cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erosion rate testing at high temperature for turbomachinery use

Abstract A high temperature erosion test facility was designed by Tabakoff and Wakeman (Test facility for material erosion at high temperature, ASTM Special Publication, 664 (1979) 123–135) to provide erosion data in the range of operating temperatures experienced in compressors and turbines. In addition to the high temperatures, the facility properly simulates all the erosion parameters which were determined to be important from the aerodynamics point of view. These parameters include particle velocity, angle of impact, particle size, particle concentration and sample size. For a better understanding of the use of this tunnel and to obtain good results, definitions of the parameters used in the wind tunnel testings and test procedures are presented: for example, an experimental study which was conducted to investigate the erosion behavior of titanium carbide coating exposed to fly ash and chromite particles. The chemical vapor deposition technique (CVD) was used to apply a ceramic coating on nickel and cobalt based superalloys (M246 and X40). The test specimens were exposed to particle laden flow at velocities of 305 and 366 m s−1 and temperatures of 550°C and 815°C.
Chronic exposure of Sk‐1 hairless mice to narrow‐band ultraviolet A (320–355 nm)

Several recent investigations collectively suggest that the role of ultraviolet A (UVA) in chronic actinic skin damage may be greater than originally thought. In the present work, the output of a xenon-arc solar-simulator passed through a Bausch & Lomb monochromator in conjunction with a 2-mm Schott WG-320 filter produced narrow-band UVA centered at 338 nm, half-band width 24 nm, I0 = 3.4 +/- 0.3 mW/cm2. We chronically irradiated 10 Sk-1 albino hairless mice 5 times per week for 18 weeks, starting with 1.25 J/cm2, for 33 irradiation days, sequentially followed by 1.50 J/cm2 (34 days), 1.8 J/cm2 (10 days), 2.0 J/cm2 (22 days) to afford a total UVA dose of 154.3 J/cm2 over 99 irradiation days. Erythema was noted clinically by day 6, which persisted throughout the irradiation. During the irradiation period, some scaling, consistent with mild epidermal hyperplasia was noted during irradiation days 37-56. This response later regressed despite continued chronic irradiation. Hematoxylin and eosin examination immediately after the final irradiation revealed a mild inflammatory response, with some dermal restructuring. At the end of the experiment, no significant signs of epidermal hyperplasia or (pre)malignant lesions were seen, although some stratum corneum thickening was noted. Marked dermal collagen damage and moderate elastosis was also evident. We believe that the observed differences in results reported in previous studies are in large part due to differences in light sources and irradiation protocols.
BAYES PREDICTION IN THE LINEAR MODEL WITH SPHERICALLY SYMMETRIC ERRORS

Abstract This paper is concerned with Bayes prediction in a linear regression model when the density of the observations is given by f(y|β,τ 2 )=∫ z>0 (2π) 7minus; n 2 τ 2 n 2 {ψ(z) −2 } n 2 exp(− τ 2 2 ψ(z) −2 ||Y−Xβ|| 2 )dG(z) , where y ϵ R n , β ϵ R k , π 2 > 0, Z is a positive random variable with distribution function G , ψ (.) is a positive function, and ||·|| denotes the Euclidean norm. We show that when prior information is objective or in the conjugate family, the Bayes prediction density is the same as that when the density of the observations is normal, for any Z .
Surgical treatment of chronic subdural hygromas in infants and children.

Extra-axial chronic fluid collections are pathological conditions occurring more frequently in the paediatric age, particularly in children less than two-year-old. Although recognised for many years and repeatedly reported in the literature, some aspects of their treatment are still under debate. This review of the management of chronic subdural collections is based on our experience of 72 cases treated between January 1984 and December 2000. Patients were divided into four groups according to aetiology. Thirty-four cases (47%) occurred following various surgical procedures; 14 cases (20%) occurred as complications of leptomeningeal infections; 13 cases (18%) were post-traumatic, whereas no obvious aetiology could be detected in the last 11 cases (15%). The collections were unilateral in 34 patients (47%) and bilateral in the other 38 (53%). Thirty-five patients (48%) were treated by means of a temporary subdural external drainage (SED) (for a total of 38 SED procedures), which was maintained for a mean of 5.8 (±3.4) days; it was effective in 26 cases, whereas in the other 9 it was necessary to perform a subdural-peritoneostomy (SPS). Three of these 38 SEDs were complicated by infection. In one more child the external drainage was complicated by a chronic subdural haematoma. A SPS was performed in 44 cases (61%), 9 being failed external drainages. Only in 16 (38%) of these 44 patients the SPS was removed after an average of 27.0 (±16.6) months. Three patients (4%) were treated by craniotomy and resection of the neomembranes lining the subdural fluid collection. Obstruction of the SPS occurred in 6 children, infection in 4. Good results were obtained with either external or internal drainage. In fact post-operative neuroradiological investigation disclosed in all the cases complete or almost complete cerebral re-expansion; also the clinical outcome was generally very good, although largely dependent upon the basic clinical condition. Unilateral subdural-peritoneal and/or external drainage was effective also in case of bilateral collections. Only 2 patients required temporary bilateral external drainage.
NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF BENDING OF STRAIGHT BEAMS USING HP-SPECTRAL APPROXIMATIONS

Displacement finite element models of various beam theories have been developed using traditional finite element interpolations (i.e., Hermite cubic or equi-spaced Lagrange functions). Various finite element models of beams differ from each other in the choice of the interpolation functions used for the transverse deflection w, total rotation φ and/or shear strain γxz, or in the integral form used (e.g., weak form or least-squares) to develop the finite element model. The present study is concerned with the development of alternative beam finite elements using hpspectral nodal expansions to eliminate shear and membrane locking. Both linear and non-linear analysis are carried out using both displacement and mixed finite element models of the beam theories studied. Results obtained are compared with both analytical (series) solutions and nonlinear finite element solutions from literature, and excellent agreement is found for all cases. © 2011 IAU, Arak Branch. All rights reserved.
THEORETICAL/TECHNICAL ISSUES IN NATURAL LANGUAGE ACCESS TO DATABASES

In responding to the guidelines established by the session chairman of this panel, three of the five topics he set forth will be discussed. These include aggregate functions and quantity questions, querying semantically complex fields, and multi-file queries. As we will make clear in the sequel, the transformational apparatus utilized in the TQA Question Answering System provides a principled basis for handling these and many other problems in natural language access to databases.
Intelligent pursuit & evasion in an unknown environment

This paper introduces a novel and flexible simulation platform for studying pursuit and evasion in unknown 2-D environments of arbitrary obstacles, in an effort to expand the practical application of pursuit-evasion research. The platform provides realistic simulation of the sensing capability of each robotic agent (either a pursuer or an evader). Each agent uses real-time local sensing to collect information from the environment while it simultaneously plans and executes its motion to best satisfy one or more objectives. The evader's objectives are to reach a specific goal location as quickly as possible and to avoid being caught by the pursuer. The pursuer's objectives are to locate and capture the evader whose motion is unknown, and when the evader is not seen, explore the environment and predict where the evader may be. Under a common real-time planning paradigm, each agent's planner dynamically adapts its goals and objectives to the agent's changing circumstances so that the agent can always choose the best course of action. Simulation results have shown that the introduced approach is an effective means to study sophisticated pursuit-evasion scenarios and accomplish objectives for both the pursuer and the evader in an unknown environment. The platform can be easily expanded to accommodate multiple agents in more complex pursuit-evasion tasks.
The reaction of influenza viruses with guinea pig polymorphonuclear leucocytes. II. The reduction of white blood cell glycolysis by influenza viruses and receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE).

Abstract Influenza viruses, PR8 and Lee, markedly inhibited anaerobic glycolysis when glucose served as substrate. Inhibition of CO2 evolution corresponded to a reduction in lactic acid produced. Reduction of glycolysis was accomplished by the viral particles and was proportional to the viral concentration employed. Whereas receptor-destroying enzyme of Vibrio cholera (RDE) also inhibited glycolysis of white blood cells, neither heat-inactivated RDE nor virus inhibited this metabolic process. Calcium was not essential for adsorption of virus to white blood cells, but this cation was required for inhibition of glycolysis. Inhibition of glycolysis by influenza virus was obtained when glucose or glucose-6-phosphate was employed as substrate, but not when fructose-6-phosphate or fructose-1, 6-diphosphate was utilized. Periodate also inhibited glycolysis of white blood cells but the metabolic pattern was not similar to that obtained with influenza viruses or RDE.
Spatial distribution and specification of mammalian replication origins during G1 phase

We have examined the distribution of early replicating origins on stretched DNA fibers when nuclei from CHO cells synchronized at different times during G1 phase initiate DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts. Origins were differentially labeled in vivo versus in vitro to allow a comparison of their relative positions and spacing. With nuclei isolated in the first hour of G1 phase, in vitro origins were distributed throughout a larger number of DNA fibers and did not coincide with in vivo origins. With nuclei isolated 1 h later, a similar total number of in vitro origins were clustered within a smaller number of DNA fibers but still did not coincide with in vivo origins. However, with nuclei isolated later in G1 phase, the positions of many in vitro origins coincided with in vivo origin sites without further change in origin number or density. These results highlight two distinct G1 steps that establish a spatial and temporal program for replication.
From Bystander to Upstander Teacher for Gifted Black Students Accused of Acting White.

Gifted Black students experience many barriers that contribute to their under-representation in gifted and advanced programs. One of the greatest negative influences comes from peer accusations of ...
New Paradigms for Digital Signatures and Message Authentication Based on Non-Interative Zero Knowledge Proofs

Using non-interactive zero knowledge proofs we provide a simple new paradigm for digital signing and message authentication secure against adaptive chosen message attack.For digital signatures we require that the non-interactive zero knowledge proofs be publicly verifiable: they should be checkable by anyone rather than directed at a particular verifier. We accordingly show how to implement noninteractive zero knowledge proofs in a network which have the property that anyone in the network can individually check correctness while the proof is zero knowledge to any sufficiently small coalition. This enables us to implement signatures which are history independent.
Comparing Results from the Clinical Assessment of Behavior and Child Behavior Checklist with Referred Preschoolers

Behavior rating scales are popular assessment tools but more research is needed on the preschool versions of the instruments, particularly with referred samples of preschoolers. This study examined the comparability of results from parent ratings on the preschool versions of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5-5, Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000) and the Clinical Assessment of Behavior-Parent form (CAB-P, Bracken & Keith, 2004) with 74 clinically referred preschoolers. While pairs of similarly named scales from the two instruments received significant correlations, mean scores from the CBCL/1.5-5 were significantly higher than those from the CAB-P. Classification consistency was a concern as well. School psychologists are urged to be cautious in their interpretation of results from preschool behavior rating scales.
Design of a tunable, room temperature, continuous-wave terahertz source and detector using silicon waveguides

We describe the design of a silicon-based source for radiation in the 0.5-14 THz regime. This new class of devices will permit continuously tunable, milliwatt scale, cw, room temperature operation, a substantial advance over currently available technologies. Our silicon terahertz generator consists of a silicon waveguide for near-infrared radiation, contained within a metal waveguide for terahertz radiation. A nonlinear polymer cladding permits two near-infrared lasers to mix, and through difference-frequency generation produces terahertz output. The small dimensions of the design greatly increase the optical fields, enhancing the nonlinear effect. The design can also be used to detect terahertz radiation.
Regulation of photoreceptor gap junction phosphorylation by adenosine in zebrafish retina

Electrical coupling of photoreceptors through gap junctions suppresses voltage noise, routes rod signals into cone pathways, expands the dynamic range of rod photoreceptors in high scotopic and mesopic illumination, and improves detection of contrast and small stimuli. In essentially all vertebrates, connexin 35/36 (gene homologs Cx36 in mammals, Cx35 in other vertebrates) is the major gap junction protein observed in photoreceptors, mediating rod-cone, cone-cone, and possibly rod-rod communication. Photoreceptor coupling is dynamically controlled by the day/night cycle and light/dark adaptation, and is directly correlated with phosphorylation of Cx35/36 at two sites, serine110 and serine 276/293 (homologous sites in teleost fish and mammals, respectively). Activity of protein kinase A (PKA) plays a key role during this process. Previous studies have shown that activation of dopamine D4 receptors on photoreceptors inhibits adenylyl cyclase, down-regulates cAMP and PKA activity, and leads to photoreceptor uncoupling, imposing the daytime/light condition. In this study, we explored the role of adenosine, a nighttime signal with a high extracellular concentration at night and a low concentration in the day, in regulating photoreceptor coupling by examining photoreceptor Cx35 phosphorylation in zebrafish retina. Adenosine enhanced photoreceptor Cx35 phosphorylation in daytime, but with a complex dose-response curve. Selective pharmacological manipulations revealed that adenosine A2a receptors provide a potent positive drive to phosphorylate photoreceptor Cx35 under the influence of endogenous adenosine at night. A2a receptors can be activated in the daytime as well by micromolar exogenous adenosine. However, the higher affinity adenosine A1 receptors are also present and have an antagonistic though less potent effect. Thus, the nighttime/darkness signal adenosine provides a net positive drive on Cx35 phosphorylation at night, working in opposition to dopamine to regulate photoreceptor coupling via a push-pull mechanism. However, the lower concentration of adenosine present in the daytime actually reinforces the dopamine signal through action on the A1 receptor.
Age differences in strategy selection and risk preference during risk-based decision making

Studies of the effects of aging on decision making suggest that choices can be altered in a variety of ways depending on the situation, the nature of the outcome and risk or certainty levels. To better characterize how aging impacts decision making in rodents, young and aged F344 rats underwent a series of probabilistic discounting tasks in which reward magnitude and probabilities were manipulated. Young rats tended to choose one of two different strategies: 1) to press for the large/uncertain reward, regardless of the reward probability; or 2) to continually adapt their behavior according to the odds of winning. The first strategy was adopted by about half of the younger rats, the second by the remaining young animals and the entire group of aged rats. Additionally, we found that when the odds of winning were varied from uncertain to certain during a session, aged rats chose most often the lever associated with the small/certain reward. This is consistent with an interpretation of increased risk aversion. When this behavior was further characterized using a lose-shift analysis, it appears that older rats exhibited an increased sensitivity to negative-feedback. In contrast, sensitivity to wins as well as reward magnitude discrimination was unaltered in aged rats compared to young, suggesting that aging selectively impacts rat’s behavior following losses. In line with some human aging studies, it appears that aged rats are either more risk averse or have a greater certainty bias, which may result from age differences in emotion regulation.
Force-Detected Scanned Probe Magnetic Resonance Microscopy

Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM) is a novel scanned probe technique that combines the three-dimensional imaging capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the high sensitivity and resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM). This emerging technology holds clear potential for resolution at the atomic scale. When fully realized, MRFM will provide a unique method for non-destructive, chemically specifc, subsurface imaging with applicability to a wide variety of materials. I will review results to date spanning applications of MRFM to nuclear spin, electron spin, and ferromagnetic resonance. I will outline the MRFM technique, discuss its present status and indicate future directions of our effort.
Toward sustainable software engineering (NIER track)

Current software engineering practices have significant effects on the environment. Examples include e-waste from computers made obsolete due to software upgrades, and changes in the power demands of new versions of software. Sustainable software engineering aims to create reliable, long-lasting software that meets the needs of users while reducing environmental impacts. We conducted three related research efforts to explore this area. First, we investigated the extent to which users thought about the environmental impact of their software usage. Second, we created a tool called GreenTracker, which measures the energy consumption of software in order to raise awareness about the environmental impact of software usage. Finally, we explored the indirect environmental effects of software in order to understand how software affects sustainability beyond its own power consumption. The relationship between environmental sustainability and software engineering is complex; understanding both direct and indirect effects is critical to helping humans live more sustainably.
On Selfadjoint Homogeneous Operators

We study unbounded selfadjoint operators that are unitarily equivalent to their affine transformation. We investigate transformation properties of an operator- valued M-function associated with given affine-invariant operator as well as spectral properties of operators that occur in that investigation.
Reply from M.G. Kidwell and D.R. Lisch.

1correctly point out the possibility that reproductive mode might be related to the distribution and abundance of eukaryotic transposable elements (TEs) and that little is understood about this relationship in eukaryotes. Also of some interest is a related conjecture that parasitic elements, such as transposons and introns, might have provided the genes responsible for the establishment of the sexual cycle itself 2‐4 . We wish to emphasize a point made by Hickey2,5 that it is the capacity for intergenomic spread, through outcrossing, that provides the transposons of sexually reproducing organisms with a greater potential for multiplication within a population than is possible for their asexual counterparts. Intragenomic spread through copy number increase is possible in both asexual and sexual organisms, but intergenomic spread is limited in frequency in clonal organisms. It has been claimed that differences in breeding system are expected to favor the evolution of different predominant modes of host‐TE interactions
Evaluation of density functionals, SCC-DFTB, neglect of diatomic differential overlap (NDDO) models and molecular mechanics methods for prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) and structural analogs

Prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) is a unique endogenous peptide that modulates dopamine receptor subtypes of the D2 receptor family within the CNS. We seek to elucidate the structural basis and molecular mechanism by which PLG and its analogues modulate dopamine receptors, toward the development of new therapeutics to treat Parkinson's disease, tardive dyskinesia and schizophrenia. As a first step toward establishing a validated protocol for accurate computational modeling of PLG and associated peptidomimetic analogues, we evaluated the accuracy of density functional theory (DFT), wavefunction theory (WFT), and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations for PLG and for a library of structurally related small molecules. We first tested twelve local and nonlocal density functionals, Hartree-Fock (HF) theory, four “semiempirical” methods of the neglect of diatomic differential overlap (NDDO) type, and one self-consistent-charge nonorthogonal tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) method as implemented in two software suites, against coupled-cluster benchmark geometries for 4-methylthiazolidine, a small molecule that comprises key structural features present in our PLG analogue library. DFT and HF calculations were done with the MG3S augmented polarized triple-zeta basis set. We find that for 4-methylthiazolidine bond distances, DFT significantly outperforms NDDO, and both SCC-DFTB versions we evaluated perform worse than HF theory and are less accurate than 83% of the density functionals tested. The top five functionals for 4-methylthiazolidine were M05-2X, mPW1PW, B97-2, M06-2X, and PBEh, with mean unsigned errors (MUEs) in bond length of 0.0017, 0.0020, 0.0023, 0.0025 and 0.0027 A, respectively. The widely used B3LYP functional ranked 11th out of twelve functionals evaluated, slightly below SCC-DFTB, and is significantly less accurate for 4-methylthiazolidine bond distances (MUE = 0.0095 A) than the best local functional (M06-L, MUE = 0.0030 A), which is far less computationally costly. Based on that initial analysis, we obtained new M05-2X benchmark geometric parameters for PLG and a library of eleven peptidomimetic derivatives, which we in turn used to examine the accuracy of thirty-four popular molecular mechanics (MM) force fields, four NDDO approaches, and SCC-DFTB for the full compound structures. Here, we found that ∼70% of the MM force fields tested superior to the best semiempirical and SCC-DFTB codings. Moreover, AMBER-type force fields proved most accurate among MM methods for this class of small-molecule peptidomimetics; the AMBER-type methods comprised eight out of the top ten molecular mechanics options we tested.
Experiments on Negatively Buoyant Jets, with and without Cross-Flow

Negatively buoyant turbulent jets/plumes have been examined in the laboratory, including the effects of cross-flow and injection angle. A water tow tank was used for the experiments, where the jet nozzle was towed through quiescent fluid at constant velocity. Photographic records of the jet/plume structure were used to measure the jet/plume dimensions. The non-dimensionalized length scales were found to correlate with the jet and cross-flow Froude numbers over a wide range of the experimental parameters. Three flow regimes have been identified, which depend on the cross-flow Froude number F○: F○≪1, negligible cross-flow, 0 1, strong cross-flow, where Fo = Uo/(g′lc)1/2, Uo is the cross-flow velocity, g′ is the reduced gravity and lc is a characteristic length scale for the nozzle (i.e. the radius for a round jet).
Simultaneous urodynamic and anorectal manometry studies in children: insights into the relationship between the lower gastrointestinal and lower urinary tracts

Background Children with urinary incontinence (UI) have associated functional constipation (FC) and fecal incontinence (FI). The physiology between lower urinary tract (LUT) and anorectum in children has not been elucidated. Aims: Observe the effect of rectal distention (RD) on LUT function, and bladder filling and voiding on anorectal function. Methods Children with voiding dysfunction referred to Boston Children's Hospital were prospectively enrolled in combined urodynamic (UDS) and anorectal manometry (ARM). Anorectal and urodynamic parameters were simultaneously measured. Patients underwent two micturition cycles, first with rectal balloon deflated and second with it inflated (RD). Lower urinary tract and anorectal parameters were compared between cycles. Key Results Ten children (seven UI, four recurrent UTIs, nine FC ± FI) were enrolled. Postvoid residual (PVR) increased (p = 0.02) with RD. No differences were observed in percent of bladder filling to expected bladder capacity, sensation, and bladder compliance with and without RD. Bladder and abdominal pressures increased at voiding with RD (p < 0.05). Intra-anal pressures decreased at voiding (p < 0.05), at 25% (p = 0.03) and 50% (p = 0.06) of total volume of bladder filling. Conclusions & Inferences The PVR volume increased with RD. Stool in the rectum does not alter filling cystometric capacity but decreases the bladder's ability to empty predisposing patients with fecal retention to UI and UTIs. Bladder and abdominal pressures increased during voiding, demonstrating a physiological correlate of voiding dysfunction. Intra-anal pressures decreased during bladder filling and voiding. This is the first time intra-anal relaxation during bladder filling and voiding has been described.
Anti–PD-1 inhibitor–related pneumonitis in non–small cell lung cancer

The recent approval of two PD-1 inhibitors for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has rapidly led to the widespread use of these agents in oncology practices. Pneumonitis has been recognized as a potentially life-threatening adverse event among NSCLC patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors; however, the detailed clinical and radiographic manifestations of this entity remain to be described. We report on two cases of anti-PD-1 pneumonitis in advanced NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab after its FDA approval. Both patients presented with ground-glass and reticular opacities and consolidations in a peripheral distribution on CT, demonstrating a radiographic pattern of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Consolidations were extensive and rapidly developed within 8 weeks of therapy in both cases. Both patients were treated with corticosteroids with subsequent improvement of respiratory symptoms and radiographic findings. One patient experienced recurrent pneumonitis after completing corticosteroid taper, or a "pneumonitis flare," in the absence of nivolumab retreatment, with subsequent improvement upon corticosteroid readministration. With the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a growing number of tumor types, awareness of the radiographic and clinical manifestations of PD-1 inhibitor-related pneumonitis will be critical for the prompt diagnosis and management of this potentially serious adverse event.
Luteotropic and luteolytic effects of prostaglandins in the hamster.

SummaryExperiments were carried out in order to ascertain the effects of prostaglandin F22α in pseudopregnant hysterectomized hamsters, and to compare these effects with those of lipid extracts of hamster uteri. All animals injected ip with 10 μg of PGF2α returned to estrus within 2-4 days after the treatment. Single injections of 50 and 100 ng of PGF2α into the ovarian bursae depressed corpus luteum weights. However, a remarkable stimulation in luteal tissue progesterone levels in both ovaries followed single injections of only 2 ng of PGF2α into one ovarian bursa. A rapid increase in PGF content of pseudopregnant hamster uteri was found to occur between Days 7 and 8, and on Day 8 just prior to the time of corpus luteum regression.
Minimizing Defects in Polymer-Based Langmuir–Blodgett Monolayers and Bilayers via Gluing

Polymeric surfactants were prepared by quaternization of poly(4-chloromethylstyrene) with N,N-dimethyl-N-n-dodecylamine and N,N-dimethyl-N-n-octylamine to give 1 and 2, respectively. Each of these polymers formed stable monolayers at the air/water interface. Injection of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) beneath the surface of these films led to a substantial increase in their cohesiveness (i.e., “gluing”), as evidenced by a dramatic increase in their surface viscosity. Examination of monolayers of 1 by atomic force microscopy, after being transferred to silicon wafers that were surface-modified with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane, showed that the presence of PAA leads to intact film. In contrast, transfer of unglued monolayers resulted in poor coverage. Comparison of the barrier properties of single glued and unglued LB bilayers formed in the presence and in the absence of PAA have shown that PAA minimizes defect formation within these ultrathin assemblies.
The variable relationship between arm and hand use: A rationale for using finger magnetometry to complement wrist accelerometry when measuring daily use of the upper extremity

Wrist-worn accelerometers are becoming more prevalent as a means to assess use of the impaired upper extremity in daily life after stroke. However, wrist accelerometry does not measure joint movements of the hand, which are integral to functional use of the upper extremity. In this study, we used a custom-built, non-obtrusive device called the manumeter to measure both arm use (via wrist accelerometry) and hand use (via finger magnetometry) of a group of unimpaired subjects while they performed twelve motor tasks at three intensities. We also gave the devices to four stroke subjects and asked them to wear them for six hours a day for one month. From the in-lab testing we found that arm use was a strong predictor of hand use for individual tasks, but that the slope of the relationship varied by up to a factor of ~12 depending on the task being performed. Consistent with this, in the daily use data collected from stroke subjects we found a broad spread in the relationship between arm and hand use. These results suggest that analyzing the spread of the relationship between daily hand and arm use will give more insight into upper extremity recovery than wrist accelerometry or finger magnetometry alone, because the spread reflects the nature of the daily tasks performed as well as the amount of upper extremity use.
Model-Based Nonlinear Control of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) are soft materials that can generate large deformation under a low voltage. IPMCs have many potential applications in biomedical, robotic and micro/nano manipulation systems. In this paper, we first present a distributed, nonlinear circuit model for IPMC, which incorporates the nonlinear capacitance, the nonlinear DC resistance, and the effect of surface resistance. The bending displacement is proportional to the total stored charge in IPMC. After discretizing the model in the length direction, we obtain a multiple-segment model which can be represented in the state space for nonlinear control design. The model is validated using experimental data, and we show that a one-segment model can predict the current and displacement response reasonably well. A model-based nonlinear controller is proposed for IPMC actuators, where feedback linearization is applied. Simulation results show that model-based nonlinear controller delivers better performance than a traditional PI controller in terms of the tracking error, control effort, and robustness to sensing noises.© 2009 ASME
Tension pneumoperitoneum caused by blunt thoracic trauma

Tension pneumoperitoneum is a rare entity that occurs when free air under pressure accumulates in the abdominal cavity compromising visceral function and blood flow. The case of a 23-year-old man whose chest was run over by the wheels of a truck is presented. He arrived with a severely distended abdomen, significant thoracic trauma, hypoxemia, and elevated airway pressures following intubation. Imaging studies revealed massive intraperitoneal free air. He was treated with a decompressive laparotomy but was not found to have a hollow viscus nor diaphragmatic injury. We hypothesize a possible, as yet unpublished, mechanism: secondary to the patient’s rib fractures and significant torso soft tissue shearing, a defect in the parietal pleura allowed air to track from the thorax inferiorly along subcutaneous and fascial planes, eventually entering into the peritoneal cavity through a violated parietal peritoneum. We present a review of the literature on tension pneumoperitoneum.
Quality of Life in Survivors of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Little data exist with regard to the effect of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) on quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of PPCM on quality of life and emotional well-being. We sought to determine the feasibility of using social media to perform quality of life research. We conducted a study using a survey distributed to established members of "Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Survivors" support group on the social networking site Facebook. A total of 116 women completed the survey (age 36 ± 6.4 years; 91% white, 75% married, 46% college educated), with 4.9 ± 0.5 years (range 0.02 to 24 years) since the initial diagnosis. Most women (41%) never returned to their baseline level of activity, and 28% discontinued their job because of the diagnosis. Most respondents (56%) were not limited or only slightly limited by heart failure symptoms over the past 2 months. Most respondents (56%) never returned to their baseline emotionally after the diagnosis of PPCM, and most patients (73%) were dissatisfied with their current level of heart failure symptoms. Most patients (67%) felt discouraged frequently (more than several times per month) because of heart failure. Only 26% of women were satisfied with the counseling they received from their providers. The emotional and physical burden of PPCM on young mothers with PPCM years after the diagnosis is striking. Identifying strategies that promote better emotional health and potential treatment strategies may be required.
Approximate Calculation of Super-cavity Profile Based on Slender-body Theory

In engineering application,it is important to look for some kind of efficient methods,by which we could de- scribe the dependence relations of the cavitation number and the cavity profile.So based on hypothesis of the potential theory,we deduced respectively that the function relations of the ellipse cavity profile,the maximum cavity radius,the maximum cavity length and aspect ratio with the cavitation number and eavitator by means of slender-body theory and the perturb theory,and then the dependent calculations are provided.Results proof,in case of the small cavitation number,these calculations have the good consistency with Reichardt and Waid's empirical formula results.Relative er- ror with these formulas in different cavitation number are also provided.
A Monitoring System about Converter Trunnions Based on LabView

A real-time monitoring system about the vibration status of the steel-making converter's trunnion was introduced.It was based on the environment of LabView.The rev,torsion and some other signals of the trunnion were measured by local sensors.These signals were filtered and magnified by a pretreatment box,and sampled by an analog-digital card.The trunnion's fault could be ana-lyzed through the frequency status of the sampled waves.The sampled data was logged into a database,which could be queried according to the sampling time.
Analysis of Volatile Compounds from Brewing Barley

In this paper,with aims to better understand the flavor stability of beer,volatile compounds identified from two kinds of brewing barley were investigated by solid phase microextraction(SPME) and GC-MS.A total of thirty-four volatiles had great contribution to brewing barley flavor,including twenty-eight volatiles in Sabastian and thirty-two volatiles in Gairdner.Among these compounds eleven aldehydes,seven alcohols,three ketones,two acids and five other compounds were detected in Sabastian,of which the amount were 17.58%,7.32%,13.08%,8.41% and 9.54%,respectively.And ten aldehydes,nine alcohols,four ketones,two acids and seven other compounds were detected in Gairdner,of which the amount were 38.36%,25.36%,9.07%,6.81% and 7.77%,respectively.Besides,the highest content of these compounds were hexanal(13.56% in Sabastian and 30.76% in Gairdner),acetone(12.82% in Sabastian and 8.39% in Gairdner) and acetic acid(8.00% in Sabastian and 4.86% in Gairdner).The amounts of 3-methylbutanal and 2-methylbutanal,commonly considered as key odorants in barley and malt,was 0.51% and 0.79% in Sabastian,1.93% and 1.72% in Gairdner,respectively.
Guest Editorial: Introduction to the Special Issue on Bioinformatics Research and Applications

This Special Issue includes a selection of papers presented at the 11th International Symposium on Bioinformatics Research and Application (ISBRA), which was held at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, USA, on May 7-10, 2015. The ISBRA symposium provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and results among researchers, developers, and practitioners working on all aspects of bioinformatics and computational biology and their applications. In 2015, 98 papers were submitted in response to the call for papers, out of which 12 papers were invited to submit extended versions of their conference abstracts to this Special Issue. Selected papers illustrate the variety of applications that computational methods find in the field of nanobioscience, ranging from protein classification to de novo sequencing. Furthermore, selected papers convincingly demonstrate the central role played by computational methods in contemporary nanobioscience research - a role that is bound only to increase in the future. The Guest Editors then briefly describe each of 12 accepted papers.
A Study of the Use of the TOEFL iBT® Test Speaking and Listening Scores for International Teaching Assistant Screening

Although the speaking section of the TOEFL iBT® test is used by many universities to determine if international teaching assistants (ITAs) have the oral proficiency necessary to be classroom instructors, relatively few studies have investigated the validity of using TOEFL iBT scores for ITA screening. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using TOEFL iBT Speaking and Listening scores for ITAs in the context of an urban research university. This was accomplished by correlating the TOEFL iBT test scores with the scores obtained by prospective ITAs on local screening tests and student evaluations of ITAs' language and teaching competence and by using the TOEFL iBT test scores as predictors of ITA teaching performance as measured by student evaluations. Given that listening comprehension is an important aspect of instructional language competence, both TOEFL iBT Speaking and TOEFL iBT Listening scores were used as predictors. The development of ITAs' oral proficiency over a semester in an English-speaking environment was also examined by comparing their TOEFL iBT Speaking and Listening scores at the beginning and at the end of their first semester as ITAs. The results indicate that TOEFL iBT Speaking and Listening scores correlate moderately with the local screening exam, but more importantly, the results indicate that TOEFL iBT Listening might be a better predictor of teaching competence. Although TOEFL iBT Speaking scores did not correlate with or predict the various measures of teaching competence, TOEFL iBT Listening scores did. In addition, the study found that ITAs living and teaching in an English-speaking environment did make measurable gains in oral proficiency over the course of a 3-month period. Although these gains were relatively small, and the listening score gains were not statistically significant, this is the first study that has actually tried to measure the improvement in ITAs' oral proficiency while living and studying (and sometimes teaching) on campus. The importance of this study goes beyond the local context. This is the first study to examine the relationship between TOEFL iBT Speaking and Listening scores and instructional performance of ITAs, thus serving as a validation study of the use of the TOEFL iBT test for ITA placement purposes. The study also offers insights into ITAs' development of oral proficiency once they are in an English-speaking environment, which can serve as a basis for future ITA curriculum development.
What we have learned about scheduling elective repeat cesarean delivery at term.

Abstract The optimal timing of delivery in the setting of various clinical conditions and scenarios remains one of the most common questions for obstetric providers. Over the past 5–10 years, the optimal timing of delivery at term, particularly for elective repeat cesareans, has been the subject of considerable investigation and discussion. There is an increasing consensus that when women opt for an elective repeat cesarean delivery, it should be performed at term rather than preterm. The recent redefinition of the "term" period into early term (37–38 weeks), full-term (39–40 weeks), late term (41 weeks), and post term designations (≥42 weeks) underscores observed heterogeneity in outcomes following delivery at term. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommends that elective repeat cesarean delivery be performed at full-term. Herein, the available data to support this recommendation regarding timing of elective repeat cesarean delivery are reviewed, including contributions from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network.
Hazardous and Toxic Wastes as a Social Problem

The central focus of this chapter is on different categories of toxic wastes and their etiology in the environment. First, pertinent background literature on hazardous and toxic waste is reviewed. Second, the concepts of “hazardous waste” and “toxic waste” are defined. Subsequently, to facilitate our understanding of the nature of toxic waste vis-a-vis other hazards, the distinction between toxic/techno-logical hazards and natural disasters is clearly presented; how toxic wastes have become prominent as a major social problem that evolved through social construction is also discussed in the chapter. The polarizing nature of toxic waste and other technological disasters and their chronic effects at various levels of society are elucidated as well.
A staircase transform coding scheme for screen content video coding

Demand for screen content videos that contain computer generated text and graphics is growing. They are very different from natural videos, because they include much sharper edge transitions and very repetitive patterns. On this type of material, the efficacy of the conventional discrete cosine transform (DCT) is questionable because it relies on the assumption that a Gauss-Markov model leads to a base-band signal. However, the assumption may not hold true for screen content material. This work exploits a class of staircase transforms. Unlike the DCT whose bases are samplings of sinusoidal functions, the staircase transforms have their bases sampled from staircase functions, which better approximate the sharp transitions often encountered in the context of screen content. The staircase transform is integrated into a hybrid transform coding scheme, in conjunction with DCT. It is experimentally shown that the proposed approach provides an average of 2.9% compression performance gains in terms of BD-rate reduction. A perceptual comparison further demonstrates that the use of staircase transform achieves substantial reduction in ringing artifact due to the Gibbs phenomenon.
Older adults and fraud: Suggestions for policy and practice

In this study I examine the issue of the vulnerability of older adults especially with regard to be a potential victim of economic fraud. A general review of current facts and figures suggest that financial fraud against older adults is rising across U.S.A totaling $36 billion. Unfortunately, most of the older adults are the baby boomers’ generation, who grow up in a relative peace and prosperity condition while facing much difficult financial realities in their old life. Result also suggest the intensity of facing financial frauds by older adults are correlated with their low level of financial literacy. Given the wider context of this phenomenon, I propose some policy measures to safeguard the financial interest of the older adults.
Unraveling the Posterolateral Corner of the Knee

Although rare, posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries can result in sustained instability and failed cruciate ligament reconstruction if they are not diagnosed. The anatomy of the PLC was once thought to be perplexing and esoteric-in part because of the varying nomenclature applied to this region in the literature, which added unnecessary complexity. More recently, three major structures have been described as the primary stabilizers of the PLC on the basis of biomechanical study findings: the lateral collateral ligament, popliteus tendon, and popliteofibular ligament. An understanding of the anatomic relationships of these structures with each other and with the surrounding osseous structures is invaluable for improving the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of PLC injuries and allowing a structured and systematic approach when interpreting the imaging findings. The majority of PLC injuries do not occur in isolation and are part of a more complex injury pattern that typically involves other vital supporting structures such as the cruciate ligaments, menisci, and medial ligamentous structures. Therefore, imaging has an ever-increasing role in the recognition of these injuries, as the clinical findings may be difficult to interpret adequately owing to synchronous injuries that dominate the physical examination findings. Furthermore, the diagnosis of acute high-grade PLC injuries is critical because early and aggressive treatment, for which surgical reconstruction is often required, leads to improved long-term outcomes and the prevention of persistent instability that would otherwise result in varus thrust gait, chronic pain, and accelerated cartilage damage. ©RSNA, 2016.
Careers in Virology: Working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

ABSTRACT As nonacademic careers in science have become less and less “alternative,” one field that has consistently attracted early-career virologists is public health research. The desire to make tangible contributions to public health needs and better protect the public from infectious disease often motivates the transition. In this career-related Gem, two academically trained virologists offer insights into pursuing a research career in public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.