cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational changes in a training hospital.

The structural reorganization of a small state hospital has been described. The roles of the primary participants are listed along with a narrative portrayal of the progression of events involved in such changes. The decentralization of clinical and nonclinical authority has been shown and some justification suggested for such deployment of power in contemporary mental hospitals. It is hoped that detailing such changes as a sequence of complicated events will give the reader some understanding of the time and patience required to carry out such modifications.
Fish guts as chemical reactors: a model of the alimentary canals of marine herbivorous fishes

The alimentary canals of marine herbivorous fishes are variously composed of a few basic structures strung together in series. We model the structures where digestive processes occur as chemical reactors following the model of Penry and Jumars: the stomach as a batch or continuous-flow stirred-tank (CSTR), the intestine as a plug-flow reactor (PFR), and the hindgut caecum as a CSTR. Other structures, where food is mechanically processed-gill rakers, pharyngeal mills, and muscular stomachs-are classified as gates. The optimality criterion for the model is the digestion of the most nutrient in the least amount of time. With the model we are able to predict gut configuration as a function of nutrient concentration and hypothesize that the guts of herbivorous fishes always have a PFR component and may or may not have a CSTR component. The Penry-Jumars model appears to provide a consistent theoretical framework for four main types of digestive mechanisms in marine herbivorous fishes and offers specific testable hypotheses on the feeding ecology and digestive physiology of four representative species of fish as well as other, still unstudied, herbivorous fishes.
Mineralogical and geochemical investigations of pyrite-rich mine waste from a kyanite mine in Central Virginia with comments on recycling

A pyrite-rich waste stream is one of three types generated from a kyanite mine in central Virginia near the town of Dillwyn, Buckingham County. Currently, ore consists of approximately 3% pyrite waste and an estimated 382,000 tons of this waste stream has been generated over the past 60 years. The mineralogy of the waste stream consists of variable amounts of pyrite (70–>99%), talc (1–20%), quartz (1–10%), kyanite (0.5–5%) with minor or trace amounts of magnetite, hematite, galena, anorthite and rare earth phosphate. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis indicates that talc has minor amounts of Al up to 1.57 wt% and Fe up to 4.29 wt% and pyrite grains have no impurities above detection limit of approximately 0.1 wt%. Bulk chemical analysis of selected elements using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis indicate that Zn (28.82–367.71 ppm), As (8.94–18.26 ppm), Se (44.62–64.50 ppm), Cd (0.19–1.03 ppm), Hg (0.87–35.91 ppm), and Pb (65.10–189.66 ppm) occur at levels of some environmental concern. Au and Ag concentrations are negligible. Currently the waste stream is well managed and sold, but for a low price. Talc is of sufficient quality to be of interest for recycling but the estimated 540 tons generated per year is not a suitable quantity to be economically viable. Currently, the waste stream is not viable for recycling for higher monetary value; however, the characteristics of the pyrite may enable such recycling in the future for solar energy technologies. This and other associated waste streams show long term promise for integrated recycling and may play important economic roles in an economically disadvantaged region.
A Developmental–Behavioral Approach to Outpatient Psychotherapy with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Over the course of development, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may present with an array of behavioral symptoms in addition to the primary impairments in language, socialization, and repetitive/restricted interests. These developmental challenges allow outpatient psychotherapists the opportunity to provide helpful clinical services to children and adolescents with ASDs. This can be best accomplished by combining behavioral strategies that are typically effective with children with ASDs with evidence-based approaches helpful for other psychiatric conditions. Four case examples are provided that review how to use both ASDs and general child clinical interventions with children with ASDs and their families.
Reductions in focal ischemic infarctions elicited from cerebellar fastigial nucleus do not result from elevations in cerebral blood flow

To determine whether the neuroprotection elicited from electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) is attributable to the elevation in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), we compared the effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats of stimulation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) or FN on (a) a focal ischemic lesion produced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and (b) the changes in rCBF, measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry for 1.5 h, over regions corresponding to the ischemic core (parietal cortex), penumbra (occipital cortex), and nonischemic area (contralateral parietal cortex). Stimulation of FN for 1 h following MCA occlusion reduced infarction 24 h later by 52%. Stimulation of RVL was ineffective. Changes in the lesion were confined to the penumbra. FN and RVL stimulation comparably and significantly increased rCBF up to 185% in unlesioned animals. Following MCA occlusion, stimulation of FN or RVL and hypercarbia failed to elevate rCBF in the ischemic area but did ...
SARCOMERIC CALCIUM SPARKS ACTIVATED BY FIBER DEPOLARIZATION AND BY CYTOSOLIC CA2+ IN SKELETAL MUSCLE

Abstract Discrete highly localized elevations of myoplasmic [Ca 2+ ], calcium ‘sparks’, have been detected in skeletal muscle fibers. During relatively small depolarizations of a fiber, the calcium sparks are several times larger than the average increase in [Ca 2+ ] and can thus be clearly resolved. The spark event frequency increases steeply with increasing depolarization, so that for larger depolarizations the discrete microscopic [Ca 2+ ] elevations blend together and become indistinguishable in the average macroscopic [Ca 2+ ] transient. Spontaneous calcium sparks also occur in the absence of voltage sensor activity, in which case they are activated by myoplasmic Ca 2+ . Both the voltage-activated and Ca 2+ -activated events originate at the location of the triad within the sarcomere. Calcium sparks appear to constitute the elementary unit of calcium release activation in skeletal muscle.
Resolution of binding sites in β-Lactoglobulin☆

β-Lactoglobulin has been considered to have two or three strong binding sites for organic anions. By means of calorimetry with a very strongly binding anion, dodecyl-sulfate, enthalpic titration indicates two binding sites available on the acid side of the pH 7.5 conformation transition. There remain two sites available on the alkaline side of the same transition. One of these sites was resolved as a single, rather strongly binding site by means of spectrofluorimetry of a fluorescent organic anion at concentrations of the order of 10−5m. The second site is a considerably weaker anionbinding site, but was not resolved as such. Instead, dialysis equilibrium-binding experiments using the same anion, at concentrations of the order of 10−4m were performed. The data, used in Scatchard's method of plotting, yield the average of the two binding sites at this higher organic anion concentration. The molar association constants (which may be corrected further for statistical and electrostatic factors) for β-lactoglobulin at pH 8 with 0.02 m Cl− and a N-methylanilinonaphthalene sulfonate anion, are K1 = 3.4 ± 0.5 × 105 for n1 = 0.95 ± 0.10 sites, fully resolved, and K2 = 2.0 ± 0.2 × 104 for n2 = 2.0 ±0.2 sites which include the first strong binding site and the second weaker site. The K2 cited refers to an average binding constant for both sites. Probably Cl− competition for the same anion-binding sites, at this pH, is minimal. By using fluorescent compounds and adequate control of excitation wavelength, it is probable that binding constants for individual strong binding sites can be worked out for fluorescent compound binding to a variety of other proteins.
Series resistance of silicided ohmic contacts for nanoelectronics

The electrical behavior of shallow silicide-to-silicon ohmic contacts has been evaluated for lateral dimensions to 50 nm. Trench-isolated series resistance test structures were fabricated using TiSi/sub 2/ self-aligned contact technology. Resistance measurements have been performed as a function of contact size in the temperature range from 100 to 300 K and analyzed using multidimensional resistor ladder network models. Well-behaved small-volume ohmic contacts have been achieved. Large-area contact characteristics can be maintained to the smallest sizes. Multidimensional current flow has little effect on the measured resistances. Small lateral dimensional variations are responsible for the higher than predicted series resistance for the smallest sizes. The implications on nanoelectronic devices and circuits are quantified. >
The association of food characteristics and individual differences with ratings of craving and liking

Craving and liking are related to eating-related problems, but less is known about the association of specific food characteristics (e.g., sugar, fat) with craving/liking. The relation of individual differences in eating behavior with these craving and liking patterns is also relatively unknown. We examine the nomothetic impact of sugar, fat and processing on food craving and liking and the moderation of these effects by idiographic factors (e.g., Body Mass Index [BMI], hunger). One hundred and five overweight and obese women completed craving and liking ratings on 180 foods that differed in levels of sugar, fat and processing. Food craving was linked positively to fat content, but negatively to sugar. Food liking was associated negatively with sugar content and processing level. Addictive-like eating predicted elevated overall food craving and liking, and increased craving and liking for processed foods. Attempted restriction efforts were unrelated to craving and liking. BMI was associated with less craving for fattier foods and lower liking for the average food. Hunger was associated with increased craving for the average food. These findings highlight the role of fat in cravings and differences in craving and liking based on BMI, loss of control over eating, and hunger. These findings are relevant to theories of problematic eating and the development of eating-related interventions.
Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor in patients with breast cancer

Background: The outcome of breast cancer is usuallydetermined by multiple factors. Serum tumor necrosis factoralpha concentration has been found to be increasedin the circulation of patients with malignancy. Thisstudy was designed with the aim to investigateany correlation between the serum tumor necrosis factoralpha and the clinicopathological fetures and furthermore evaluatethe prognostic significance of serum tumor necrosis factoralpha concentration in breast cancer. Methods: Forty consecutivepatients with invasive breast cancer undergoing modified radicalmastectomy were prospectively included and evaluated. Venous bloodsamples were collected before the surgery. Sera wereobtained by centrifugation, and stored at − 70°C until assayed. The control group consisted 30healthy, age-matched subjects. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosisfactor alpha were measured by the quantitative sandwichenzyme immunoassay technique. The data on tumor size,age, estrogen receptor status, lymph node status andTNM staging were reviewed and recorded.Results: The mean value of serum tumor necrosis factor alphain patients with invasive breast cancer was 1.47± 0.58 pg/ml and that of the controlgroup was 0.98 ± 0.37 pg/ml, and thedifference was significant (P < 0.01). With univariableanalysis, patients with maximum tumor size of 5cm or larger (P=0.03), more advancedTNM staging (P < 0.01); and more advancedlymph node status (P < 0.01) were shownto have significantly higher serum concentrations of tumornecrosis factor alpha. However, with multivariable analysis, TNMstaging appeared as the only independent factor (P< 0.01) predicting the significant, higher serum concentrationsof tumor necrosis factor alpha. Conclusion: Preoperative evaluationof serum tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations maybe a valuable parameter for reflecting the severityof staging for invasive breast cancer.
PET/CT in Oncology: Current Status and Perspectives

The discovery of the Warburg effect in the early twentieth century followed by the development of the fluorinated glucose analogue 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and the invention of positron emission tomographs laid the foundation of clinical PET/CT. This review discusses the challenges and obstacles in clinical adoption of this technique. We then discuss advances in instrumentation, including the critically important introduction of PET/CT and current PET/CT protocols. Moreover, we provide evidence for the clinical utility of PET/CT for patient management and its potential impact on patient outcome, and address its cost and cost-effectiveness. Although this review largely focuses on 18F-FDG imaging, we also discuss a variety of additional molecular imaging approaches that can be used for cancer phenotyping with PET. Throughout this review we emphasize the critical contributions of CT to the strength of PET/CT.
Online health information seeking: the influence of age, information trustworthiness, and search challenges.

Objectives: The Internet holds great potential to support information gathering and decision making surrounding health education and self-care. Older adults, however, underutilize the Internet for health information searches relative to younger adults. The goal of the present study was to examine age differences in the role of trust and ease of search in predicting whether or not individuals use (adopters) or do notuse (nonadopters) the Internet to search for health information. Method: We used logistic regressions todetermine whether there were age differences in the extent to which trust and ease of search predicted online health information searches within a nationally-representative sample of 3796 adults from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Results: Adopters were more trusting of Internet health informationthan nonadopters. However, a significant age by trust interaction indicated that this difference increased in magnitude with age, a pattern that held even after controlling fo...
A Minimum Principle for a Population Equation

A minimum principle for the Verhulst-Pearl population equation is given in terms of the integral of the inverse of population. This principle is contrasted with one given earlier by Volterra in terms of the integral of population.
Bringing solar home systems to rural El Salvador: lessons for small NGOs

This paper presents the results of case studies examining two independent projects that worked to bring solar home systems (SHSs) to isolated communities in El Salvador. Both projects were implemented by small nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that did not have prior experience with SHSs. One project was market-based: families were given the opportunity to purchase the systems at going prices. The other was donor-based: residents were provided the equipment in return for their agreement to cooperate in local environmental protection efforts. Results of a comparative analysis support several conclusions. (1) For small NGOs, the promotion of markets is appealing because of the potential for financial sustainability; yet a reliance on markets may also heighten complexity and increase opportunities for failure. (2) In implementation of market-based projects, all stakeholders, including potential consumers, private-sector service providers, and the staff of NGOs acting as project managers, will face pressures to modify and adapt their attitudes and behaviors. (3) Alternative models for small-scale projects that integrate market-based and donor-based design features deserve consideration.
Analysis of fiber types in the pigeon's metapatagialis muscle. I. Histochemistry, end plates and ultrastructure

Abstract The pigeon's metapatagialis muscle has a pale slip and two pink slips containing slow and fast fibers respectively. The fast fibers in the pink slip are of three types: large white fibers, small red fibers with a fibrillar pattern throughout, and small red fibers with a fibrillar pattern only in the L-band. The large fibers are intermediate in ATPase activity, low in SDH activity, the small fibers are high in ATPase and SDH activity. The slow fibers are intermediate in size and SDH staining, and low in ATPase activity. Cholinesterase staining for end plates corroborate the fast and slow identities. These results reinforce the idea that gross color should not be used in classifying a muscle's contractile or morphological parameters.
Effect of Age on Respiratory Defense Mechanisms: Pulmonary Bacterial Clearance in Fischer 344 Rats After Intratracheal Instillation of Listeria monocytogenes

Study objectives To examine the lung defensemechanisms of both young and aged rats before and after pulmonarychallenge with a bacterial pathogen. Design Male Fischer 344 rats, either 2.5 months or 20 months of age, wereintratracheally inoculated with 5 × 10 3 ,5 × 10 4 , or 5 × 10 5 Listeriamonocytogenes , and the effects on mortality, lung inflammation, pulmonary bacterial clearance, alveolar macrophage (AM) function, and T-lymphocyte characterization were determined. Measurementsand results In noninfected control animals, the older rats hadlower numbers of AMs on lavage and a lower percentage of total T, CD4+, and CD8+ cells. No difference was observed between noninfected youngand old rats in AM function, assessing both chemiluminescence andnitric oxide (NO) production. After bacterial challenge, aged ratsexhibited an increase in mortality, pulmonary infection, and edema, andlung lesions, which were more extensive than those observed in theyounger rats. Interestingly, AM chemiluminescence was enhanced, while AM NO, a highly important antibacterial defense product, was abrogatedin the aged rats as compared to the young rats. Conclusions This study demonstrated that advanced age isassociated with alterations in lung defense mechanisms and increasedsusceptibility to pulmonary bacterial infection marked by elevatedmortality, slowed pulmonary bacterial clearance, and altered AMfunction, specifically a decrease in NO production. These observationsare indicative of reduced pulmonary defense function in an olderpopulation of rats.
Assessing Tourists' Multi-Attribute Preferences for Public Beach Access

Because of the limited capacity of coastal lands and conflicting interests among stakeholders of the coastal resources, there are intensifying pressures to retain and provide more public access to the coast. Under limited development opportunities and budget constraints, identifying tourists' preferences for management options is highly important for management agencies to better serve coastal tourists. The purpose of this article is to better understand tourists' preferences for management options and policies related to public beach access. A stated preference choice method is used to identify the extent of coastal tourists' concern about current beach management programs and support for prospective management actions related to public beach access. Results provide management agencies with a comprehensive understanding of tourists' preferences for management attributes, as well as willingness to make tradeoffs among the attributes. The article concludes with a discussion of beach management implications...
Converting Low-Grade Heat Into Power Using a Supercritical Rankine Cycle With Zeotropic Mixture Working Fluid

A supercritical Rankine cycle using zeotropic mixture working fluids for the conversion of low-grade heat into power is proposed and analyzed in this paper. A supercritical Rankine cycle does not go through two-phase region during the heating process. By adopting zeotropic mixtures as the working fluids, the condensation process happens non-isothermally. Both of the features create a potential in reducing the irreversibility and improving the system efficiency. A comparative study between an organic Rankine cycle and the proposed supercritical Rankine cycle shows that the proposed cycle improves the cycle thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency of the heating and the condensation processes, and the system overall efficiency.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Prospective associations among approach coping, alcohol misuse and psychiatric symptoms among veterans receiving a brief alcohol intervention

Brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) target alcohol consumption and may exert secondary benefits including reduced depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among non-veteran and veteran populations. This study examined whether approach coping, alcohol misuse, and an interaction of these two factors prior to the administration of a BAI (i.e., baseline) would predict depression and PTSD symptoms 6-months post BAI (i.e., follow-up). Veterans (N=166) received a BAI after screening positive for alcohol misuse during a primary care visit and completed assessments of alcohol misuse, approach coping, and depression and PTSD symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Baseline substance misuse, but not approach coping, significantly predicted depression and PTSD symptoms at follow-up. Approach coping moderated associations between baseline alcohol misuse and psychiatric symptoms: Veterans reporting more alcohol misuse and more (relative to less) approach coping at baseline evidenced fewer psychiatric symptoms at follow-up after accounting for symptoms assessed at baseline.
Decoupled approach to multidisciplinary design optimization under uncertainty

We propose solution methods for multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) under uncertainty. This is a class of stochastic optimization problems that engineers are often faced with in a realistic design process of complex systems. Our approach integrates solution methods for reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) with solution methods for deterministic MDO problems. The integration is enabled by the use of a deterministic equivalent formulation and the first order Taylor’s approximation in these RBDO methods. We discuss three specific combinations: the RBDO methods with the multidisciplinary feasibility method, the all-at-once method, and the individual disciplinary feasibility method. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the procedure.
Resonant Tunneling with an Electron-Phonon Interaction

Abstract Using nonequilibrium quantum-statistical mechanics, we study both the equilibrium behavior and the nonlinear transport in a one-dimensional model of resonant tunneling with an electron-phonon interaction at zero temperature. There are several unique features of our work: (1) We demonstrate the importance of the Hartree-like electron-phonon self-energy diagram in this problem lacking translational invariance. (2) We identify a new perturbation parameter in the study of the equilibrium polaron shift. (3) We provide a thorough understanding of when the noninteracting current is a poor predictor of the interacting current-voltage characteristic, which we calculate and explain in detail. Our calculation treats a weak electron-phonon interaction at zero temperature perturbatively in the dimensionless coupling constant, g, to lowest self-consistent order. Because the system is not translational invariant, we must retain both a Fock-like and a Hartree-like diagram. Depending of the filling condition of the resonant level, the model can be in two qualitatively different regimes: when the resonant level is empty (occupied), the polaron shift of the level with the interaction is −gΩ (−3gΩ), where Ω is the frequency of the phonon. The crossover occurs on a scale set by the noninteracting escape rate, Γ, and we find that gΩ/Γ is an additional perturbation parameter in the study of the equilibrium polaron shift. We furthermore evaluate typical nonlinear current-voltage characteristics. When the Fermi seas of the leads are much thicker than Ω (and Γ), the interaction affects the total current only near the onset of the large resonant current and in the valley region. However, the interaction modifies the I-V characteristics at all biases when the Fermi seas are shallow. To interpret our results we separate the current densities per unit energy for the left and right leads into elastic and inelastic contributions. We finally show that the qualitative behavior of the inelastic current contributions does not depend on the filling condition of the resonant level for a system with thick Fermi seas at a typical bias where a large current flows.
Compound Formation and Local Structure in Ternary Metal-Phosphorus-Selenium Systems

Abstract The formation of ternary compounds is investigated in a variety of M -P-Se systems ( M = Cd, Sn, Zn, Ca, Cu, In), using X-ray powder diffraction and 31 P, 77 Se, 113 Cd, 119 Sn MAS NMR. Compound formation in these systems is dominated by the P-Se anions, |P 2 Se 6 | 4- and |PSe 4 | 3- . These two types of local structures can be identified on the basis of 31 P chemical shift ranges and distinguished with the help of the Dipolar Recovery at the Magic Angle (DRAMA) technique. A new compound was found and characterized as Ca 2 P 2 Se 6 , orthorhombic, a = 5.73(1) A, b = 9.86(1) A, c = 15.78(1) A, with [P 2 Se 6 ] 4- units.
System estimation from metabolic time-series data

Motivation: At the center of computational systems biology are mathematical models that capture the dynamics of biological systems and offer novel insights. The bottleneck in the construction of these models is presently the identification of model parameters that make the model consistent with observed data. Dynamic flux estimation (DFE) is a novel methodological framework for estimating parameters for models of metabolic systems from time-series data. DFE consists of two distinct phases, an entirely model-free and assumption-free data analysis and a model-based mathematical characterization of process representations. The model-free phase reveals inconsistencies within the data, and between data and the alleged system topology, while the model-based phase allows quantitative diagnostics of whether—or to what degree—the assumed mathematical formulations are appropriate or in need of improvement. Hallmarks of DFE are the facility to: diagnose data and model consistency; circumvent undue compensation of errors; determine functional representations of fluxes uncontaminated by errors in other fluxes and pinpoint sources of remaining errors. Our results suggest that the proposed approach is more effective and robust than presently available methods for deriving metabolic models from time-series data. Its avoidance of error compensation among process descriptions promises significantly improved extrapolability toward new data or experimental conditions. Contact: eberhard.voit@bme.gatech.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Age differences in medial prefrontal activity for subsequent memory of truth value

Much research has demonstrated that aging is marked by decreased source memory relative to young adults, yet a smaller body of work has demonstrated that increasing the socioemotional content of source information may be one way to reduce age-related performance differences. Although dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) activity may support source memory among young and older adults, the extent to which one activates dorsal versus ventral mPFC may reflect one’s personal connection with incoming information. Because truth value may be one salient marker that impacts one’s connection with information and allocation of attention toward incoming material, we investigated whether the perceived truth value of information differently impacts differences in mPFC activity associated with encoding source information, particularly with age. Twelve young (18-23 years) and 12 older adults (63-80 years) encoded true and false statements. Behavioral results showed similar memory performance between the age groups. With respect to neural activity associated with subsequent memory, young adults, relative to older adults, exhibited greater activity in dmPFC while older adults displayed enhanced ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and insula engagement relative to young. These results may potentially indicate that young adults focus on a general knowledge acquisition goal, while older adults focus on emotionally relevant aspects of the material. The findings demonstrate that age-related differences in recruitment of mPFC associated with encoding source information may in some circumstances underlie age-equivalent behavioral performance.
Analysis of BvgA Activation of the Pertactin Gene Promoter in Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis , the causative agent of whooping cough, regulates expression of its virulence factors via a two-component signal transduction system encoded by the bvg regulatory locus. It has been shown by activation kinetics that several of the virulence factors are differentially regulated. fha is transcribed at 10 min following an inducing signal, while ptx is not transcribed until 2 to 4 h after the inducing signal. We present data indicating that prn is transcribed at 1 h, an intermediate time compared to those of fha and ptx . We have identified cis -acting sequences necessary for expression of prn in B. pertussis by using prn-lac fusions containing alterations in the sequence upstream of the prn open reading frame. In vitro transcription and DNase I footprinting analyses provided evidence to support our hypothesis that BvgA binds to this sequence upstream of prn to activate transcription from the promoter. Our genetic data indicate that the region critical for prn activation extends upstream to position −84. However, these data do not support the location of the prn transcription start site as previously published. We used a number of methods, including prn-lac fusions, reverse transcriptase PCR, and 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends, to localize and identify the bvg -dependent 5′ end of the prn transcript to the cytosine at −125 with respect to the published start site.
The Use of Singular Integrals in Wave Propagation Problems; with Application to the Point Source in a Semi-Infinite Elastic Medium

This is an investigation of the field due to a general point source of energy in an isotropic, elastic solid with a free surface. The paper is divided into three parts. In part I we are concerned with the development of new plane wave representations for the fundamental solutions of elastodynamics. There are two types of situation involved; we have the simpler type involved in the case of a steady point source which moves steadily with any constant velocity in an elastic medium, this type involves superposition of plane waves with respect to a single parameter, and we have the more complicated transient problem in which a point source is set up at a given moment, and thereafter moves at constant velocity, without change of strength. In part II we make use of the new representation for the field of a steadily moving source in the calculation of fields and displacements in the presence of a free surface and in part III we do the same for the transient source. We discuss in some detail the application of the new approach to the case of a vertical load, to a horizontal load, and to a couple of arbitrary orientation, and we give a general discussion of the singularities to be expected for the general point source.
Topology adaptation for robust ad hoc cyberphysical networks under puncture-style attacks

Many cyber physical networks will involve ad hoc deployments utilizing peer-to-peer communications. Examples include transportation systems where a group of moving cars communicate in order to avoid collisions, teams of robotic agents that work together in support of disaster recovery, and sensor networks deployed for health-care monitoring, monitoring the operation of a factory plant or to coordinate and actuate mechanisms for energy conservation in a building. These networks may face a variety of threats that puncture their connectivity and, should their performance degrade, the result could be catastrophic. Consider, for example, a vehicular ad hoc network where communication assists collision avoidance. In such a case, degradation could lead to vehicle accidents. Therefore, in order to overcome network performance degradations and the puncture of a network (such as blackhole or jamming) which is under attack, we propose an algorithm called the Fiedler Value Power Adjustment Topology Adaption (FVPATA). FVPATA aims to dynamically adapt an ad hoc network’s topology, even if the attacker varies its location and in the case of an interference-style attack by increasing the interference power. The algorithm utilizes the formulation from the graph theory which works with the Fiedler value to guide each node in wireless ad hoc network utilizing power adjustments to enhance the network’s overall robustness. The advantage of the proposed mechanism is that it is a light-weight approach which is totally distributed, based on topology updates inherent in the Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) protocol and, hence, it is unnecessary to introduce additional messages. Additionally, an algorithm was developed to resolve problems involving asymmetric links that arise in ad hoc networks by eliminating unnecessary energy consumption of Fiedler nodes. Simulation results using NS3 show that the proposed mechanism successfully decreases the average amount of hops used by 50% and the delay of flows when nodes are migrating at a modest rate below 60 m/min.
Are corticosteroids effective for prevention of scar formation after second-degree skin burn?

Background: Superficial second-degree skin burns only need re-epithelialization to heal without a scar. After re-epithelialization, inflammation in the dermis contributes to changes in skin architecture and scarring. Suppression of inflammation and fibroblast activation immediately after re-epithelialization may prevent scar formation. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Objective: To assess the available data on use of corticosteroids for prevention of scars. Methods: A review of literature was performed seeking clinical trials using corticosteroids for prevention of scars. Results: Corticosteroids have been used to prevent recurrence after keloid or hypertrophic scar excision with variable success. We did not find any report involving the clinical use of corticosteroids for the prevention of scar formation in other settings, including after skin burns. Conclusion: Theoretically, topical corticosteroids can suppress inflammation and fibroblast activation afte...
The effect of an imperfectly conducting plane upon an incident electromagnetic field

Expressions are derived for the far field that results when electromagnetic radiation is incident upon an imperfectly conducting nonhomogeneous plane surface. In particular, these expressions include the second-order far field and thus allow consideration of surface wave effects. It is shown that the far field satisfies an integral equation and this is used to study the field resulting from a dipole that sits above a finite ground screen.
Infiltrating breast carcinoma in patients age 30 years and younger: Long term outcome for life, relapse and second primary tumors

A retrospective study examining the influence of young age, defined as 30 years or less on the outcome of early-staged (American Joint Committee 1978-I, II) breast cancer was undertaken using patients treated between 1950 and 1970 to ensure a long follow-up period. Because of the era of treatment, radical mastectomy without systemic chemotherapy was the predominant treatment. Ninety-nine patients met study criteria, with a median follow-up of 11.4 years (range 0.5 to 41 years). The patient group was compared to patients of all ages, treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1960 (5 and 10 years) and to patients treated between 1940 and 1943 (30 year follow-up). At the 5, 10, and 30 year follow-up periods, patients in the young age group consistently had disease-specific survival 10-20% lower than their older counterparts. For young patients who survived their first cancer diagnosis, second primaries both in the contralateral breast and elsewhere, played a significant role in determining their subsequent life span. When compared to risks of second primary cancers in the National Cancer Institute's SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program) Cancer Registry for all ages, the increased risk for very young breast cancer patients was significant (p = 0.000). With these two findings in mind, treatment for young patients with breast cancer should focus not on local therapy options alone but on the increased risk of both systemic disease and of second primaries.
Slurp: tangibility spatiality and an eyedropper

The value of tangibility for ubiquitous computing is in its simplicity-when faced with the question of how to grasp a digital object, why not just pick it up? But this is problematic; digital media is powerful due to its extreme mutability and is therefore resistant to the constraints of static physical form. We present Slurp, a tangible interface for locative media interactions in a ubiquitous computing environment. Based on the affordances of an eyedropper, Slurp provides haptic and visual feedback while extracting and injecting pointers to digital media between physical objects and displays.
A novel approach using atherectomy for chronic total occlusion of the brachial artery: a case report.

Chronic upper limb ischemia is uncommon, and is most often secondary to subclavian artery stenosis. Percutaneous intervention for subclavian stenosis usually includes balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. Brachial artery stenosis is even more scarce and accounts for approximately 12% of symptomatic upper extremity ischemia. Because it is rare, the optimal treatment strategy for brachial artery stenosis remains uncertain. We describe a case of chronic brachial artery ischemia due to atherosclerotic disease treated with the SilverHawk™ plaque excision system and review the available data regarding its use.
Quality of life issues in community occupational therapy practice.

SUMMARYQuality of life has long been purported to be an outcome of occupational therapy practice. Yet little outcome data is available illustrating the effectiveness of occupational therapy in enhancing quality of life. Recent authors have addressed health related quality of life issues. Community practice would also benefit from attention to global quality of life concepts and outcome measures. This article discusses global quality of life and reviews related outcome measures.
Henry's law and diffusion constants of vinyl chloride in poly(vinyl chloride) at high temperature

The Henry's law and diffusion constants of vinyl chloride in poly(vinyl chloride) were determined at temperatures of 24, 90, 120, 150, and 170°C for weight fractions of vinyl chloride between 0.2 × 10−3 and 0.8 × 10−3. Above 90°C, Henry's law applies; values of the constant increase with temperature from 1.8 × 102 to 5.5 × 102 atm per unit weight fraction of dissolved vinyl chloride. The heat of desorption is about 15 kJ/mole. At 24°C, the nominal Henry's law constant was smaller than would have been obtained by extrapolating the values found at higher temperature. The diffusion constants increase with temperature from about 2 × 10−13 to 3 × 10−7 cm2/sec. The activation energy for diffusion is about 110 kJ/mole between 90 and 170°C. Although all values were determined in the absence of air, it is likely that they apply to polymer in air. They may, therefore, be used to calculate the vinyl chloride content in the gas above poly(vinyl chloride) under specific processing conditions.
Daptomycin Antibiotic Lock Therapy in a Rat Model of Staphylococcal Central Venous Catheter Biofilm Infections

Antibiotic lock therapy (ALT) is an adjunctive procedure to prevent or treat central venous catheter infections, ensuing catheter-related bacteremia, and catheter-related metastatic infections. Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide that is rapidly bactericidal against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The efficacies of daptomycin against central venous catheter biofilms, catheter-related bacteremia, and catheter-related metastatic infections were evaluated by adapting a previously reported central venous catheter biofilm model in rats. Combined daptomycin ALT and systemic dosing resulted in the clearance of an established in vivo S. aureus central venous catheter biofilm after just two daily ALT treatments (30 min with daptomycin at 5 mg/ml) with concurrent systemic daptomycin dosing (40 mg/kg of body weight/day subcutaneously [s.c.]; equivalent exposure of 6 mg/kg/day in people). Daptomycin ALT solutions formulated in either saline or lactated Ringer's solution were equally fast in eradicating established in vivo methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) central venous catheter biofilms. However, the lactated Ringer's formulation was superior to that of saline in sustaining the bacterial clearance of treated central venous catheters (83% versus 50%). In MRSE-infected central venous catheter studies, 3 days of daptomycin or vancomycin ALT (18 h at 5 mg/ml) with systemic s.c. dosing (40 mg/kg/day daptomycin or 100 mg/kg/day vancomycin) was equally effective 1 week posttherapy in maintaining cleared central venous catheters (90% [n = 10] versus 100% [n = 8]). These results suggest that daptomycin ALT, along with systemic dosing, could be an effective treatment option for the prevention or eradication of staphylococcal central venous catheter biofilm infections, thereby reducing the occurrence of catheter-related bacteremia or catheter-related metastatic infections.
A high estimate accuracy fusion method for multisensor tracking association

A high estimate accuracy fusion method for multisensor tracking association is presented. Based on the analysis of the state fusion and measurement fusion methods, the estimating effects of the two methods are compared. Considering the measurement covariance's influence on the fusion result, we assign the elements of the measurement covariance matrix to the measurements from different sensors as their weights, and combine the weighted measurements to form the new measurement which is used in the Kalman filter. The simulation shows the new method's estimate accuracy is much higher than the state and measurement fusion methods.
United to God through Christ: Assessing Calvin on the Question of Deification

'From Calvin's prayer at the end of Lecture 123 on Jeremiah 31. This quotation and others labeled as "CTS" are from the Calvin Translation Society series of Calvin's Commentaries (ed. and trans. John King et al.; Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1856; repr., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1981). Quotations labeled "CC" are from Calvin's Commentaries (ed. David and Thomas Torrance; Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1959), a newer translation. Unless otherwise noted, quotations from the Institutes are from John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles; 2 vols.; Library of Christian Classics; Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960). For many quotations from various works of Calvin's, I have included references to the following Latin editions of his works: Joannis Calvini Opera Selecta (ed. Peter Barth and Wilhelm Niesel; Munich: Chr. Kaiser, 1926), hereafter OS; or Johannis Calvini opera quae supersunt omnia, Corpus Reformatorum (ed. G. Baum et al.; Brunsvigae: apud C. A. Schwetschke et filium, 1863-1900), hereafter CR. 2According to Frangois Wendel (Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious Thought [trans. Philip Mairet; Durham, N.C.: Labyrinth Press, 1987] 259; see 258-60), Calvin fears "anything that might have led to the admission of any deification of man, even by way of Jesus Christ, and even in his person." In addition, Roland Bainton claims that in Calvin, God is "so high and lifted up, so unspeakably holy, and man so utterly unworthy, that no union between God and man could be thinkable" (Hunted Heretic: The Life and Death of Michael Servetus, 1511-1553 [Boston: Beacon Press, 1960] 46-47).
Static power driven voltage scaling and delay driven buffer sizing in Mixed Swing QuadRail for sub-1 V I/O swings

This paper describes and explores the design space of a four power-supply rail methodology (called Mixed Swing QuadRail) for performing low voltage logic in a high threshold voltage CMOS fabrication process. Power and delay trade-offs are studied to suggest approaches for efficient selection of voltage levels and buffer transistor sizes. Polynomial models for QuadRail power and delay are derived to show that at reduced I/O swings (sub-1 V), both under- and over-sizing of transistors can lead to steeply increased delays. Transistor sizing techniques are proposed for optimizing delay and energy per logic operation as a function of load capacitance and voltage levels. Experimental results from detailed HSPICE simulations and an And-Or-Invert (AOI222) QuadRail test chip fabricated in the Hewlett-Packard 0.5 /spl mu/m process are presented to support the models and demonstrate significant power reduction compared to static CMOS.
Recent Legal Developments Scott v. Harris: Seeing Is Believing

This article provides an assessment of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Scott v. Harris (2007). The assessment provides students, criminal justice scholars, and practitioners with an overview o...
Accuracy of Haptic Assessment of Patellar Symmetry in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Resection resulting in asymmetrically thick patellar arthroplasty in knee arthroplasty may lead to increased compression forces, wear, fracture, or loss of quadriceps power. Assessing the cut patella between the thumb and forefinger (haptic assessment) represents a convenient way to recognize asymmetry. In 2 test series, 8 orthopedic surgeons evaluated 24 precut solid foam patellae of varying asymmetric thickness by feeling the patella between thumb and forefinger, without visualization. Of 384 responses, in 73.2% asymmetry was underestimated, 10.4% assessments were exact, and in 16.4% asymmetry was overestimated. Specifically, 35.9% were correct within 1 mm, 60.7% within 2 mm, 81% within 3 mm, and 91.4% within 4 mm. The thickest half of the patella was correctly identified in 90.6% of responses. Haptic assessment of patellar symmetry is a useful technique in knee arthroplasty. Key words: haptic, patella, patellar asymmetry, patellar arthroplasty, surgical technique, tactile, total knee arthroplasty.
Development and Implementation of a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia/Intensive Care Database

Systematic collection and electronic storage of data can assist in improving quality and efficiency of patient care and can provide a data set to interrogate for subsequent performance improvement and clinical research purposes. In this article, an electronic perioperative pediatric cardiac surgery database to be used by a multidisciplinary care team was designed, developed, and implemented. Technical goals for the design included low cost, rapid development and implementation, adequate security, and potential for internal and external distribution. Implementation of the described database has proved to be invaluable for quality assurance and statistical analysis of data relevant to patient care. From the overall positive experience, it was concluded that the electronic data management does not always need major cost investment.