cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The All-White World of Middle-School Genre Fiction: Surveying the Field for Multicultural Protagonists

While there has been a notable increase in multicultural publishing over the past several years, this study indicates that the increase has not extended into genre fiction for middle-grade readers. The study entailed a content analysis of book reviews of fiction for the middle grades published between 1992 and 2001. A total of 4,255 reviews of genre fiction were analyzed. Although the 2000 U.S. Census indicated that about one third of the U.S. population of children is comprised of people of color, only 661, or less than one sixth, of the books were identified as containing at least one protagonist of color. In a more realistic representation of the world, about one third of the characters would be people of color.
EFFECT OF ADRENALINE CHLORIDE ON THE PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF THE CELLS OF THE ADRENAL MEDULLA

Although we were primarily concerned in our investigation with the effect of epinephrine on the adrenal medulla various other anatomical changes attributed to its experimental administration have been considered. In spite of the profound toxicity and lethal effect of large doses of epinephrine the outstanding lesion is the “adrenaline myocarditis” of rabbits. Drummon (1) observed lesions in dogs after administration of 15 cc. of 1–1000 of epinephrine. The description of the pathological changes gives the impression that the lesions were of a mild degenerative type rather than destructive ones. Fleisher and Loeb (2), using the rabbit, produced extensive necrotic areas in the wall of the left ventricle by the intravenous injection of epinephrine and caffein. Samson (3) has lately studied the tissue change following continuous intravenous injections of epinephrine hydrochloride into the dog. He was of the opinion that changes seen in liver and kidney were due to a toxic action. They were reported as a fatty ...
Clinical observations on the antihypertensive response to mebutamate (Capla) in geriatric patients

Abstract Nineteen geriatric patients with sustained, mild to moderate hypertension in addition to cerebrovascular disease were studied for 4 months by means of a double-blind crossover technique in which mebutamate was compared to an inert placebo. No significant antihypertensive effect was observed in the 19 geriatric patients treated with mebutamate (Capla). Over 40 per cent of the patients complained of drowsiness while receiving the drug. There was no evidence of renal or hepatic impairment during the period of observation.
Mitral and tricuspid valve repair and growth in unbalanced atrial ventricular canal defects.

Objective Congenital mitral and tricuspid valve abnormalities in unbalanced atrioventricular canal defects are complex. We designed procedures to both repair and induce growth of hypoplastic atrioventricular valves and ventricles to achieve 2-ventricle repairs. Midterm data were assessed for reliability of catch-up growth, resulting quality of atrioventricular valves, and adequacy of 2-ventricle repairs. Methods The 24 consecutive infants (14 female and 10 male) with unbalanced atrioventricular canal defects had significant hypoplasia of 1 atrioventricular valve and/or ventricle (an echocardiography-derived z value of ≤−3.0 standard errors of the mean below expected). Operative approaches included the following: (1) Staged repair was performed, with complete valve repair, partial closure of the atrial septal, and ventricular septal defects, and (usually) pulmonary artery banding. After adequate growth, repair was completed. A vestigial mitral valve (4–7 mm) in 3 patients led to partitioning the large tricuspid valve, creating a second mitral valve. (2) Repair with a shift in atrioventricular valve partitioning was performed to increase hypoplastic atrioventricular valve size. (3) Repair with snared atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defect was performed to allow intracardiac shunting. The hypoplastic atrioventricular valves and hypoplastic ventricles were reassessed on local follow-up (5–15 years). Results The initial z scores were −2.8 to −7.4 for hypoplastic atrioventricular valves and −1.0 to −7.5 for hypoplastic ventricles. Follow-up z scores were −0.6 to −2.7 for hypoplastic atrioventricular valves and −2.0 to +1.8 for hypoplastic ventricles. Another 11 patients were also judged to be within normal limits. Three reoperations were for mitral valve regurgitation, and 1 reoperation was for mitral valve replacement. One patient died of central nervous system bleed just before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning, and 2 patients died of late potassium overdose, for an 88% survival. Survivors are well with 2-ventricle repairs, and 15 of 19 patients are not taking cardiac medications. Conclusions Increasing atrioventricular valve flow reliably induced growth. Valve repair and growth achieved a 2-ventricle repair in all patients.
Ab initio studies of single-height Si(001) steps

Abstract We have studied the Si(001) surface with single-height steps by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Surface dimers were found to be unstable with respect to buckling for all geometries considered. However, the ground state reconstruction depends on the type of step. For the SA step, the c(2 × 4) geometry is induced by the step edge, while, for the SB step, the p(2 × 2) reconstruction is more stable. The binding sites and diffusion barriers for a single Si adatom were investigated via the adiabatic trajectory method. In agreement with other studies of the flat surface, fast diffusion takes place along the dimer rows. The local changes to buckling induced by the adatom are sizable and lead to changes in the activation barriers for diffusion, in particular for the path perpendicular to the dimer rows. We also investigated the diffusion of the adatom over the rebonded SB step. The calculations show that there is no additional barrier for the arrival of the adatom at the edge from the upper terrace, while a barrier of at least 1 eV exists for the arrival of the adatom from the lower edge. In step flow growth involving the rebonded SB step, most of the adatoms will thus arrive from the upper terrace.
The effects of high altitudes on child growth and development.

This study compares the growth characteristics of populations of Tibetan origin living in Nepal to high altitude populations of Peru and Ethiopia. Measurements were made on two groups of children, a sample of Sherpas living in the Everest region of northeast Nepal at elevations in excess of 3500 m, and a sample of Tibetan children living in Kathmandu at an altitude of 1000 m. Although the Tibetan children showed some growth advancement over the highland sample of Sherpas, the differences were less than might have been expected on the basis of work carried out in Peru, where long established high altitude populations live at similar elevations to those of Himalayan populations. In particular, some growth trends seen in Andean populations, such as the increased diameter of the chest wall, are not seen in populations of Tibetan origin. It is suggested that genetic influences may exert a stronger effect on the growth of high altitude populations than hitherto believed.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF MOLECULAR SYSTEMS. THE DETERMINATION OF THERMOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Numerical simulation can play a significant role in the determination of thermodynamic properties of molecules. It is now possible to calculate heats of formation, entropies and heat capacities that are of comparable accuracy to experimental values. The method of choice for such calculations is ab initio molecular orbital theory. The use of this method to obtain thermodynamic quantities and its specific application to the calculation of the relative energies of diaminobenzene isomers are described. A second application is the calculation of heats of formation for the common Freon®'s F11 (CFCl3) and F12 (CF2C12). The calculated values for the ΔHf°'s agree with the revised JANAF results and experimental equilibrium measurements but do not agree with other standard tabulations.
Cloning and expression of a lignin peroxidase gene from Streptomyces viridosporus in Streptomyces lividans.

Abstract A lignin peroxidase gene was cloned from Streptomyces viridosporus T7A into Streptomyces lividans TK64 in plasmid pIJ702. Bgl II-digested genomic DNA (4–10 kb) of S. viridosporus was shotgun-cloned into S. lividans after insertion into the melanin (mel + ) gene of pIJ702. Transformants expressing pIJ702 with insert DNA were selected based upon the appearance of thiostrepton resistant (tsr r )/mel − colonies on regeneration medium. Lignin peroxidase-expressing clones were isolated from this population by screening of transformants on a tsr-poly B-411 dye agar medium. In the presence of H 2 O 2 excreted by S. lividans , colonies of lignin peroxidase-expressing clones decolorized the dye. Among 1000 transformants screened, 2 dye-decolorizing clones were found. One, pIJ702/TK64.1 (TK64.1), was further characterized. TK64.1 expressed significant extracellular 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) peroxidase activity (=assay for S. viridosporus lignin peroxidase). Under the cultural conditions employed, plasmidless S. lividans TK64 had a low background level of 2,4-DCP oxidizing activity. TK64.1 excreted an extracellular peroxidase not observed in S. lividans TK64, but similar to S. viridosporus lignin peroxidase ALip-P3, as shown by activity stain assays on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. The gene was located on a 4 kb fragment of S. viridosporus genomic DNA. When peroxidase-encoding plasmid, pIJ702.LP, was purified and used to transform three different S. lividans strains (TK64, TK23, TK24), all transformants tested decolorized poly B-411. When grown on lignocellulose in solid state processes, genetically engineered S. lividans TK64.1 degraded the lignocellulose slightly better than did S. lividans TK64. This is the first report of the cloning of a bacterial gene coding for a lignin-degrading enzyme.
Molecular-weight scaling of coexistence curves for monodisperse polymer solutions

Abstract The available data for the polymer volume fraction along the coexistence curves for monodisperse solutions of polystyrene in methylcyclohexane are used to derive the exponent z ≈ 0.61 such that the “correct” order parameter is only a function of ϵMZ (M is the polymer's molecular weight while ϵ is the reduced temperature). It is shown that a knowledge of the “correct” order parameter is unnecessary for a determination of z which is expected to be universal, i.e. independent of the polymer-solvent system.
Weight gain after childbirth: a women's health concern?

Changes in health care delivery call for an integrative science of women’s health care. A neglected area of such a science is the interrelationship between childbearing and chronic health conditions, such as obesity. Recent increases in guidelines for gestational weight gain (GWG) have raised concerns that these guidelines may contribute inadvertently to later obesity in women. On average, existing research shows that pregnancy accounts for small gains in postpartal weight, especially if the effects of aging are considered. However, there is great variability in postpartal weight gain, and some women, especially minority women, are more vulnerable to excessive weight gains following childbirth. Although GWG is an important predictor of postpartal weight gain, psychosocial factors, such as personal health patterns and stress, also may potentially contribute to women’s weight gain after childbirth. Further research is needed to determine the impact of women’s psychosocial context on postpartal weight.
Prenatal stress exposure increases the excitation of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and alters their reponses to psychostimulants.

Prenatal stress exposure (PSE) is known to increase addiction risk. Dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play an important role in addiction. In order to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying PSE-induced increase in addiction risk, we examined the effects of PSE on the electrical impulse activity of VTA DA neurons using the in vivo extracellular single-unit recording technique. Amphetamine self-administration was also conducted to confirm increased addiction risk after PSE. The PSE was carried out by restraining pregnant dams from GD 11 to 20. Adult male offspring (3–6 months old) were used in the experiments. Animals with PSE showed enhanced amphetamine self-administration compared with controls when amphetamine dose was reduced after acquisition. The number of spontaneously active VTA DA neurons was also reduced in PSE rats. The reduction was reversed by acute apomorphine that normally inhibits the impulse activity of DA neurons. The reversal effect suggests that PSE-induced reduction in the number of spontaneously active VTA DA neurons is caused by overexcitation to the extent of depolarization block. Furthermore, the reduced number of spontaneously active VTA DA neurons was also reversed by acute psychostimulants (eg, amphetamine; cocaine), which in control rats inhibited the activity of VTA DA neurons. The reversal effect on VTA DA neuron in PSE animals represents an actual increase in the impulse activity. This effect might contribute to increased responding to psychostimulants and mediate increased addiction risk after PSE.
Circulating Immune Complexes with Pulmonary Hemorrhage During Pregnancy in Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

Circulating immune complexes occurred during pulmonary hemorrhage in a pregnant patient with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, an association not previously reported. The patient required mechanical ventilation, but recovered; after a prolonged hospitalization, she was delivered of a healthy infant without further complications.
Use of the Er:YAG laser for improved plating in maxillofacial surgery: comparison of bone healing in laser and drill osteotomies.

Background and Objective Surgical reconstruction of bony defects in the maxillofacial region involves fixation of bony fragments with mini and micro plates. Bone stabilization during hole drilling is often challenging due to the need to apply pressure when using a conventional mechanical Hall drill. In addition, fragmentation of the fragile bones may occur and complicate the reconstruction. The pulsed Er:YAG laser offers an attractive alternative drilling modality because it does not require physical contact with the bone in order to drill holes, cuts bone with minimal thermal damage, and allows precise control of bone cutting. The objective of this study was to investigate the pulsed Er:YAG laser as an alternative to the mechanical bur by comparing bone healing using both modalities. Study Design/Materials and Methods Bone healing in an inferior border defect of the rat mandible was examined using either an Er:YAG laser or a mechanical but for drilling. The healing of osteotomies in facial bones and of screw holes for plate stabilization of free bone fragments was studied. Results All defects healed by 4 weeks postoperatively. Histologic evaluation demonstrated no difference in the amount of newly formed woven bone at the osteotomy site or screw holes made by either the laser or the drill. The extent of thermal damage at the osteotomy sites was comparable in laser and mechanically cut bone fragments. Conclusions On the basis of this study we suggest that the Er:YAG laser can be used clinically in thin, fragile bones in the maxillofacial region. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification Of Fatty Acid Isomers By Gas Chromatography / Matrix Isolation / Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Geometric and positional isomers of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from hydrogenated soybean oil and margarines were separated by silver nitrate-thin layer chromatography (AgNO3-TLC) followed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and identified by matrix isolation / Fourier transform infrared (MI/FTIR) spectroscopyi,2. Because of the high specificity of the MI technique, it was possible to distinguish between different 18-carbon aliphatic chains of FAME positional isomers with cis or trans configuration, and to determine their degree of unsaturation. For the first time mid-IR spectra were observed for methylene-interrupted or isolated trans, trans or cis/ trans C18 FAME positional isomers. These spectra could be readily differentiated based on unique MI/FTIR spectral characteristics.
Nutritionally forced heterokaryons in the Mucoraceae

Abstract Immature zygospores ofPhycomyces blakesleeanus and mycelium from the sexual reaction zone ofRhizopus microsporus gave rise to mating-type heterokaryons when placed on minimal (forcing) medium. Prerequisites included well-formed immature zygospores inP. blakesleeanus and nutritionally complementing alleles in both species. Although mycelium from the sexual reaction zone ofR. microsporus was essential for heterokaryon formation, the presence of immature zygospores apparently was not since mating-type heterokaryons were obtained from mycelium taken from the reaction zone of 70-day-old cultures. Attempts to obtain heterokaryons inR. microsporus by growing vegetative hyphae of complementing strains together were not successful.
Lidocaine prophylaxis against ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial infarction.

D ESPITE recent clinical progress concerning treatment of pump failure in acute myocardial infarction, the therapy of lifethreatening arrhythmia remains the area in which we are best able to reduce morbidity and mortality.’ The death rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to nonmonitored hospital beds is 30%-40%.‘-” This is in sharp contrast to the IO%-20% in-hospital rate for those in the coronary care unit,“-” a difference due to the ready detection, treatment, and prevention of electrical disturbances. Anti-arrhythmic drugs, especially the local anesthetic lidocaine (lignocaine), have played an important role in this therapeutic advance. This article will review the pharmacology and mode of action of lidocaine and the evidence that demonstrating: (1) that almost all patients in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction experience ventricular arrhythmias; (2) that one cannot predict with certainty which patients will develop life-threatening ventricular fibrillation, and (3) that routine prophylaxis with lidocaine is both a safe and efficacious method with which to prevent such events.
Public use of an economic data base system. (Abstract Only)

The subject of this paper is the design of an economic data base system for public use, taking as a case study the Kentucky Economic Information System. This system offers its users facilities ranging from simple data retrieval and display to the capability to construct, maintain, and use econometric models online. It was designed originally to be user friendly to the trained econometrician, offering a semi-natural, verbal-mathematical free-format command language as the basic communication mechanism. However, with the development of the KEIS into a data base system that is widely used by government officials, academics, and others throughout Kentucky, the need has developed to provide a facility that is user friendly to any possible user. This paper considers the issue of user friendliness as a variable, depending upon the category of user. But it also considers tbe role played by the computer network and its operating conventions as a determinant of the user friendly features that are required. For example, in order to make the KEIS useable by reference librarians in universities, it was necessary to design a special interface; this necessity relates to the operating policies of the Kentucky Educational Computing Network, one of the computer networks the KEIS is resident upon. In addition, this paper considers the issue of user friendliness as it arises due to the specific characteristics of data and the operations performed: an economic data base system is inherently more difficult to operate than, say, a bibliographic data base system. Various other aspects of the KEIS have been considered in articles and papers appearing in such journals as the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and the Review of Public Data Use and in the proceedings of such conferences as the 1981 National Online Conference (March 1981) and the 8th European Urban Data Management Symposium, Oslo, Norway (June, 1981). A paper on the econometric modeling language (MODLER) that is available as part of the KEIS will be given at the 1981 Economic Control and Dynamics Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark (June 1981). This paper complements these other articles and papers.
Adaptive Robust Control for a Class of Non-Minimum Phase Nonlinear System

The paper presents the state feedback adaptive robust control approach to track the reference input for a class of nonminimum phase nonlinear systems. The key for this approach is to combine the adaptive robust control design techniques and the inputto-state property to deal with a class of non-minimum phase nonlinear systems with unknown parameter and unstructural uncertainties. The control design will guarantee that the tracking error dynamics is stabilized with bounded internal states and the closed-loop system is robust to the unstructural uncertainties.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Hierarchical 2D content-based mesh tracking for video object

This paper proposes methods for tracking of hierarchical 2D content-based mesh representations. We introduce new techniques to maintain the initial mesh hierarchy and topology during tracking by imposing certain constraints at each stage of the procedure. Experimental results are presented to compare the tracking performance of hierarchical versus non- hierarchical mesh representations. The results show that hierarchical tracking outperforms single-level tracking in case there is significant motion.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lifetime estimation and reliability study of electrothermal MEMS actuators

This work will present a detailed discussion on development of an automated test platform for reliability and lifetime expectancy studies of electrothermal micro-actuators. The actuators are designed using the top-most polysilicon layer of Sandia National Laboratories' SUMMiT V process. The image acquisition of the device is done using a Basler A 601f digital CCD c-mount camera, connected to a microscope with a 100 × magnification. To calculate the in-plane displacements of the device, a National Instruments' Vision image analysis software routine was utilized. An initial study is done to determine the actuator displacement characteristics with respect to the applied power. Based on the results from this study, the region of plastic deformation of the devices is determined. Arrhenius relationship theory is presented to model the plastic deformation based failure mechanism and allow the activation energy to be calculated.
Proactive protection in “zones of turmoil”

What happens to groups or individuals who live in “nation"‐states that occupy what Max Singer and Aaron Wildavsky have called “zones of turmoil,” located, they argue, mainly in the Third World? In these zones, the increase of intra‐state wars has generated a grim predicament, particularly for the women and children who live in them.
WOMEN, DYSLIPOPROTEINEMIA, AND ESTROGENS

The most common cause of death in both men and women is coronary atherosclerosis, although atherosclerotic death in women occurs 5 to 10 years later than it does in men. Major risk factors predict coronary risk in both. Available evidence suggests that women benefit from cholesterol lowering just as men do. The role of exogenous estrogenic compounds in favorably affecting lipoprotein levels and promoting antiatherogenesis in both men and women is a promising area for future research.
The production of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) in vivo in sheep

Abstract Lymph and supernatants derived from efferent lymphocytes leaving the popliteal lymph nodes of sheep responding to human red cells or dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin were examined for the presence of T-cell growth factor (TCGF). Efferent cells from normal sheep, but not from antigen-stimulated sheep, were found to release low levels of TCGF when incubated in medium for 12 hr in the absence of any exogenous stimulus. High levels of TCGF were found in normal lymph and also in immune lymph collected from sheep during the first 6 hr of immune responses. There were no detectable levels of TCGF in lymph collected later in the response. The lymphokine appeared to be a single molecular species of 10,000–20,000 molecular weight as assessed by exclusion chromatography. Efferent cells expressing receptors for TCGF were found in efferent lymph during the first 12 hr of the response. The results demonstrate for the first time that TCGF is produced in vivo and that asynchrony exists between TCGF production and expression of receptors for TCGF on efferent cells released by the stimulated node. Based on the known kinetics of previously reported synergistic factors, mitogenic factors, and T-cell-replacing factors in sheep efferent lymph and their physical characteristics it was concluded that the TCGF detected in lymph is distinct from these factors.
A geotraverse across a deformed Ordovician ophiolite and its Silurian cover, Northern New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract The Ordovician ophiolite, pillow lavas and turbidites found in northern New Brunswick represent a complex interpreted as oceanic crust and trench sediments. The ophiolite is exposed mainly in two inliers, the Belledune and the Elmtree, surrounded by Silurian rocks. In the former the ophiolitic rocks consist essentially of a sheeted dyke complex and a gabbro-diorite, the latter having been injected by veins of trondhjemite. The ophiolite in the Belledune inlier although brecciated on a small scale is not chaotically disrupted. The ophiolite of the Elmtree inlier consists of gabbro and minor ultrabasics, heavily deformed and brecciated with the breccia matrix metamorphosed into amphibolites. Later, low-grade metamorphic effects are superposed over the whole ophiolite complex. Overlying the ophiolite in the Elmtree inlier is a melange of greywackes and pillow lavas. This melange shows three periods of deformation all of which are considered pre-Silurian. The same deformation affects the ophiolite. The melange is separated by an unconformity from the overlying, less deformed, Ordovician mafic lavas and volcanics, which are known as the Pointe Verte formation. The unconformable Silurian strata cut across the Ordovician formations, and have a single cleavage, which rarely penetrates the Ordovician rocks. These relationships are used to develop a plate tectonic model which is applied to Gaspe and New Brunswick. The model involves the subduction of a mid-ocean ridge and results in polyphase Taconian deformation events and a single phase Acadian episode. The lapetus ocean in the northern Appalachians essentially closed by Middle Ordovician times.
Gender imbalance in college applications: Does it lead to a preference for men in the admissions process?

Abstract Using data from 13 liberal arts colleges, we test for a preference for men in the college admissions process. We find that gender does matter, but in a complex way. Men do appear to be given preference as college applicant pools become more female. Consistent with this pattern, we find clear evidence of a preference for men in historically female colleges—which have the highest percent female applicant pools. Being a male applicant raises the probability of acceptance at these schools by between 6.5 and 9 percentage points. We find no significant male preference in historically co-educational or historically male colleges despite the fact that their applicant pools are more than 50% female. We also find that the bottom quartile of both the applicant and acceptance pools, as measured by high school academic record, is disproportionately male. As a result, even with a gender-blind admissions policy, the lower tail of college classrooms is likely to be dominated by men.
Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine and 6-hydroxydopa on development of behavior.

Abstract Rats treated at birth with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) (60 μg/g, IP) or 6-hydroxydopa (6-OHDOPA X2) (60 μg/g, IP at birth and 48 hr later) exhibited increases in general activity throughout the initial 5 weeks after birth, with peak activity occurring around 20 days postnatally. Activity changes in the 6-OHDOPA×2 group appeared to be due to increased exploratory behavior (ambulation, climbing, rearing, sniffing), while the 6-OHDA changes appeared to be due to the increased self-directed behavior (eating, grooming, scratching). Despite these behavioral differences there was no obvious difference between treated groups in norepinephrine (NE) levels in the various brain regions, i.e., all treatments resulted in a reduction in neocortical and hippocampal NE and an elevation in cerebellar NE. These findings suggest that noradrenergic neurons may be altered to different degrees by each agent in more discrete brain regions than tested, or that other neurotransmitter systems may be more selectively altered by either of the drug treatments. Because striatal dopamine was unaltered in any of the groups, however, there is a reason to question a previously suggested link between minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) and dopamine depletion in the neonatal brain.
The Z-source breaker for fault protection in ship power systems

The z-source breaker is a new kind of breaker which is designed specifically for dc power systems. Without a zero crossing, interrupted dc currents produce arcing and hence ac breakers would not be applicable. The z-source breaker resolves this problem because it is designed to turn off as soon as it experiences a sharp transient in current. In this paper a new design for the z-source breaker is considered so that load transients are not identified as faults. The design is also modified to accommodate bi-directionality which is required in mediumvoltage dc ship power systems. A higher-level coordinated control scheme is discussed which enables multiple breakers to coordinate and isolate the fault in a simple medium-voltage dc ship power system architecture with a central control unit.
Functional Improvement After Multimodal Treatment of AD/HD |[diams]| 65

It is controversial whether current treatments for AD/HD are truly beneficial or simply reduce children with AD/HD to compliant“zombies” for the convenience of adult caretakers. Demonstration of the effectiveness of therapy for remediation of the functional limitations present in AD/HD would support the hypothesis that treatment reduces disability characteristic of AD/HD. In this study, effects of multimodal therapy for AD/HD were examined. At baseline, the WeeFIM and Conner's Parent Rating Scale-48 (CPRS) were given to 27 children who met DSM-IV creteria for AD/HD (mean Hyperactivity Index t=84.8). The WeeFIM provides a concise, comprehensive, “discipline-free” measure of functional independence sensitive to the self-care, communication, and social cognition limitations seen in AD/HD. Individual prescriptions for a combination of special education (13), behavioral or social skills counseling (15), and medication (25) were determined. After an average of 4.7 months follow-up WeeFIM and CPRS were re-administered. The 27 children from whom only follow-up WeeFIM's were obtained did not differ in IQ (71-128, M=91), gender (89% male), Medicaid status (64%), or age (3.2-9.2, M=6.5y) from the 19 children from whom follow-up Conners and WeeFIM scores were obtained. As expected, there was significant improvement in AD/HD behavior with decreases in the CPRS score in the Learning Problem (t-test, p=0.015), Impulsive-Hyperactive (p=0.025), and Hyperactivity Index (p=0.019). There was no reduction on the Conduct Problem scale (p=0.43). Age normalized WeeFIM scores showed significant improvement of self-care (sign-test, p=0.026), communication (p=0.022), social cognition(p=0.0003), and total WeeFIM scores (p=0.015). Despite an improvement of about 1/3 in functional scores, the pattern of limitations in self care, communication, and social cognition characteristic of AD/HD remained (ANOVA, p<0.001). These results support the utility of current therapy for AD/HD in improving functional skills, not just reducing unwanted behaviors. The WeeFIM is sensitive to changes in functional deficits in AD/HD and may be useful in further conrolled studies of the contributions of specific therapies to the attainment of functional independence in AD/HD.
Differential shrinkage effects in the core-drilling method

The core-drilling method is a technique that is used to determine stresses in concrete. In the method, a small hole is drilled into the concrete, and the resulting displacements are related to stresses present in the structure via elasticity theory. One source of complication when applying the method is the presence of differential shrinkage stresses. The exterior of a concrete specimen dries and shrinks faster than the interior, thus causing tension stresses on the exposed faces, and compressive stresses on the interior. These stresses tend to dissipate with time as the moisture profile becomes more uniform. However, for relatively young concrete specimens these stresses can be significant. In the current work, the moisture distribution and corresponding differential shrinkage stresses are analytically predicted in concrete plate specimens by solving a non-linear diffusion equation with appropriate boundary conditions. These differential shrinkage stresses are then evaluated numerically in the core-drill...
Point group symmetries

The form of macroscopic physical property tensors of a crystalline structure can be determined from its magnetic or non-magnetic point group symmetry. In a ferroic crystal containing two or more equally stable domains of the same structure but of different spatial orientation, macroscopic tensorial physical properties that are different in domains, provide a tensor distinction of the domains. The use of point group symmetries in this tensor distinction is reviewed in this paper: Point group symmetry based classifications of domains have been defined to determine if specific macroscopic tensorial physical properties can provide a tensor distinction of all or some domains which arise in a phase transition. For pairs of domains, the tensor distinction is determined from a point group symmetry relationship, called a twin law. Recent work on domain average engineering in ferroics which focuses on the averaged point group symmetry and averaged physical properties of subsets of domains is also discussed.
Ethnic differences in prevalence and correlates of self-harm behaviors in a treatment-seeking sample of emerging adults

The present study examined differences between White and ethnic minority emerging adults in the prevalence of self-harm behaviors – i.e., non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SA) – and in well-documented risk (i.e., depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), substance use, abuse history) and protective factors (i.e., religiosity/spirituality, family support, friend support) associated with NSSI and SAs. Emerging adults (N=1156; 56% ethnic minority), ages 17–29 (M=22.3, S.D.=3.0), who were presented at a counseling center at a public university in the Northeastern U.S., completed a clinical interview and self-report symptom measures. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the association between risk and protective factors in predicting history of NSSI-only, any SA, and no self-harm separately among White and ethnic minority individuals. Ethnic differences emerged in the prevalence and correlates of NSSI and SAs. Social anxiety was associated with SAs among White individuals but with NSSI among ethnic minority individuals. Substance use was a more relevant risk factor for White individuals, and friend support was a more relevant protective factor for ethnic minority individuals. These findings suggest differing vulnerabilities to NSSI and SAs between White and ethnic minority emerging adults.
The American Urological Association Symptom Score in the Evaluation of Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: at 2 years of followup, does it work?

AbstractPurpose: The American Urological Association (AUA) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) guidelines committee established criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of patients BPH. In a prospective study we determined the usefulness of these guidelines in 145 previously untreated patients with BPH symptoms.Materials and Methods: Patients were evaluated initially by AUA symptom score, digital rectal examination, urinalysis, serum creatinine and prostate specific antigen. Based on symptom score, patients with mild symptoms were treated with watchful waiting, while those with moderate and severe symptoms were offered watchful waiting, finasteride alpha-blockers, or laser or transurethral prostatectomy. Minimum followup was 2 years. Patients were offered a change in therapy if they had an intolerable adverse event or no improvement. Analysis included maintenance of therapy at 1 and 2 years, number of office visits and diagnostic tests performed. In addition, all patients were queried regarding which facto...
So you think it's bad now … Politics and transportation technology in America

This article consists of a collection of slide images from the author's conference presentation. There is not text to this presentation.
Electron Tunneling in Quasi-One-Dimensional Resonant Molecular Systems. Ab Initio Study

The method of tunneling currents is applied for study of electron-tunneling dynamics in quasi-one-dimensional donor−bridge−acceptor systems in which the bridge is composed of a sequence of atoms located on a straight line connecting donor and acceptor complexes. Such a system provides a simple model for the description of electronic processes in molecular wires. Of our particular interest are the following questions: how exactly does an electron tunnel through an atom or a molecule, and what is the precise meaning of “through-bond” and “through-space” tunneling, the concepts frequently used in the description of electron tunneling in proteins. Our method consists of an ab initio electronic structure calculation of the spatial distribution of tunneling currents occurring during the tunneling transition in the system, when an electron tunnels from the one end of molecular wire to the other. The analysis is based on calculation of two diabatic electronic states corresponding to localization of a tunneling e...
Anesthetic Interaction with Ketosteroid Isomerase: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The nature and the sites of interactions between anesthetic halothane and homodimeric Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) are characterized by flexible ligand docking and confirmed by 1H-15N NMR. The dynamics consequence of halothane interaction and the implication of the dynamic changes to KSI function are studied by multiple 5-ns molecular dynamics simulations in the presence and absence of halothane. Both docking and MD simulations show that halothane prefer the amphiphilic dimeric interface to the hydrophobic active site of KSI. Halothane occupancy at the dimer interface disrupted the intersubunit hydrogen bonding formed either directly through side chains of polar residues or indirectly through the mediation of the interfacial water molecules. Moreover, in the presence of halothane, the exchange rate of the bound waters with bulk water was increased. Halothane perturbation to the dimer interface affected the overall flexibility of the active site. This action is likely to contribute to the halothane-induced reduction of the KSI activity. The allosteric halothane modulation of the dynamics-function relationship of KSI without direct competition at the enzymatic active sites may be generalized to offer a unifying explanation of anesthetic action on a diverse range of multidomain neuronal proteins that are potentially relevant to clinical general anesthesia.
The use of cohesive markers in narratives by children with Williams syndrome

This study examined how children and adolescents with Williams syndrome (WS; ages 8 years, 0 months [8;0]–14;5) used referential devices (determiners and pronouns), tense, and connectives to create cohesion in oral narratives based on a storybook compared to typically developing mentally and chronologically age-matched children. WS children used cohesive devices in narratives similarly to mentally matched children, but their performance differed from the chronologically matched children only for referential cohesion. WS children's grammatical error rates were similar to both the mentally and chronologically matched children. Implications for the characterization of the language profile of individuals with WS and considerations for the focus of future narrative research are discussed.
Holocene alluvial stratigraphy in the upper Susquehanna River Basin, New York

Abstract Two alluvial terraces and the present flood plain were studied at two locations along the Susquehanna and Unadilla Rivers in south-central New York state. They have formed since deglaciation and incision of the stream channels into the valley train deposits. The higher terrace has noncumulative soil profiles with well-developed color B horizons predominantly of silt loam and very fine sandy loam. The terrace is weathered to a degree similar to nearby glacial outwash terraces that have caps of similarly textured sediments. Incision that produced the terrace occurred before 9705 ± 130 yr B.P. The lower terrace is characterized by relatively thick, vertical-accretion deposits of silt loam that contain sequences of thin, buried A, color B, and C horizons. They were formed between about 3240 ± 110 (14C data of soil humin) and 235 ± 80 yr B.P. Deposits above the 235 ± 80 yr B.P. stratum are unweathered. The soil stratigraphy and 14C dates of soil humin from buried A horizons are surprisingly well correlated between sites. Most sediments of the present flood plain have been deposited since 1120 ± 80 yr B.P. Incipient A horizons and oxidation of inherited organic matter in the subsoil are the only evidence of pedogenesis in the flood-plain deposits that are older than 275 ± 80 yr B.P. The most recent flood-plain fill deposited since then is unaltered. These youngest sediments of the flood plain along with the youngest veneer of vertical-accretion deposits on the lowest terrace are associated with an increased rate of deposition largely attributable to clearing of the forests by settlers, beginning in the late 1700s. Comparison of the alluvial stratigraphy with the radiocarbon-dated pollen stratigraphy of southwestern New York (Miller 1973) reveals some apparent time correlations between alluvial events and vegetation changes. This gives reason to speculate that climatic change or forest catastrophes such as disease or drought are causes of some of the alluvial events.
Mechanical and thermal properties of aromatic copolyesters containing rigid binaphthyl units

Mechanical and thermal properties of terephthalic acid copolyesters of 4,4′-binaphthol-1,N monomer, and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, A monomer (Bisphenol A), have been examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical methods. The copolyesters had different amounts and sequence distributions of diphenolic units. When the content of N units in the copolyesters was increased from 27 to 55 percent a significant increase of the dynamic Young's modulus, from 2485 to 4540 MPa at 110 Hz and room temperature, and an enhancement of the stress at yield, from 53.5 to 66.5 MPa, were observed. In the glass transition region of the copolyesters a smaller decrease in the value of E′ was noted compared with the homopolymers. For the copolyesters containing 55 percent of N units, the E′ decrease was only about 1.6 decades at 110 Hz within a range of temperatures of over 74 Kelvins. The DSC measurements of the copolyesters under consideration showed that the Tg depended only to a slight extent on their composition and structure and all Tg values were within the range of 494 ± 2 Kelvins, corresponding to that for poly [2,2-bis(4- hydroxyphenyl)propane terephthalate], the homopolymer of the A bisphenol monomer.
All-digital 1-bit RSFQ autocorrelator for radioastronomy applications: design and experimental results

We present the design of a rapid single-flux-quantum all-digital 1-bit autocorrelator for submillimeter spectrometry applications, featuring 4-GHz input signal bandwidth, double oversampling quantizer, and 16-Mb/s-per-channel output rate. The correlator consists of a digital delay line with multiplication and an array of accumulators with parallel readout. We report experimental results for a three-stage delay line (294 Josephson junctions) and a 4/spl times/4 array of accumulators (288 Josephson junctions) fabricated in HYPRES' standard 3.5-/spl mu/m 1000-A/cm/sup 2/ Nb-trilayer process.
Alternative financing for health care: A path to sustainability?

The year 2011 may be remembered as one of the most important to the future of medicare in Canada. A Conservative majority government was elected in May to preside over the next major round of negotiations for federal–provincial transfer payments for health care, with the current deal set to end in
Super-resolution ultrasound imaging using a phase-coherent MUSIC method with compensation for the phase response of transducer elements

Time-reversal with multiple signal classification (TR-MUSIC) is an imaging method for locating point-like targets beyond the classic resolution limit. In the presence of noise, however, the super-resolution capability of TR-MUSIC is diminished. Recently a new method, phase-coherent MUSIC (PC-MUSIC), was developed. This algorithm modifies TR-MUSIC to make use of phase information from multiple frequencies to reduce noise effects and preserve the super resolution. PC-MUSIC however, ignores the phase response of the transducer elements. In this paper, we account for the phase response of the transducer elements in the derivation of the PC-MUSIC algorithm. Unfortunately, the phase response of the transducer elements may not be known beforehand. We develop an experimental method to estimate this response using measured signals scattered from a glass microsphere embedded in a tissue-mimicking phantom with a homogeneous background medium of a known sound speed. We use numerical simulations to illustrate that the maximum resolution achieved with PC-MUSIC is limited by the transducer bandwidth and the signal-to-noise ratio. We perform experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms and compare images obtained with different imaging modalities, including X-ray mammography, synthetic-aperture ultrasound imaging, TR-MUSIC, and PC-MUSIC. We demonstrate the significantly improved resolving power of PC-MUSIC.