: yes, maybe, or absolutely not?

Agonist stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors has been consistently shown to result in reduction of brain damage following experimentally induced global and focal brain ischaemia in animals. Unsurprisingly, the use of adenosine A1 receptors as targets for the development of clinical therapeutics suitable for treatment of ischaemic brain disorders has been suggested by many authors. The latest studies of adenosine and its receptors indicate that adenosine-mediated actions might be far more complex than originally anticipated, casting some doubt about the rapid development of stroke treatment based on adenosine. This review discusses the possible role of adenosine receptor subtypes (A1, A2 and A3) in the context of their potential as therapeutics in stroke.
Primary afferent activation of thermosensitive TRPV1 triggers asynchronous glutamate release at central neurons

Summary TRPV1 receptors feature prominently in nociception of spinal primary afferents but are also expressed in unmyelinated cranial visceral primary afferents linked to homeostatic regulation. Cranial visceral afferents enter the brain at the solitary tract nucleus (NTS) to control the heart, lungs, and other vital organs. Here we identify a role for central TRPV1 in the activity-dependent facilitation of glutamatergic transmission from solitary tract (ST) afferents. Fast, synchronous ST-NTS transmission from capsaicin-sensitive (TRPV1+) and -insensitive (TRPV1−) afferents was similar. However, afferent activation triggered long-lasting asynchronous glutamate release only from TRPV1+ synapses. Asynchronous release was proportional to synchronous EPSC amplitude, activity, and calcium entry. TRPV1 antagonists and low temperature blocked asynchronous release, but not evoked EPSCs. At physiological afferent frequencies, asynchronous release strongly potentiated the duration of postsynaptic spiking. This activity-dependent TPRV1-mediated facilitation is a form of synaptic plasticity that brings a unique central integrative feature to the CNS and autonomic regulation.
The Matrix of Contractarian Justice

There are no first principles etched in stone from which all moral philosophers must take their bearings. We must deliberately choose our point of departure in any attempt to respond to the question: “Must any defensible theory of justice incorporate both a commitment to personal liberty and to economic equality?” Basic to our own approach is a suspicion of seers and visionaries who espy an external source of values independent from human choices. We presuppose, instead, that political philosophy commences with individual evaluation. 1 A near-corollary of this presupposition is that each individual's preferences ought to be taken into account equally with those of others. That is, we suppose that there is no privileged evaluator , whose preferences are accorded decisive weight. Conceptual unanimity as a criterion for institutional evaluation follows naturally from the other two presuppositions. If there is neither an external standard of value nor a corps of resident value experts, only unanimity can ultimately be satisfactory as a test of social desirability. Our perspective then is subjectivist, individualist , and unanimitarian . These presuppositions inform our contractarian analysis. There are, however, two separate contractarian traditions that we shall find useful to distinguish, the “Hobbesian” and the “Rawlsian.” In the first, persons find themselves in the anarchistic war of each against all. They contract away their natural liberties in exchange for the order that civil society – through its sovereign – affords. In this contracting process, individuals are assumed to possess full self-knowledge; they know who they are, what conceptions of the good they hold, and what their endowments are.
Signaling Across Membranes—A One and a Two and a …

The usually accepted mechanisms for transduction of a signal across the membrane require that the receptor exist as a dimer. New results in this issue by Tatsuno et al . ([p. 423][1]) and Gardina et al . ([p. 425][2]) show that the bacterial chemotaxis receptor Tar can actually function quite well if its intracellular domain is monomeric. In his Perspective, Stock describes how current assumptions about the role of dimers in receptor signal transduction may be too simple, and that at least sometimes, monomeric forms of the receptor may be the functionally relevant molecule. [1]: /lookup/volpage/272/423 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.272.5260.425
Analogy-- Watershed or Waterloo? Structural alignment and the development of connectionist models of analogy

Neural network models have been criticized for their inability to make use of compositional representations. In this paper, we describe a series of psychological phenomena that demonstrate the role of structured representations in cognition. These findings suggest that people compare relational representations via a process of structural alignment. This process will have to be captured by any model of cognition, symbolic or subsymbolic.
How much electricity do you use? An activity to teach high school students about energy issues

Despite the regular demand for electrical power by common, everyday devices, few people recognize the total electricity consumption levels of household electronics and the associated impacts. To address this problem in an outreach program with high school students, we developed an exercise to have students estimate their personal electricity consumption as a means of introducing basic facts about energy issues. The activity requires students to estimate the annual electricity consumption for their bedroom (not an entire house). Students create a list of electrical devices, recording the rated wattage and estimating the hours the device is used. During the classroom exercise, students use a power meter to measure the actual power consumption of some common items on their lists. After students have calculated their annual electricity consumption, we discuss several points, such as the importance of both the wattage and the time an item is used, rated wattage versus actual wattage, efficiency of various energy sources, and changes students can make to reduce their electricity consumption. After the activity, students have a greater understanding of basic electricity concepts and an awareness of how their behaviors and decisions impact their overall consumption patterns.
Fast algorithms for vector quantization picture coding

Two methods for reducing the computation involved in vector quantization picture coding are presented. First, a data structure (k-d trees, developed by Bentley) is demonstrated to be appropriate for implementing exact nearest neighbor searching in time logarithmic in codebook size. Second, the Pairwise Nearest Neighbor (PNN) algorithm is presented as an alternative to the generalized Lloyd (Linde-Buzo-Gray) algorithm. The PNN algorithm derives a vector quantization codebook in a diminishingly small fraction of the time previously required, without sacrificing performance. Simulations on a variety of images coded at 1/2 bit per pixel indicate that PNN codebooks can be developed in roughly 5% of the time required by the LBG algorithm. The PNN algorithm can be used with squared error and weighted squared error distortion measures. These results are generalizable to any vector quantization application with the appropriate distortion measure.
Dose-Response Relationship for Human Fetal Exposure to Methylmercury

Eighty-four Iraqi mothers and their infants had been exposed to methylmercury during pregnancy. The methylmercury had been ingested as a fungicide. Peak maternal hair mercury concentrations were related to the frequency of maternal symptoms during pregnancy and to neurological effects in the infants. These include various degrees of psychomotor retardation. Severe neurological deficits were observed in five children whose maternal peak hair mercury concentrations were 165 to 320 ppm. Minimal symptoms were reported for mothers and children when peak maternal hair levels were below 68 ppm. Minimal clinical neurological signs occurred in children when peak maternal hair mercury concentrations were at an undetermined point between 68 and 180 ppm. Greater fetal risk appears to be associated with exposure during the second trimester. This exposure to methylmercury was acute and the results may not be extrapolated to a constant level of exposure throughout pregnancy. The effects of fetal exposure to methylmercury in marine fish may differ.
New Results Will Change the Paradigm for Phase I Trials and Drug Approval

The evidence that, when patients are appropriately selected, convincing benefit can be realized in the earliest of trials, setting the stage for rapid drug approval, is examined.
Distributed function calculation via linear iterations in the presence of malicious agents — Part I: Attacking the network

We consider the problem of distributed function calculation in the presence of faulty or malicious agents. In particular, we consider a setup where each node has an initial value and the goal is for (a subset of) the nodes to calculate a function of these values in a distributed manner. We focus on linear iterative strategies for function calculation, where each node updates its value at each time-step to be a weighted average of its own previous value and those of its neighbors; after a sufficiently large number of time-steps, each node is expected to have enough information to calculate the desired function of the initial node values. We study the susceptibility of such strategies to misbehavior by some nodes in the network; specifically, we consider a node to be malicious if it updates its value arbitrarily at each time-step, instead of following the predefined linear iterative strategy. If the connectivity of the network topology is 2f or less, we show that it is possible for a set of f malicious nodes to conspire in a way that makes it impossible for a subset of the other nodes in the network to correctly calculate an arbitrary function of all node values. Our analysis is constructive, in that it provides a specific scheme for the malicious nodes to follow in order to obfuscate the network in this fashion.
ROOT UV-B SENSITIVE2 acts with ROOT UV-B SENSITIVE1 in a root ultraviolet B-sensing pathway.

Ultraviolet B light (UV-B; 280–320 nm) perception and signaling are well-known phenomena in plants, although no specific UV-B photoreceptors have yet been identified. We previously reported on the root UV-B sensitive1 ( rus1 ) mutants in Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ), which display a block to development under very-low-fluence-rate UV-B ( μ mol m −2 s −1 ) after the seedling emerges from the seed. Here, we report the analysis and cloning of the rus2-1 mutation in Arabidopsis. The phenotype of rus2-1 mutant seedlings is virtually indistinguishable from the phenotype of rus1 seedlings. A map-based approach was used to clone RUS2 . RUS2 encodes a domain of unknown function (DUF647)-containing protein that is homologous to the RUS1 protein. rus1-2 rus2-1 double mutant seedlings have the same phenotype as both rus1 and rus2 single mutants, suggesting that the two genes work in the same pathway. RUS2-Green Fluorescent Protein shows a similar expression pattern as that of RUS1-Green Fluorescent Protein, and RUS1 and RUS2 proteins interact physically in yeast. This protein-protein interaction depends on the DUF647 domain, and site-directed mutagenesis identified specific residues in DUF647 that are required for both protein-protein interaction and physiological function. Six RUS genes are found in Arabidopsis, rice ( Oryza sativa ), and moss ( Physcomitrella patens ), and one RUS member, RUS3 , is conserved in plants and animals. Our results demonstrate that RUS2 works with RUS1 in a root UV-B-sensing pathway that plays a vital role in Arabidopsis early seedling morphogenesis and development.
Comparing images using the Hausdorff distance under translation

Efficient algorithms are provided for computing the Hausdorff distance between a binary image and all possible relative positions (translations) of a model, or a portion of that model. The computation is in many ways similar to binary correlation. However, it is more tolerant of perturbations in the locations of points because it measures proximity rather than exact superposition. >
DC motor brush life

This paper looks at brush life, why brushes wear and what can be done to achieve longer brush life. It is meant to provide one with an understanding of the factors and conditions that contribute to brush wear in order that problem areas can be avoided and existing problems identified and resolved. This however, is not an instruction manual on how to fix problems. The motor manufacturer should be contacted for help in resolving brush and commutation problems. The following applies to medium and large horsepower industrial DC motors and generators.
Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacterium Nitrobacter winogradskyi Produces N-Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Autoinducers

ABSTRACT Nitrobacter winogradskyi is a chemolithotrophic bacterium that plays a role in the nitrogen cycle by oxidizing nitrite to nitrate. Here, we demonstrate a functional N-acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) synthase in this bacterium. The N. winogradskyi genome contains genes encoding a putative acyl-HSL autoinducer synthase (nwi0626, nwiI) and a putative acyl-HSL autoinducer receptor (nwi0627, nwiR) with amino acid sequences 38 to 78% identical to those in Rhodopseudomonas palustris and other Rhizobiales. Expression of nwiI and nwiR correlated with acyl-HSL production during culture. N. winogradskyi produces two distinct acyl-HSLs, N-decanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) and a monounsaturated acyl-HSL (C10:1-HSL), in a cell-density- and growth phase-dependent manner, during batch and chemostat culture. The acyl-HSLs were detected by bioassay and identified by ultraperformance liquid chromatography with information-dependent acquisition mass spectrometry (UPLC-IDA-MS). The C=C bond in C10:1-HSL was confirmed by conversion into bromohydrin and detection by UPLC-IDA-MS.