cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A model for the evolution of brines in salt from the lower Salado Formation, southeastern New Mexico☆

Fluid inclusions were collected from a bedded salt horizon in the lower Permian Salado Formation in the Delaware Basin, southeastern New Mexico. The sampling horizon, at a depth of approximately 645 meters, consists primarily of recrystallized halite, with thin layers of anhydrite. Other trace minerals, dispersed throughout the salt, include quartz, polyhalite, gypsum, K-feldspar, magnesite, and clays. Large fluid inclusions (up to several mm on an edge) are common in the halite; in addition, bands of microscopic (<10 μm) fluid inclusions are present as primary (“chevron”) structures in fragments of unrecrystallized salt. We sampled 109 large inclusions by individual extraction of the fluids, which were analyzed for Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl, Br, and SO4. The chemistry of the inclusion fluids and the associated mineralogy suggest that these brines represent Permian seawater that has undergone evaporation and subsequent modification by diagenetic reactions, dominated by the alteration of calcium sulfate to polyhalite and magnesite formation. The range of fluid inclusion compositions suggests a significant departure from a simple seawater evaporation model. Other brines from the same horizon in the Salado Formation were sampled and analyzed for the same elements as the fluid inclusions, and differed significantly from them primarily by the depletion of Mg relative to K. The association of these brines with argillaceous and/or anhydritic halite containing a suite of authigenic minerals (quartz, magnesite, and Mg-rich clays) suggests that these are intergranular brines with compositions determined over a much longer time scale than that required by the fluid inclusions. The principal reactions affecting intergranular brine chemistry are dehydration of gypsum, dewatering of detrital clays, and uptake of Mg during clay diagenesis. Overall, the observed variation in brine compositions implies that, if large-scale hydrologie circulation is occurring in the Salado halite, the time scale is limited by the rate required for low-temperature silicate diagenesis.
Parameter estimation for ihe birnbaum-saunders distribution based on symmetrically censored samples

Ihe Bimbaum-Saunders distribution was derived to model fatigue life. Frequently, it becomes necessary to stop a life testing process before all the test items have failed. Therefore, estimation procedures need to be developed for use when censoring occurs. In this article, we have derived estimators for the parameters of this distribution which may be used for complete samples or Type II symmetrically censored samples A simulation study was also conducted to examine the performance of these estimators.
Extending external rays throughout the Julia sets of rational maps

For polynomial maps in the complex plane, the notion of external rays plays an important role in determining the structure of and the dynamics on the Julia set. In this paper we consider an extension of these rays in the case of rational maps of the form Fλ(z) = zn + λ/zn where n > 1. As in the case of polynomials, there is an immediate basin of ∞, so we have similar external rays. We show how to extend these rays throughout the Julia set in three specific examples. Our extended rays are simple closed curves in the Riemann sphere that meet the Julia set in a Cantor set of points and also pass through countably many Fatou components. Unlike the external rays, these extended rays cross infinitely many other extended rays in a manner that helps determine the topology of the Julia set.
Janus nanoparticles: reaction dynamics and NOESY characterization

Janus nanoparticles were prepared by taking advantage of interfacial ligand exchange reactions of hydrophobic hexanethiolate-protected gold nanoparticles with hydrophilic 2-(2-mercaptoethoxy)ethanol (MEA). A monolayer of the particles was first formed at the air–water interface by the Langmuir technique and then deposited onto a substrate surface by the Langmuir–Blodgett method. The particle monolayer was then immersed into an aqueous solution of MEA for different periods of time. It was found that the exchange reactions occurred but were limited only to the top face of the nanoparticles and the reaction reached equilibrium in about 8 h. The resulting particles exhibited amphiphilic characters as confirmed by contact angle and UV–visible, FTIR and NMR spectroscopic measurements. Of these, the structural discrepancy between the Janus nanoparticles and bulk-exchanged particles was clearly manifested, in particular, by NOESY NMR measurements.
The Effects of International Trade on Economic Growth and Meeting Basic Human Needs

This research measures the influence of international marketing, in the form of exporting and importing on economic growth and meeting basic human needs. The conceptual model examines the effects o...
Multidimensional radiative transfer in absorbing, emitting, and linearly anisotropic scattering cylindrical medium with space-dependent properties

Abstract The integral form of three-dimensional radiative transfer equation for an absorbing, emitting, and linear-anisotropic scattering medium with space-dependent properties is formulated. A product-integration method is subsequently applied to develop a numerical scheme for solving the corresponding integral transfer equations in a two-dimensional, axisymmetric and nonhomogeneous medium subjected to externally incident radiation or bounded by emitting and diffusely-reflecting walls. The numerical solutions for cases of constant, continuous, and stepwise variations of scattering albedo are presented to illustrate its accuracy and flexibility, and validated by comparing with results available in the literature.
CGS-19755 and MK-801 selectively prevent rat striatal cholinergic and gabaergic neuronal degeneration induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate and ibotenate in vivo.

The in vivo efficacies and potencies of various excitatory amino acid agonists in inducing cholinergic neuronal degeneration were compared following unilateral injections into the rat striatum. Kainic acid (KA), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), ibotenic acid (IBO), and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) all produced dose-related decreases in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. The relative order of potency was KA>AMPA>IBO>NMDA. Quisqualic acid (QUIS) was about as potent as NMDA, but the maximal decrease in ChAT activity was less (36%). N-acetylaspartyl-L-glutamate (NAAG) did not significantly decrease ChAT activity when up to 1,000 nmoles was injected. Approximate equitoxic doses of agonists were then used to examine the ability of i.p. administered CGS-19755 and MK-801 to prevent in vivo excitatory amino acid-induced cholinergic and GABAergic neuronal degeneration. NMDA-induced decreases in ChAT and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities were prevented by CGS-19755 (10–40 mg/kg) and MK-801 (1–10 mg/kg). CGS-19755 (40 mg/kg) and MK-801 (10 mg/kg) did not prevent loss of ChAT or GAD induced by KA or AMPA, but did prevent the degenerative effects of IBO. This study shows that CGS-19755 and MK-801, two NMDA receptor antagonists that act by different mechanisms, are completely selective following systemic administration. Moreover, the in vivo excitotoxic effects of IBO are mediated at NMDA receptor sites that are blocked by these compounds.
Energy effects of heat-island reduction strategies in Toronto, Canada

LBNL-49899 Energy Effects of Heat-Island Reduction Strategies in Toronto, Canada Hashem Akbari ∗ and Steven Konopacki Heat Island Group Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California 94720 Received 6 April 2002 Abstract The effect of heat-island reduction (HIR) strategies on annual energy savings and peak-power avoidance of the building sector of the Greater Toronto Area is calculated, using an hourly building energy simulation model. Results show that ratepayers could realize potential annual energy savings of over $11M from the effects of HIR strategies. The residential sector accounts for over half (59%) of the total savings, offices 13% and retail stores 28%. Savings from cool roofs are about 20%, shade trees 30%, wind shielding of trees 37%, and ambient cooling by trees and reflective surfaces 12%. These results are preliminary and highly sensitive to the relative price of gas and electricity. Potential annual electricity savings are estimated at about 150GWh and potential peak-power avoidance at 250MW. 1. Introduction During the summer, solar-reflective roofs (also known as “high-albedo 1 ” or “cool” roofs) reflect most of the incoming sunlight and reduce the amount of heat conduction into a building. Similarly, strategically placed trees, shading windows and walls of a building, reduce the amount of direct heat gain. The reduction in summer heat gain because of cool roofs and deciduous shade trees reduces the air- conditioning load of a building, improves thermal comfort, saves peak-demand electricity, and saves money. During the winter, cool roofs and the shading effects of trees may add to the heating load of a building. However, the heating-energy penalties are small, since typically most of the heating is required during the evening hours with little or no sunshine, winter days are shorter and cloudier than summer days, and buildings may have snow on the roofs. Furthermore, trees can actually save heating-energy bills by shielding a building from cold winter wind [1]. Cool surfaces (roofs and pavements) together with urban vegetation (shade trees, park trees, lawn, etc.) can potentially cool the city by several degrees. Lowered urban air temperatures can further reduce Corresponding Author. Tel: 510-486-4287; Fax: 510-486-4673, E_mail: H_Akbari@LBL.gov. Albedo (â) is the ratio of the reflected over the incoming solar radiation.
Thermal Fly-Height Control Slider Instability and Dynamics at Touchdown: Explanations Using Nonlinear Systems Theory

Thermal fly-height control sliders are widely used in current hard disk drives to control and maintain subnanometer level clearance between the read-write head and the disk. The peculiar dynamics observed during touchdown/contact tests for certain slider designs is investigated through experiments and analytical modeling. Nonlinear systems theory is used to highlight slider instabilities arising from an unfavorable coupling of system vibration modes through an internal resonance condition, as well as the favorable suppression of instabilities through a jump condition. Excitation frequencies that may lead to large amplitude slider vibrations and the dominant frequencies at which slider response occurs are also predicted from theory. Using parameters representative of the slider used in experiments, the theoretically predicted frequencies are shown to be in excellent agreement with experimental results. This analytical study highlights some important air bearing surface design considerations that can help prevent slider instability as well as help mitigate unwanted slider vibrations, thereby ensuring the reliability of the head-disk interface at extremely low head-disk clearances.
Power puppet: science and technology education through puppet building

In this paper, we describe our approach to designing electronic puppetbuilding workshops for middle to early high school students. Power Puppet uses traditional puppet building materials paper and cloth as the main resources, together with simple circuits elements such as LED's, batteries and magnets. We document our process of designing puppetbuilding workshops that include STEM education criteria. We collaborated with the Center for Puppetry Arts to design these workshops in such a way that part of the making will include basic electronic input and output components. We aim to open this tradition up for larger audiences to enhance hardware CS education in STEM fields.
Dependence of Silicon Carbide Product Morphology on the Degree of Mechanical Activation

Mechanical activation before carbothermic reduction can substantially enhance the formation of SiC from SiO 2 and carbon mixtures. However, the morphology (e.g., particles or whiskers) of SiC formed from mechanically activated SiO 2 and carbon mixtures is dependent of the degree of mechanical activation and the condition of the subsequent carbothermic reduction. These phenomena are investigated and rationalized based on the increased reactivity of the reactants and SiC formation mechanisms.
Subcarrier multiplexing for high-speed optical transmission

The performance of high-speed digital fiber-optic transmission using subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) is investigated both analytically and numerically. In order to reduce the impact of fiber chromatic dispersion and increase bandwidth efficiency, optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation was used. Because frequency spacing between adjacent subcarriers can be much narrower than in a conventional DWDM system, nonlinear crosstalk must be considered. Although chromatic dispersion is not a limiting factor in SCM systems because the data rate at each subcarrier is low, polarization mode dispersion (PMD) has a big impact on the system performance if radiofrequency (RE) phase detection is used in the receiver. In order to optimize the system performance, tradeoffs must be made between data rate per subcarrier, levels of modulation, channel spacing between subcarriers, optical power, and modulation indexes. A 10-Gb/s SCM test bed has been set up in which 4 /spl times/ 2.5 Gb/s data streams are combined into one wavelength that occupies a 20-GHz optical bandwidth. OSSB modulation is used in the experiment. The measured results agree well with the analytical prediction.
Phylotree – a toolkit for computing experiments with distance-based methods for genome coevolution

Background We have developed software called Phylotree as a toolkit for running experiments to study gene cophylogenies for genome evolution using distance-based methods. In particular, the toolkit has been instrumental in conducting processing-heavy experiments with the new “difference of means” statistical method. Phylotree was used to run experiments using simulated data as well as biological sequences of well known host and parasite species, and is distributed with data and configuration files allowing these experiments to be reproduced.
iv) Current concepts in immunosuppression and multiple organ dysfunction following trauma

Abstract Trauma is a leading cause of death in young adults in the United States and United Kingdom. The incidence of multiple organ failure following trauma is increasing, in part because of advances in the initial treatment of trauma patients. These advances improve their initial survival, but multiple organ failure remains a significant problem later. Despite significant advances in therapies for other medical conditions, there is still little effective treatment available for a patient who develops multiple organ dysfunction (MODS). This article outlines the pathophysiology of MODS following trauma and current research on the role the immune system plays in this pathogenesis, as well as evaluating current therapeutic options. As our knowledge of the immune system and of the healthy host response to trauma continues to expand, it is hoped that new therapies will be developed to help in the fight against MODS.
Biological actions of cholecystokinin

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has emerged as an important mammalian neuropeptide, localized in peripheral organs and in the central nervous system. This review presents an overview of the molecular aspects of CCK peptides and CCK receptors, the anatomical distribution of CCK, the neurophysiological actions of CCK, release of CCK and effects of CCK on release of other neurotransmitters, and the actions of CCK on digestion, feeding, cardiovascular function, respiratory function, neurotoxicity and seizures, cancer cell proliferation, analgesia, sleep, sexual and reproductive behaviors, memory, anxiety, and dopamine-mediated exploratory and rewarded behaviors. Human clinical studies of CCK in feeding disorders and panic disorders are described. New findings are presented on potent, nonpeptide CCK antagonists, selective for the two CCK receptor subtypes, which demonstrate that endogenous CCK has biologically important effects on physiology and behavior.
Politics of the Exotic in Diana Abu-Jaber's Crescent

This essay focuses on Diana Abu-Jaber's Crescent and argues that through the interweaving of the mythical and the culinary that only initially seem to partake in the discourse of the exotic, the novel ultimately calls into question that discourse by narrating into it the experiences of loss and displacement that structure the lived reality of the Middle Eastern diaspora in America today.
BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION IN A WIRELESS BROADCAST SYSTEM

We develop a model for broadcasting data to wireless appliances. Any data item may either be "pushed", or broadcast without waiting for requests for the item, or it may be "pulled", or broadcast in response to a request. Pushing items is cheaper than handling the individual requests, but if pushed items are not wanted, the bandwidth for broadcasting them is wasted. We determine the optimal allocation of bandwidth between pushed and pulled items.
Assessment and Therapeutic Application of the Expressive Therapies Continuum: Implications for Brain Structures and Functions

The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) provides a theoretical model for art-based assessments and applications of media in art therapy. The three levels of the ETC (Kinesthetic/ Sensory, Perceptual/Affective, and Cognitive/Symbolic) appear to reflect different functions and structures in the brain that process visual and affective information. Assessment of the formal elements in an artwork can help a therapist determine how a client is processing information via the different levels of the ETC. Treatment planning can identify stepwise transitions between the ETC levels as well as horizontal transformations within each level. The author posits that these same transitions reflect the different structures and functions of the cortex that are involved in processing visual and affective information. Understanding of the ETC, thus, can enhance art therapy interventions and further studies on art therapy and the brain.
An Enhanced Non-Provocative Defense in Europe: Attrition of Aggressive Armored Forces by Local Militias

The two part system -- NATO and WTO -- is presently locked into a mutually provoked escalating arms race. The result is economically and socially wasteful and a mortal threat to both as well as the rest of the earth's inhabitants. Given the mutual distrust, a form of defense must be found which is both non-provocative and effective and which can be established unilaterally, if necessary. Such a possible scheme for the 'tinder-box' region of Central Europe, where the two powers confront each other, consists of one or two 'depletion zones': strips parallel to the inter-zone frontier depleted of heavy, conventional, necessarily provocative, offensive military systems but saturated with widely dispersed, effectively armed, civilian militia groups. If aggression should occur, in spite of such a deterrence posture, the invader would suffer significant attrition losses in attempting to penetrate the zone(s) before battle could be joined with the defender's conventional military forces. Additional stopping power comes from lightly armed frontier defenses and long-range, locally guided anti-tank missiles. The results depend both upon the new technologies of fixed, hidden, long-range and man-portable, short-range, precision guided missiles and upon 'new' forms of incorporation and organization of the civilian population for defense. Aside from bemg effective and non-provocative, such a European security stance is economically and socially viable, functions as a clear cut decision making mechanism in a turbulent political world, allows the citizens of the European democracies to feel significantly responsible for their own security and well-being, and serves as a positive political signal to the rest of the world.
Is logarithmic transformation necessary in allometry

The Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE) transformed the field of biological allometry from a discipline that is focused on description to a discipline that is focused more on formulating and testing theory. However, much of the empirical research providing essential background for the MTE – as well as research to test predictions of the theory – is based on the ‘allometric method’, which is a simple procedure for estimating the parameters in a two-parameter power function by exponentiating the equation for a straight line fitted to logarithmic transformations of the original bivariate data. The allometric method has been in widespread use for so long that many investigators now apply the procedure mechanically and without due consideration for limitations of the approach. What has been missing from much of the contemporary research on allometric variation is exploratory analysis of untransformed data and graphical validation of the fitted model. I use two examples from the current literature: (1) to demonstrate the utility of exploratory analysis; (2) to illustrate how transformation may lead investigators to conclusions that are not supported by their data; and (3) to show how nonlinear regression may obviate the putative need to transform. The MTE (and other theories pertaining to patterns of allometric variation) will benefit from greater awareness that the traditional allometric method is not well suited for fitting statistical models to data expressed in the arithmetic scale. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109, 476–486.
Generalized Blind Mismatch Correction for Two-Channel Time-Interleaved A-to-D Converters

Calibration of sub-converter mismatches is a challenging task for high-performance time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters (TIADC). Presently known blind correction methods can remove static gain and sampling time mismatches. However, actual subconverters significantly deviate from a simple gain-timing model, and the resulting modeling error strictly limits maximum output signal-to-noise ratio achievable. Generalized mismatch modeling is, therefore, necessary to break the limitation of gain-timing model. In this paper, we propose a blind method for correcting generalized mismatch errors for M=2 TIADC, which is the first in the literature to the authors' knowledge. Cyclostationary spectral analysis shows that unique identification is possible in most practical cases. Simulation results show significant performance improvement by the proposed generalized correction method.
Development and Validation of the Basketball Offensive Game Performance Instrument

The purpose of this study was to design and validate the Basketball Offensive Game Performance Instrument (BOGPI) that assesses an individual player’s offensive game performance competency in basketball. Twelve physical education teacher education (PETE) students playing two 10-minute, 3 vs. 3 basketball games were videotaped at end of a basketball unit in one physical education teaching methods course. Two investigators independently coded each player’s offensive game behaviors with BOGPI. The interrater reliability of the BOGPI was 99% and the alpha reliability coefficient for the total scale of the BOGPI was .95. The content validity evidence of the BOGPI was established by six experienced experts’ judgment. The results of this study indicate that the BOGPI is a theoretically sound and psychometrically supported measure that can be used by researchers and teacher educators to assess the preservice teachers’ offensive game performance ability in basketball.
Generalized co-ordinate partitioning in static equilibrium analysis of large-scale mechanical systems

This paper presents a computer-based method for automatic formulation and efficient numerical solution of static equilibrium equations for nonlinear constrained mechanical systems with conservative forces. Nonlinear holonomic constraint equations and a potential energy function are written in terms of a maximal set of Cartesian generalized co-ordinates. A stable static equilibrium configuration is found by minimizing the potential energy of the system, subject to the kinematic constraint equations, i.e. constrained optimization. A Gaussian elimination algorithm with full pivoting decomposes the constraint Jacobian matrix, identifies dependent and independent co-ordinates and construct an influence coefficient matrix that relates variations in dependent and independent co-ordinates. This information is employed to convert the constrained optimization problem to an unconstrained optimization problem. A simple example is presented to illustrate the method. An algorithm that may be used in analysis of large-scale systems is presented.
Plasmonic nanostructures for organic photovoltaic devices

Plasmonic nanostructures were investigated for absorption enhancement of organic photovoltaic devices. Nanostructures were fabricated by scalable laser interference lithography. Experimental results agreed well with theoretical modeling.
Culturally sensitive substance abuse intervention for Hispanic and African American adolescents: empirical examples from the Alcohol Treatment Targeting Adolescents in Need (ATTAIN) Project

Aims This study presents preliminary analyses examining the effects of an alcohol and other drug use (AOD) intervention with minority juvenile offenders. Furthermore, the study investigates the impact of cultural factors on baseline AOD use among Hispanic and African American youth, as well as on treatment outcome. Design, setting and participants Participants were 213 juvenile offenders referred for treatment (mean age = 15.7 years), 97 of whom have completed treatment to date. The intervention was carried out in clinics placed within the neighborhoods in which the participants resided. Intervention Alcohol Treatment Targeting Adolescents in Need (ATTAIN) is a controlled clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a brief motivational, cognitive behavioral intervention, guided self-change (GSC). Participants are assigned randomly to the individual format of guided self-change (I-GSC), the family involved format of guided self-Change (F-GSC), choice of one of these two, or a waiting list control condition. Only participants involved in active intervention are included in the present report. Measurements Data were collected via structured face-to-face interviews. Alcohol and marijuana use measures were collected using the Time-line Follow-back interview (TLFB). Findings There were significant reductions in alcohol and marijuana use for all ethnic groups from baseline to post-intervention. Cultural factors (discrimination, acculturation, ethnic pride and cultural mistrust) were associated with pre-intervention levels of alcohol and marijuana use. Among Hispanics, pre-intervention level of substance use were higher among foreign-born than US-born youth. Analyses conducted with the US-born Hispanic group showed that ethnic orientation and ethnic pride were associated positively with greater reductions in alcohol use. Conclusions The intervention provided through ATTAIN appears to be effective with a multi-ethnic population of juvenile delinquents. Cultural factors, such as ethnic orientation and ethnic mistrust, appear to constitute amenability to treatment factors, with US-born Hispanic youth lower in acculturation responding better to the intervention.
Respecting and criticizing conflicting viewpoints

A student learns that contradictory positions can be argued convincingly without undercutting a teacher's credibility.
Saponite from Near Ballarat, California

White saponite occurs in joints and open fracture zones in metamorphosed dolomitic limestone near Ballarat, California. The saponite appears to have formed by hydrothermal alteration, possibly during Pliocene times. The material shows a 06l X-ray powder diffraction peak at 1.529 A, A12O3 and MgO contents of about 4.4 and 23.5%, respectively, and a half-cell octahedral atoms summation value of about 2.82. The saponite appears to consist of a single, uniform clay species; the main impurities are fine shards of diopside and tremolite. The infrared and thermal properties of the Ballarat saponite are similar to those of the Allt Ribhein saponite. It has a lower water-holding capacity than montmorillonite and is characterized by lower Atterberg limits and expansion pressures and higher compaction densities. The apparent density of the saponite, 2.865 g/cm3, is greater than that of montmorillonite. This saponite is available from the Source Clays Repository of The Clay Minerals Society.
Let Your Students Have A Piece Of The Action: Real World Projects For AIS Courses

This paper describes a variety of accounting information systems projects that send students into the business world. The projects are easy to organize and are consistent with AECC recommendations. The students acquire and enhance their research, communication, creativity, teamwork and technology skills. Exit interviews have indicated many benefits to all parties involved.
Perspectives on the Evolution of Stem Cell Therapy for Heart Failure

The advent of stem cell and cell-based therapy has opened the door to a non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure (HF). This exciting opportunity is at an early stage and many issues regarding optimization of this approach remain. A variety of stem cells (SCs), doses, and delivery methods are being tested in clinical trials, supporting the conclusion that there is still “no consensus on … which cell type to transplant, to improve efficacy and safety” (Silvestre and Menasche, 2015). To provide a guide going forward, Silvestre and Menasche take us through the evolution of the therapeutic use of SCs for heart failure (Silvestre and Menasche, 2015). Their main proposal is that “cardiac-committed cells” in general and “pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac progenitors” in particular are “particularly attractive” candidates for cell therapy.
THE INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL MOTION ON THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF PERIODIC LIQUID FLOW SYSTEMS

The dynamic response of liquid flow systems may be grossly affected by motion of the system's structural supports. Pressure and flow perturbations within the flan system provide the driving forces for the structural supports and the resulting motion induces further pressure and flaw perturbstions. In this type of closed loop system, instabilities are possible. Analysis techniques are developed which enable the analyist to formulate distributed parameter, non-linear solutions to unsteady flow problems including structural motion. These techniques are based on plane wave theory and require the use of a digital computer. For sinusoidal periodic inputs of small amplitudes closed form mathematical solutions are possible if nonlinearities are linearized. It is shown by means of an example that resonance points and peak to peak preesure amplitudes are very sensitive to structural properties of the supporting structure. Analytical results obtained with the closed form linearized model and the non-linear digital model are compared to each other and to experimental results. It is shown that the closed form linearized model gives results which compare favorably with the non-linear model for the case of, sinusoidal inputs but can not be applied if the input perturbations are non-sinusoidal or are sufficiently large or if wave shapes are to be computed.
The Positive Role of College Student Village Cadres in Basic Level Countryside Organizations in Beijing

College student village cadre is a good try of socialist new countryside construction camied out in Beijing,which plays a positive role in basic level countryside organizations.The authors use stratified sampling method to probe deeply into the current situation of it and systematically and comprehensively summarize the experience,and propose relative policy suggestions.
Association Between Maternal Multivitamin Use and Preterm Birth in 24 States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2009-2010.

Objectives The study objective was to examine the prevalence of maternal multivitamin use and associations with preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation) in the United States. We additionally examined whether associations differed by race/ethnicity. Methods Using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we analyzed 2009-2010 data among women aged ≥18 years with a singleton live birth who completed questions on multivitamin use 1 month prior to pregnancy (24 states; n = 57,348) or in the last 3 months of pregnancy (3 states, n = 5095). Results In the month prior to pregnancy, multivitamin use ≥4 times/week continued to remain low (36.8 %). In the last 3 months of pregnancy, 79.6 % of women reported using multivitamins ≥4 times/week. Adjusting for confounders, multivitamin use 1-3 times/week or ≥4 times/week prior to pregnancy was not associated with preterm birth overall. Though there was no evidence of dose response, any multivitamin use in the last 3 months of pregnancy was associated with a significant reduction in preterm birth among non-Hispanic black women. Conclusions for Practice Multivitamin use during pregnancy may help reduce preterm birth, particularly among populations with the highest burden, though further investigations are warranted.
Duplicated Inferior Vena Cava Misinterpreted by Computerized Tomography as Metastatic Retroperitoneal Testicular Tumor

AbstractNoninvasive computerized tomography has proved invaluable when evaluating the retroperitoneum for metastatic disease. Vena caval anomalies may be mistaken for retroperitoneal adenopathy on the basis of tomographic appearance. Knowledge of these developmental anomalies has significant practicality. We report a case of duplication of the inferior vena cava misinterpreted as metastatic retroperitoneal testicular tumor.
How participants' expertise influenced expert testing of a technical user manual

iv CHAPTER I-GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW. . . . . 1 My Research Question 2 Importance of Accuracy, Accessibility, Appeal, and Appropriateness 3 Accuracy 3 Accessi hili ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Appeal 4 Appropriateness 5 Review of Related Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Expertise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Document Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 English as a Second Language (ESL) 13 Diction 19 CHAPTER 2-GATHERING EXPERTS' FEEDBACK 24 Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Collection of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Pre-Test Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Expert-Testing Responses 27 Follow-up Interviews 30 Analysis of Three Categories of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Pre-Test Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Expert-Testing Responses 31 Follow-up Interviews 31 CHAPTER 3-ALL EXPERTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL: BENEFITING FROM EXPERTS' COMMENTS ABOUT A TECHNICAL USER MANUAL .... .33 Reviews of Expert Testing, ESL, and Textual Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Situating Expert Testing Within Document Testing 35 Understanding ESL's Influence on Technical Documents 38 Understanding Textual Features' Influence on Technical Documents 40 Collection of Responses from Multiple Areas of Expertise 40 Experts as Test Participants 41 Test Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Results/Discussion of Experts' Responses .45 Expert's Evaluation of Accuracy 45 Expert's Evaluation of Accessibility .47 Experts' Evaluation of Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Expert's Evaluation of Appropriateness 52
Therapeutic effects of drug-nutrient interactions in the elderly.

The elderly are the major drug users both because they need specific prescription drugs for control of chronic diseases and because they make excessive use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Therapeutic drugs that are required may be discontinued because the individuals suffer side effects or because the drug is ineffective. Adverse drug reactions in the elderly may result from drug overuse or misuse, slowed drug metabolism or elimination secondary to aging or to age-related chronic disease, intake of alcohol, food-drug incompatibilities, or nutrient-drug interactions. The timing of drug intake in relation to food intake is an important determinant of therapeutic efficacy in the elderly. Food-drug interactions in the gastrointestinal tract may reduce drug absorption. Enteral formula feeding may also interfere with drug absorption. Conversely, absorption of certain drugs (e.g., thiazides) may be promoted by meal-induced slowing of gastric emptying time. Therapeutic diet prescription can influence drug responses in the elderly because the protein composition of the diet influences the rate of drug metabolism. Nutrient depletion secondary to the effect of drugs may be recognized as an important and often avoidable type of adverse drug reaction.
Visual Diagnosis: A 14-year-old Male Who Has Fever and Rash

1. William M. Stauffer, MD, MSPH, DTM&H* 2. Angela D. Siwek, MD† 3. Deepak Kamat, MD, PhD‡ 4. Erika Kempler-Meyer, MD§ 1. *Center for International Health & International Travel Clinic, Regions Hospital, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 2. †Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 3. ‡Director, Institute of Medical Education, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 4. §Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR A 14-year-old boy presents with rash, fever, chills, and difficulty walking due to right hip pain. The patient had been healthy until 2 weeks ago when he developed muscle pain, headaches, sore throat, cough, and decreased appetite. Ten days ago, he was started on a course of azithromycin for “bronchitis.” Rapid streptococcal antigen and mononucleosis antibody tests were negative at that time. Three days later, the antibiotic regimen was changed to a second-generation cephalosporin for a presumed urinary tract infection after red blood cells appeared in the urine. Urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase were negative. Three days later (and 4 days prior to presentation), the patient developed right shoulder pain, fever, “sores” in his mouth, blood-streaked sputum, frequent episodes of nosebleeding, “pain with deep breaths,” a rash on his lower legs, and sore and swollen feet. At that time, his white blood cell (WBC) count was 5.2×103/mcL (5.2×109/L), with a normal differential count; findings on chest radiograph were normal. The patient currently has difficulty walking due to right hip pain. He denies any history of exposure to infectious diseases. The boy’s past medical history is remarkable for a ventricular septal defect (VSD) discovered during early infancy. He has received prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis before every dental procedure. His growth and development are normal, and he has no allergies to food or medicine. His immunizations are up to date, and current medications include cefprozil, acetaminophen with codeine, and ibuprofen. He is in eighth grade, lives with his parents, and has no siblings. He denies sexual activity and use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. On physical examination, the patient appears pale and weak. His temperature is 101.3°F (38.5°C), blood pressure is 135/78 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and heart rate is 104 beats/min. Raised, red-purple, nonblanching …
Resistivity and RRR Measurements on Grooved SMES Aluminum Stabilizer Bar by the Eddy Current Decay Method

Measurements are reported of resistivity at room temperature, 77K, and 4.2K on one inch diameter longitudinally grooved bars of pure aluminum. The application is superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) where long lengths of the superconductor stabilizer component must be qualified to a residual resistivity ratio (RRR) specification. The measurements are taken by the Eddy Current Decay (ECD) method and compared to similar measurements on ungrooved bars of the same material. Experimental results show that there exists a fixed ratio between time constants for the grooved and ungrooved bars. The ratio for the standard SMES aluminum stabilizer bar is about 0.45. It is expected that for large numbers of samples and measurements, significant savings will be realized using the ECD method as opposed to the conventional current transport method for RRR characterization.
The British are Coming

Much has been written about the increase movement of black British artists to the US for better career opportunities, an indictment on the lack of choice in Britain. The BBC Controller of Drama Series and Serials, Kate Harwood’s complaint that black actors auditioning are “’posh Africans’ and not representative of all social classes,” or Midsomer Murders executive producer, Brian True-May warning that the inclusion of black or Asian faces in the series sully the “last bastion of Englishness,” exemplify the exclusive nature of British media and extends to film and theatre. This has caused British artists to think reflectively of their image in Britain. Writer/journalist Lola Adesioye notes, “We know that we are all children of immigrants. We are now on the 2nd and 3rd generation born of black Brits, but we know that we are not English ethnically.” As far back as 1996, Oscar nominee, Marianne Jean Baptiste, warned, "They've got to come to terms with the fact that Britain is no longer a totally white place where people ride horses, wear long frocks and drink tea." David Harewood, one of the mainstays of the Showtime’s Homeland, declared, “Unfortunately, there really aren’t that many roles for authoritative, strong, black characters in this country…I would encourage young black British actors to get to America if they have ambition. They do seem to embrace a more diverse palate there.” Comments like these were echoed in personal interviews I did with Talawa’s AD Patricia Cumper, playwrights Agboluaje Oladipo, Rex Abano, and actress, Mercy Ojelade in a 2011 visit to London.Ironically, in the states, there have been similar complaints about the lack of inclusion and stereotypical roles African Americans are confined. Kate Masur, reviewing Spielberg’s Lincoln for the NYT, offers, “[I] t’s disappointing that in a movie devoted to explaining the abolition of slavery in the United States, African-American characters do almost nothing but passively wait for white men to liberate them.” Nelson George reviewing the Oscar nominated films with black subjects or characters–Django Unchained, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Flight and Lincoln–offers, “For the first time in recent memory race is central to several Oscar conversations. But the black characters’ humanity is hit or miss. These films raise the age-old question of whether white filmmakers are ready to grant black characters agency in their own screen lives.” While there is more opportunity for work, what effect, if any, has this movement had on challenging stereotypes and in broadening the complexity of black characters in film, TV and theatre, both in the US and Britain? Indeed, has this movement addressed Harewood’s larger issue: the development of “roles for authoritative, strong, black characters”?
Reply to "PPAR-γ regulates pharmacological but not physiological or pathological osteoclast formation".

Reply to "PPAR-γ regulates pharmacological but not physiological or pathological osteoclast formation"
Adversarial Asymmetry in the Criminal Process

It is a common lament that prosecutors in our criminal justice system are too adversarial. This Article argues that in a deeper sense, prosecutors may not be adversarial enough. The issue — which I call adversarial asymmetry — is that, as political actors, prosecutors have no inherent desire to seek maximal punishment, at least in any consistent way. While commentators tend to see this as a good thing, adversarial asymmetry helps explain a range of seemingly disparate pathologies in the criminal process. A number of problems — including the coerciveness of plea bargaining; pretextual prosecution; discriminatory charging practices; the proliferation of overly broad criminal statutes; the difficulty in deterring prosecutorial misconduct; and use of the grand jury as political cover for unpopular decisions — would not exist, or at least could be more easily solved, in a world where prosecutors were more single mindedly focused on maximizing victory in the criminal process. In fact, a more consistently adversarial system might have surprising advantages over our own, providing more accountability for prosecutors while being more consistent with the rule of law. And while heightened adversarialism unquestionably poses risks, alternative institutional structures could minimize those dangers. Even if actually implementing such a system is unrealistic or unappealing, the proposal has value as a thought experiment, for it exposes deep fault lines in the theoretical foundation of our system of criminal prosecution. Our current approach combines an adversarial process with politically accountable prosecutors — yet we lack a compelling account of what precise level of adversarialism is optimal or why political accountability is the right tool for producing good behavior from prosecutors. It should thus be unsurprising that our system often works poorly in practice. Absent a better reason to think that our current approach is the only option, we should be more willing to reconsider basic structural arrangements in criminal justice.