cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moderators and processes of change in traditional exposure and response prevention (ERP) versus acceptance and commitment therapy-informed ERP for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract The present study evaluated moderators and processes of change in a randomized controlled trial comparing exposure and response prevention (ERP) delivered from a traditional framework versus ERP from an acceptance and commitment therapy framework (ACT + ERP) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This paper presents baseline, weekly session, posttreatment, and follow-up data from the study. We examined (a) moderation effects of anxiety, depression, psychological inflexibility, and interpretation of intrusions and (b) the role of psychological inflexibility and interpretation of intrusions respectively as processes of change. Participants with less dysfunctional appraisals at pretreatment performed consistently better in ERP relative to ACT + ERP. In process analyses, psychological inflexibility and interpretation of intrusions positively influenced OCD severity over time in both conditions but OCD symptom severity also positively influenced psychological inflexibility and interpretation of intrusions in both conditions. Furthermore, whereas OCD symptom severity strongly and positively predicted dysfunctional appraisals over the course of treatment in ERP, symptom severity had a weaker positive effect on dysfunctional appraisals in ACT + ERP. Clinical and theoretical implications as well as study limitations are discussed.
Comparative Study of the Social Interactions of Two Differently Designed Long-Term Care Facilities for Individuals With Acquired Brain Injury.

Aim:This study focused on long-term care (LTC) settings for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). The goals were (1) to assess the impact of facility configuration on social interactions be...
Electrostatic precipitator dust density measurements in a Mars-like atmosphere

Mars atmospheric in-situ resource utilization processes will require dust filtration of large gaseous volumes. An electrostatic precipitator capable of operating in the Martian environment is under...
Utilization of 2013 BRFSS Physical Activity Data for State Cancer Control Plan Objectives: Alabama Data.

Maintaining healthy behaviors, including restricting tobacco use, maintaining a normal weight, having access to nutritious foods, and engaging in regular physical activity have been associated with a reduction in the incidence of chronic diseases and in an improvement in quality of life among older individuals. In regard to cancer control planning, primary prevention activities are focused on these objectives; however, by January 2014, the number of cancer survivors in the United States had grown to nearly 14.5 million children and adults. With 197,040 survivors in Alabama, there is a need to apply the principles of healthy lifestyles to cancer survivors.1 One review discussed the benefits associated with physical activity across the cancer continuum from primary prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation2; however, it is unclear what specific exercise prescriptions are optimal as targeted interventions along this continuum. The Healthy People 2020 guidelines state that the physical activity goal is to increase the proportion of adults who meet current federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic physical activity and for muscle-strengthening activity. Specifically, one objective is to increase the proportion of adults who engage in aerobic physical activity of at least moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes/week, 75 minutes/week of vigorous intensity, or an equivalent combination. A second objective is to increase the proportion of adults who perform muscle-strengthening activities that work all of the major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) on ≥2 days/week. Combining these two objectives is a measure of the proportion of adults who meet the objectives for aerobic physical activity and for muscle-strengthening activity, as outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services physical activity guidelines.3 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released guidelines that pertain to cancer survivorship and healthy lifestyles.4 The NCCN panel suggests that sedentary survivors engage initially in one to three light- to moderate-intensity activities per week such as walking or using a stationary bike and begin with one session of resistance training per week. The NCCN also recommends adherence to federal guidelines but acknowledges that most survivors do not meet these recommendations. As such, as a baseline for a cancer-control plan, it is important to describe the frequency, duration, intensity, and type of activities that individuals currently are engaged in and compare these metrics with the federal guidelines and recommendations from the NCCN. The goal of this report was to describe the physical activity profile of Alabama residents based on the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) survey data and describe integration of this profile into state cancer prevention and control objectives.
Defining new genetic etiologies of male infertility: progress and future prospects

Male infertility is a common and complex disease, manifesting as a wide range of phenotypes, ranging from apparently normal semen parameters with an inexplicable inability to conceive, to the complete absence of sperm production. The diversity of male infertility phenotypes, coupled with the extreme complexity of spermatogenesis has significantly confounded the identification of the underlying genetic causes for these conditions, though incremental progress has been made, particularly in the past decade. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made to date, tools and resources that have proven effective in accelerating discovery of novel genetic markers for male infertility, and areas in which we see the greatest potential for advancing the field in the coming years. These include the development and use of robust phenotyping tools, the continued development of in vitro and animal models for variant validation, increased utilization and refinement of whole genome approaches for discovery, and further expansion of consortia that assemble groups of clinicians and basic researchers with the unified goal of disentangling the complex genetic architecture of male infertility. As these resources mature, and funding agencies increasingly recognize the importance of these efforts for improving human health, the discovery of novel genetic markers for male infertility will certainly continue to accelerate.
“Obscene, pornographic, or otherwise objectionable”: Biased definitions of sexual content in video game live streaming:

This article articulates and critiques the ways that Twitch, currently the most popular platform for video game live streaming, defines sexual content through its community guidelines, terms of ser...
A new gaseous molecule-recent progress of hydrogen sulfide in cardioprotection

Recent studies suggest that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), like nitric oxide ( NO ) and carbon monoxide ( CO ), is the third gaseous signal molecule. It can influence many signal transductive pathways. H2S also can open ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, reduce oxidative stress, decrease inflammation and preserve mitochondrial function. This review summarizes recent progress in the cardioprotective effect of H2S which can ameliorate ischemia-reperfusion injury in relevant with above mentioned protective mechanisms. Key words: hydrogen sulfide; ischemia-reperfusion injury; cardioprotection
Milk 13C and 15N discriminations as biomarkers of feed efficiency and energy status in early lactation cows

Abstract Measuring feed utilization efficiency (FUE, milk production / feed intake) and energy status of dairy cows is essential to optimize dairy management and reduce feed waste, but FUE measurement is laborious and costly for dairy farms, particularly when cows are fed in groups. Our study was to investigate whether milk 13C and 15N stable isotope discriminations (naturally existing isotope; milk δ13C or δ15N – diet δ13C or δ15N) were used as biomarkers to estimate FUE, energy balance, and milk production of early lactation cows. Ten multiparous lactating cows with similar body weight (mean ± SD; 691 ± 18.0 kg) and parity (1.6 ± 0.5) were fed a homogeneous diet from 4 to 11 wk postpartum. Body fat had 1.5‰ less δ13C (P
Using Mobile Device Traces to Improve Near-Real Time Data Collection During the George Floyd Protests

This research note presents a method for using mobile device trace data to improve collection of data on spontaneously erupting protest activity and related events. Based on this method, it presents a highly granular dataset of such activity for the George Floyd Protests in the United States. We use anonymous aggregated mobile device trace data to identify device surges—anomalous changes in the number of devices in a small geographic area—consistent with the assembly of a large number of individuals. Preliminary estimates from ongoing data collection of protest sites and scale are presented. Establishing better measures of where and when protests occur across and within cities improves researchers’ understanding of the downstream political and social consequences of mobilization.
Metabolic syndrome components moderate the association between executive function and functional connectivity in the default mode network

Middle aged individuals with Metabolic Syndrome are at high risk for cognitive decline. Dyssynchrony in the resting state Default Mode Network is one early indicator of brain vulnerability. We set out to explore the relationship between default mode resting state functional connectivity and cognitive performance in both memory and executive domains at midlife in the presence of Metabolic Syndrome components. Seed-based Correlation Analyses were performed between the seed voxel in the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex on 200 participants (ages 40–61). Executive domain scores were significantly predicted by the interaction between number of Metabolic Syndrome components and resting state connectivity in the Default Mode Network (p = .004) such that connectivity was negatively related to executive function at higher numbers of Metabolic Syndrome components. Results were not significant for memory. Our findings indicate that clusters of cardiovascular disease risk factors alter functional relationships in the brain and highlights the need to continue exploring how compensatory techniques might operate to support cognitive performance at midlife.
Forecasting Architectural Decay from Evolutionary History

As a software system evolves, its architecture tends to decay, leading to the occurrence of architectural elements that become resistant to maintenance or prone to defects. To address this problem, engineers can significantly benefit from determining which architectural elements will decay before that decay actually occurs. Forecasting decay allows engineers to take steps to prevent decay, such as focusing maintenance resources on the architectural elements most likely to decay. To that end, we construct novel models that predict the quality of an architectural element by utilizing multiple architectural views (both structural and semantic) and architectural metrics as features for prediction. We conduct an empirical study using our prediction models on 38 versions of five systems. Our findings show that we can predict low architectural quality, i.e., architectural decay, with high performanceeven for cases of decay that suddenly occur in an architectural module. We further report the factors that best predict architectural quality.
PEEP Standardization to Reduce the Ventilator Associated Event Rate in Adult Surgical/Trauma and Neuro Critical Care Units

Background: The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and National Health Safety Network (NHSN) have defined VAE as a deterioration in respiratory status following a period of stability-determined by PEEP or FIO2, evidence of inflammation or infection-determined by patient temperature and white blood cell count or lab evidence of a respiratory infection. VAE rate is defined as the number of events per 1000 ventilator days. The VAE rate had been higher than expected in our adult Surgical/Trauma and Neuro ICUs. We wanted to determine if a performance improvement process could reduce that rate. METHOD: This is a retrospective review of all ventilator patients in our Surgical/Trauma and Neuro ICUs during the baseline (January 2013 to September 2018) and pilot (September 2018 to present) periods. We employed a PDCA performance improvement process. The main performance improvement implementations that occurred were caregiver education on the VAE criteria and initiating a new standard baseline PEEP setting of 6 cm H2O for all ventilator patients instead of 8 cm H2O. Results: Mean VAE rates for the Surgical/Trauma and Neuro ICUs were 18.9 and 15.7, respectively, prior to project implementation. After implementation, VAE rates fell to 3.7 and 2.6, yielding an 80% and 83% reduction in the VAE rate. The reduction is statistically significant for both ICUs (P
Discontinuation of beta-blockers among nursing home residents at end of life.

BACKGROUND Given limited life expectancy of nursing home (NH) residents, harms of continuing beta-blockers (BBs) may outweigh clinical benefits. Our objective was to describe beta-blocker discontinuation for NH residents during the last year of life, and identify characteristics associated with earlier discontinuation. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study that included all long-stay residents in fee-for-service Medicare who died in 2016 and were prescribed oral BBs 1 year before death. Beta-blocker discontinuation was defined as a gap in medication on hand for ≥45 days per Medicare Part D claims, measured from the last date drug was on hand. Comorbidities were obtained from Chronic Condition Warehouse, and other characteristics from the Minimum Data Set. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to describe time to first discontinuation. Findings were stratified by cardiac diagnoses, perceived life expectancy of <6 months, or elevated mortality index. RESULTS Eighty-eight thousand two hundred and eighty-four residents were prescribed ≥1 daily BB 12 months before death. Mean age was 84.1 years and 69.2% were female. Of these, 60,573 residents (68.6%) remained on a BB in the last 45 days of life, and 57,880 residents (65.6%) had ≥1 cardiac diagnosis. Only 5239 residents (5.9%) had elevated mortality index, whereas 16,798 residents (19.0%) had perceived poor prognosis. In the last year of life, there was no difference in beta-blocker discontinuation pattern between residents with and without cardiac diagnoses. Residents with perceived poor prognosis and elevated mortality index discontinued BBs earlier. For example, mean time until discontinuation among residents with poor perceived prognosis was 245 versus 279 days in residents without such prognosis (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS BBs are commonly prescribed to NH residents in the final year of life. Overall, discontinuation occurs earlier in residents for whom clinicians perceive limited life expectancy, suggesting that improved prognostication may offer an important opportunity to reduce polypharmacy toward end of life.
Dissociation of Oligomeric Proteins by Hydrostatic Pressure

The methods of study of proteins under high pressure, and the effects of pressure upon proteins made up of a single peptide chain are briefly reviewed. The effects upon oligomeric proteins are examined in detail: The existence of time-dependent changes in the conformation of the dissociated subunits, termed a “conformational drift”, is revealed by the temporary decreases in subunit affinity, enzymic activity and changed spectroscopic properties of the aggregates formed after decompression. Its significance in relation to the equilibria established under pressure is discussed and the insuficiency of conventional descriptions of the chemical equilibrium for these cases is noted.
Theory of electromigration

This chapter discusses the concepts of electromigration. Electromigration is defined as the movement of atoms in a solid subject to an electric field. It is a complex phenomenon in which the locally inhomogeneous electric field accompanying the electron transport process acts as the driving force for atom migration. A general description of the response of electrons and atoms to an applied electric field is contained in the phenomenological equations of irreversible thermodynamics. Theoretical and experimental work has established that the driving force for electromigration can conveniently be separated into contributions arising from the electron-wind force and the direct force. In particular, for electromigration the linear phenomenological equations of transport theory provide the necessary connection between particle currents and applied fields. A quantitative description of electromigration thus requires realistic models of the migrating atom and its local environment, of electron transport in the vicinity of the atom and of the diffusion jump itself.
Developing Countries at Crossroads: Aid, Public Participation, and the Regulation of Trade in Genetically Modified Foods

This Article reviews the experience of developing countries with the regulation of trade in GM food products in light of such bilateral pressures and argues that there is a need for broader public participation in the regulation of biotechnology as this will facilitate national governance in an era in which the international trade regime is rapidly eroding national regulatory decision-making autonomy. Furthermore, broadening public participation promises to rescue governments of developing countries from the aforementioned bilateral pressures by helping to strengthen their hands in negotiations for technical assistance and food aid. That is, developing country governments can use participatory regulatory frameworks as a negotiation tool by showing either that their policies are “rooted in ... public support” or that there would be a lack of support for or even opposition to any unsuitable regulatory reforms they are being urged to implement. Part I provides the Article’s conceptual framework and examines the impact of the WTO’s special and differential regime on developing countries’ regulatory policy autonomy. Part I also argues that as far as the regulation of trade in GM foods is concerned, the SDT regime undermines these countries’ policy autonomy because it facilitates the application of bilateral pressures, and thereby compromises the establishment of democratic regulatory policies supportive of local priorities. Part II examines how international regulatory uncertainty has led to the application of bilateral pressures on developing countries to adopt narrow frameworks for the regulation of trade in GM food products. Part III examines the role of science in biotechnology regulation and argues that broadening public participation will facilitate the adoption of regulatory measures that are responsive to local needs and concerns.
Anomalous absorption in metallic optical photonic bandgaps

Metallic-dielectric bandgap materials have many interesting implications for optical devices, and this work has briefly investigated how the linear transmission properties change with scaling of the dielectric thickness and the number of periods. More importantly, it is shown that an anomaly exists in the effective absorption, which decreases with the number of periods on resonance.
Hierarchical adaptive QoS control for voting-based data collection in hostile scenarios

Voting among replicated data collection devices is a means to achieve dependable data delivery to the end-user in a hostile environment. Here, a QoS prescription is about how often a correct data is delivered to the user in a timely manner. The paper deals with situations where the available network bandwidth varies dynamically and/or the environment fault parameters change unpredictably. A hierarchical adaptation method is employed to manage the QoS at two levels: the core voting module and a situational assessment module. The hierarchical QoS control enables an optimal use of resources by the voting system vis-a-vis the mission-critical application needs.
On Efficiencey of Linear Estimators Under Heavy-Tailedness

The present paper develops a new unified approach to the analysis of efficiency, peakedness and majorization properties of linear estimators. It further studies the robustness of these properties to heavy-tailedness assumptions. The main results show that peakedness and majorization phenomena for random samples from log-concavely distributed populations established in the seminal work by Proschan (1965) continue to hold for not extremely thick-tailed distributions. However, these phenomena are reversed in the case of populations with extremely heavy-tailed densities. Among other results, we show that the sample mean is the best linear unbiased estimator of the population mean for not extremely heavy-tailed populations in the sense of its peakedness properties. Moreover, in such a case, the sample mean exhibits the important property of monotone consistency and, thus, an increase in the sample size always improves its performance. However, as we demonstrate, effciency of the sample mean in the sense of its peakedness decreases with the sample size if the sample mean is used to estimate the population center under extreme thick-tailedness. We also provide applications of the main effciency and majorization comparison results in the study of concentration inequalities for linear estimators as well as their extensions to the case of wide classes of dependent data. The main results obtained in the paper provide the basis for the analysis of many problems in a number of other areas, in addition to econometrics and statistics, and, in particular, have applications in the study of robustness of model of firm growth for firms that can invest into information about their markets, value at risk analysis, optimal strategies for a multiproduct monopolist as well that of inheritance models in mathematical evolutionary theory.
The Methodology of the Behavioral Analysis of Law

This article examines the behavioral analysis of law, meaning the application of empirical behavioral evidence to legal analysis, which has become increasingly popular in legal scholarship in recent years. Following the introduction in Part I, this Article highlights four central propositions on the subject. The first, developed in Part II, asserts that the efficacy of the law often depends on its accounting for relevant patterns of human behavior, most notably those studied by behavioral decision scientists. This Part therefore reviews important behavioral findings, illustrating their application and relevance to a broad range of legal questions. Part III then argues that the behavioral approach is empirically driven, engaging in both the theoretical application of extant empirical findings to the law and the generation of new, legally relevant, experimental and observational evidence. As this Part shows, moreover, each of these behavioral genres possesses different methodological strengths and weaknesses, and they therefore both substitute for and complement one another, in different respects. Part IV explains that the behavioral approach encounters a series of "gaps" between the type of empirical evidence provided by behavioral decision researchers and the data required to resolve legal questions. Legal scholars should therefore be aware of these gaps, which may limit the usefulness of extant behavioral evidence for legal analysis. This Part also addresses what legal scholars may do to overcome these gaps and distinguish real gaps from imaginary ones. Part V completes the body of the Article, arguing that the behavioral analysis of law is simultaneously normatively neutral and normatively relevant. It is normatively neutral because the behavioral analysis of law is not committed to any specific legal goal or value system. This fundamental neutrality, in turn, makes the behavioral approach a versatile instrument, which can help generate important normative conclusions in the service of scholars evaluating the law based on any normative criteria - from justice to welfare and more. Part VI concludes.
Co-channel speaker identification using usable speech extraction based on multi-pitch tracking

Recently, usable speech criteria have been proposed to extract minimally corrupted speech for speaker identification (SID) in co-channel speech. In this paper, we propose a new usable speech extraction method to improve the SID performance under the co-channel situation based on the pitch information obtained from a robust multi-pitch tracking algorithm [2]. The idea is to retain the speech segments that have only one pitch detected and remove the others. The system is evaluated on co-channel speech and results show a significant improvement across various target to interferer ratios (TIR) for speaker identification.
Case studies in terminal weaning from mechanical ventilation

Terminal weaning, withdrawal of mechanical ventilation when the patient is not expected to survive the process, must not be burdensome to the patient or significant others. The healthcare team must individualize the weaning process, considering the physiologic comfort of the patient and the psychoemotional comfort of both the patient and family. The following case studies illustrate variations in a method for terminal weaning that are patient-specific and are based on the experience of a supportive care team.
Recent advances in polarimetric-interferometric SAR theory and technology and its application

The development of radar polarimetry and radar interferometry is advancing rapidly. Whereas with radar polarimetry the textural fine-structure, target orientation, symmetries and material constituents can be recovered with considerable improvement above that of standard "amplitude-only" radar, with radar interferometry the spatial (in depth) structure can be explored. In "polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar (POL-IN-SAR) imaging", it is possible to recover such co-registered textural and spatial information from POL-IN-SAR digital image data sets simultaneously, including the extraction of digital elevation maps (DEM) from either polarimetric (scattering matrix) or interferometric (single platform: dual antenna) SAR systems. Simultaneous polarimetric-plus-interferometric SAR offers the additional benefit of obtaining co-registered textural-plus-spatial three-dimensional POL-IN-DEM information, which, when applied to repeat-pass image-overlay interferometry, provides differential background validation, stress assessment and environmental stress-change information with high accuracy. Then, either designing "multiple dual-polarization antenna POL-IN-SAR" systems or applying advanced "POL-IN-SAR image compression techniques" will result in "POLarimetric TOMOgraphic (multi-interferometric) SAR" or "POL-TOMO-SAR" imaging. This is of direct relevance to wide-area, dynamic battle-space surveillance and local-to-global environmental background validation, stress assessment and stress-change monitoring of terrestrial and planetary surface covers.
One- and two-step spin-crossover behavior of [Fe(II)(isoxazole)(6)](2+) and the structure and magnetic properties of triangular [Fe(III)(3)O(OAc)(6)(isoxazole)(3)][ClO(4)].

The structure and spin-crossover magnetic behavior of [FeII16][BF4]2 (1 = isoxazole) and [FeII16][ClO4]2 have been studied. [FeII16][BF4]2 undergoes two reversible spin-crossover transitions at 91 and 192 K, and is the first two-step spin transition to undergo a simultaneous crystallographic phase transition, but does not exhibit thermal hysteresis. The single-crystal structure determinations at 260 [space group P3, a = 17.4387(4) A, c = 7.6847(2) A] and at 130 K [space group P1, a = 17.0901(2) A, b = 16.7481(2) A, c = 7.5413(1) A, α = 90.5309(6)°, β = 91.5231(6)°, γ = 117.8195(8)°] reveal two different iron sites, Fe1 and Fe2, in a 1:2 ratio. The room-temperature magnetic moment of 5.0 μB is consistent with high-spin Fe(II). A plateau in μ(T) having a moment of 3.3 μB centered at 130 K suggests a mixed spin system of some high-spin and some low-spin Fe(II) molecules. On the basis of the Fe−N bond distances at the two temperatures, and the molar fraction of high-spin molecules at the transition plateau, Fe1 and Fe2 can be assigned to the 91 and 192 K transitions, respectively. [FeII16][ClO4]2 [space group P3, a = 17.5829(3) A, c = 7.8043(2) A, β = 109.820 (3)°, T = 295 K] also possesses Fe1:Fe2 in a 1:2 ratio, and magnetic measurements show a single spin transition at 213 K, indicating that both Fe1 and Fe2 undergo a simultaneous spin transition. [FeII16][ClO4]2 slowly decomposes in solutions containing acetic anhydride to form [FeIII3O(OAc)613][ClO4] [space group I2, a = 10.1547(7) A, b = 16.5497(11) A, c = 10.3205(9) A, β = 109.820 (3)°, T = 200 K]. The isosceles Fe3 unit contains two Fe···Fe distances of 3.2844(1) A and a third Fe···Fe distance of 3.2857(1) A. The magnetic data can be fit to a trinuclear model with ℋ = −2J(S1·S2 + S2·S3) − 2J13(S1·S3), where J = −27.1 and J13 = −32.5 cm-1.
Enthalpy versus Entropy in Chlorocarbene/Alkene Addition Reactions

We report the first measured activation parameters for the additions of CCl2 and CClF to simple alkenes and demonstrate the existence of enthalpic barriers for CCl2 additions to cyclohexene and 1-hexene. With these two alkenes, additions of PhCCl are “dominated” by entropic contributions to ΔG‡ and additions of CCl2 display comparable contributions of ΔH‡ and ΔS‡, while CClF additions feature dominant enthalpic contributions to ΔG‡. Entropic factors, however, control the additions of all three carbenes to the highly reactive alkene, tetramethylethylene. Parallel computational studies are also reported.
Impact of a preventive cardiology curriculum on knowledge and attitudes of first‐year medical students

This study examined the impact of a preventive cardiology curriculum on the knowledge and attitudes of first‐year medical students. Questionnaires assessing knowledge and attitudes were self‐administered to classes entering in 1988 and 1989 at the beginning and end of each academic year. Data from 54 students were analyzed. All statistical analyses were significant, indicating that students showed increases in both knowledge and attitudes regarding preventive cardiology. We concluded that the preventive cardiology curriculum had a significant impact on student learning. Future research is needed to address the long‐term effect of the increases in knowledge and attitudes on the future practice of medicine.
Simulation of reactive nanolaminates using reduced models: III. Ingredients for a general multidimensional formulation

Abstract A transient multidimensional reduced model is constructed for the simulation of reaction fronts in Ni/Al multilayers. The formulation is based on the generalization of earlier methodologies developed for quasi-1D axial and normal propagation, specifically by adapting the reduced formalism for atomic mixing and heat release. This approach enables us to focus on resolving the thermal front structure, whose evolution is governed by thermal diffusion and heat release. A mixed integration scheme is used for this purpose, combining an extended-stability, Runge–Kutta–Chebychev (RKC) integration of the diffusion term with exact treatment of the chemical source term. Thus, a detailed description of atomic mixing within individual layers is avoided, which enables transient modeling of the reduced equations of motion in multiple dimensions. Two-dimensional simulations are first conducted of front propagation in composites combining two bilayer periods. Results are compared with the experimental measurements of Knepper et al. [ 22 ], which reveal that the reaction velocity can depend significantly on layering frequency. The comparison indicates that, using a concentration-dependent conductivity model, the transient 2D computations can reasonably reproduce the experimental behavior. Additional tests are performed based on 3D computations of surface initiated reactions. Comparison of computed predictions with laser ignition measurements indicates that the computations provide reasonable estimates of ignition thresholds. A detailed discussion is finally provided of potential generalizations and associated hurdles.
A simple, efficient synthesis of 3′‐D3‐mevalonic acid

3′-D3-Mevalonic acid was required to study triterpenoid biosynthesis. It was synthesized by a simple route in a 24% yield from D3-acetic acid-D. The product was characterized as the crystalline salt: N, N'-dibenzylethylenediammonium bis-(3,5-dihydroxy-3-(D3-methyl)-pentanoate) and was shown by mass spectroscopy and 1H-NMR to be essentially 100 atom% deuterium labelled.
Measuring voting power in an international institution: the United States and the inter-American development bank

This paper applies a measure of relative voting power to the weighted voting system of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Almost all assessments of internal governance of the IADB and other international financial institutions make reference to members' votes as a proxy for relative influence. But as this paper demonstrates, voting weights are misleading. The number of votes a country has in a weighted voting system does not necessarily denote its ability to affect outcomes. The conventional wisdom holds that the United States is omnipotent in the IADB because it has a large number (over 30 percent) of all the votes. This paper reveals that the U.S. obtains much more control over outcomes than originally intended by the institutions' designers.
Evidence for sulfuric acid coated particles in the Arctic air mass

In this paper, we discuss results from an experiment conducted on natural aerosol in a clean Arctic environment during the spring. The aerosol behaved as though coated with a volatile film, possibly of sulfuric acid. The thermography of the aerosol observed is consistent with a small fraction of the sulfate being neutralized by ammonium as evidenced by an ammonium to sulfate ratio of 0.14. The volatility behavior of the aerosol is also consistent with an increase in the ammonium to sulfate ratio to 0.39 over one day. The change in the ammonium to sulfate ratio and aerosol volume is consistent with 10 pptv of ammonia in the atmosphere being lost to the aerosol during the period. These values are consistent with others observed in the Arctic winter.
Contrasting Indian Ocean Sst Variability with and Without Enso Influence: A Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean Gcm Study

In this study, we perform experiments with a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (CGCM) to examine ENSO’s influence on the interannual sea-surface temperature (SST) variability of the tropical Indian Ocean. The control experiment includes both the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the ocean model component of the CGCM (the Indo-Pacific Run). The anomaly experiment excludes ENSO’s influence by including only the Indian Ocean while prescribing monthly-varying climatological SSTs for the Pacific Ocean (the Indian-Ocean Run). In the Indo-Pacific Run, an oscillatory mode of the Indian Ocean SST variability is identified by a multi-channel singular spectral analysis (MSSA). The oscillatory mode comprises two patterns that can be identified with the Indian Ocean Zonal Mode (IOZM) and a basin-wide warming/cooling mode respectively. In the model, the IOZM peaks about 3–5 months after ENSO reaches its maximum intensity. The basin mode peaks 8 months after the IOZM. The timing and associated SST patterns suggests that the IOZM is related to ENSO, and the basin-wide warming/cooling develops as a result of the decay of the IOZM spreading SST anomalies from western Indian Ocean to the eastern Indian Ocean. In contrast, in the Indian-Ocean Run, no oscillatory modes can be identified by the MSSA, even though the Indian Ocean SST variability is characterized by east–west SST contrast patterns similar to the IOZM. In both control and anomaly runs, IOZM-like SST variability appears to be associated with forcings from fluctuations of the Indian monsoon. Our modeling results suggest that the oscillatory feature of the IOZM is primarily forced by ENSO.
Smooth approximation of finitely many relativistic point interactions

The purpose of this paper is to show that finitely many relativistic point interactions may be approximated in the strong resolvent sense by sequences of operators with smooth potentials. We consider the entire family of relativistic point interactions, and determine those for which renormalization of the coupling constant occurs when the corresponding potentials are approximated by finitely many local, short-range perturbations of the free Dirac operator.
The Hukuhara-Kneser property for quasilinear parabolic equations

On etudie le probleme de Dirichlet quasilineaire u t =A(x,t,u). Lu+f(x,t,u), (x,t)∈Q T , u=ψ, (x,t)∈T T , ou A est une matrice diagonale et L un operateur elliptique. On demontre un resultat d'invariance pour un ensemble convexe borne D. La limitation de l'ensemble D donne une borne a priori que l'on utilise avec une application de la theorie du degre de Leray-Schauder et un theoreme de structure pour montrer l'existence de solutions et la propriete de Hukuhara-Kneser
Growth hormone protects against ovariectomy-induced bone loss in states of low circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1).

Early after estrogen loss in postmenopausal women and ovariectomy (OVX) of animals, accelerated endosteal bone resorption leads to marrow expansion of long bone shafts that reduce mechanical integrity. Both growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) are potent regulators of bone remodeling processes. To investigate the role of the GH/IGF-1 axis with estrogen deficiency, we used the liver IGF-1-deficient (LID) mouse. Contrary to deficits in controls, OVX of LID mice resulted in maintenance of cortical bone mechanical integrity primarily owing to an enhanced periosteal expansion affect on cross-sectional structure (total area and cortical width). The serum balance in LID that favors GH over IGF-1 diminished the effects of ablated ovarian function on numbers of osteoclast precursors in the marrow and viability of osteocytes within the cortical matrix and led to less endosteal resorption in addition to greater periosteal bone formation. Interactions between estrogen and the GH/IGF-1 system as related to bone remodeling provide a pathway to minimize degeneration of bone tissue structure and osteoporotic fracture. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Difficulty of extraction of chronically implanted tined ventricular endocardial leads

The dislodgment rate of permanent pacing ventricular and atrial endocardial leads has significantly decreased with the incorporation of tines as a fixation device. In contrast, transvenous manual extraction of chronically implanted endocardial leads is, at times, clinically indicated, particularly when pacemaker system infection is present. The success rate of such extraction attempts for ventricular endocardial leads over the past 5 years was reviewed. Extraction was usually successful (six of seven attempts) in patients with silicone rubber nontined (or short-tined) older ventricular endocardial leads (Group A). However, in patients with newer urethane long-tined ventricular endocardial leads (Group B), extraction was unsuccessful in three of four attempts. Because of entrapment of the distal electrode tip in the right ventricular apex, manual traction of these leads resulted in permanent conductor material stretching with resultant urethane insulator material breakage in the region of the joints with the proximal and distal electrodes. The one successful extraction in Group B was technically difficult and appeared to create a significant risk of intracardiac lead separation. This experience indicates that with improved pacemaker lead design decreased lead dislodgment has been obtained at the cost of increased difficulty of ventricular endocardial lead extraction. Such difficulty should be anticipated when a clinical decision is made to attempt to extract the new urethane long-tined ventricular leads.
High-speed, low-photodamage nonlinear imaging using passive pulse splitters

Pulsed lasers are key elements in nonlinear bioimaging techniques such as two-photon fluorescence excitation (TPE) microscopy. Typically, however, only a percent or less of the laser power available can be delivered to the sample before photoinduced damage becomes excessive. Here we describe a passive pulse splitter that converts each laser pulse into a fixed number of sub-pulses of equal energy. We applied the splitter to TPE imaging of fixed mouse brain slices labeled with GFP and show that, in different power regimes, the splitter can be used either to increase the signal rate more than 100-fold or to reduce the rate of photobleaching by over fourfold. In living specimens, the gains were even greater: a ninefold reduction in photobleaching during in vivo imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans larvae, and a six- to 20-fold decrease in the rate of photodamage during calcium imaging of rat hippocampal brain slices.
White layers and thermal modeling of hard turned surfaces

Abstract White layers in hard turned surfaces are identified, characterized and measured as a function of tool flank wear and cutting speed. White layer depth progressively increases with flank wear. It also increases with speed, but approaches an asymptote. A thermal model based on Jaeger's moving heat source problems (J.C. Jaeger, Moving source of heat and the temperature at sliding contacts, in: Proceedings of the Royal Society, NSW, vol. 56, pp. 203–224) is applied to simulate the temperature field in machined surfaces and to estimate white layer depth in terms of the penetration depth for a given critical temperature. The analysis shows good agreement with the trend in experimental results. White layer formation seems to be dominantly a thermal process involving phase transformation of the steel, possibly plastic strain activated; flank wear land rubbing may be a primary heat source for white layer formation. A strong material dependence of surface alteration is also observed.
Renin and Aldosterone Levels in Dolphins and Sea Lions

SummaryIn both dolphins and sea lions there was found a significant correlation between plasma renin activity (PRA) and the concentration of aldosterone in plasma. Furthermore, an excellent correlation was obtained between the urinary sodium excretion and PRA in two dolphins. These data support the hypothesis that in marine mammals the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis plays a role in the regulation of salt balance. However, the signal perceived by the kidney which serves to regulate renin secretion is unknown.
Plowing in Rocky Land: Organizational Culture, Managed Change, and Quality Improvement in Selected Romanian Post-Communist Libraries

Romanian libraries have had a rich heritage of collecting and preserving materials in the domains of national and foreign history, literature, art, and science. During the communist regime they served as propaganda tools for the government's Marxist ideology. In post-communist Romania, there is a desire among some librarians to promote change from a system of limited access to information to a more open system that focuses on quality improvement of library services, operations, and organization. In their efforts to overcome the communist legacy to libraries in their country, some Romanian librarians—with local resources and support from international agencies—are implementing western managerial styles and services. This case study reflects the results, assessments, and recommendations from a survey conducted at a workshop of selected Romanian librarians in August 1998. Considerations for the implementation of needed changes are also included.
Adaptations of the Ribbed Mussel, Modiolus demissus (Dillvvyn), to the Intertidal Habitat

SYNOPSIS. This is a review of the behavioral, biochemical-physiological, and morphological adaptations of Modiolus demissus (Dillwyn) to the high intertidal habitat. The ribbed mussel, Modiolus , has fully exploited the behavioral adaptations within the limits imposed by the bivalve body plan. Air-gaping is undoubtedly a significant behavioral adaptation which permits aerial respiration and penetration of the high intertidal zone. Modiolus fully utilizes physiological-biochemical adaptations also. The mussel is both eurythermal and euryhaline: the thermal range is at least 56 °C and the salinity range is at least 70%, both impressive ranges for an organism which conforms to these environmental parameters. The two primary adaptations made by Modiolus are an extensive tolerance to dehydration and a very high enzyme thermostability. These two adaptations are resjxmsible for Modiolus ' tolerance toward desiccation, variation in salinity, thermal stress, and possibly anaerobic conditions. There is no obvious morphological adaptation. Thus, the physiological adaptations, coupled with air-gaping, are responsible for the vertical penetration of Modiolus into the intertidal zone and its horizontal migration over an extensive geographic range.
Inhibitory and Stimulatory Bystander Effects are Differentially Induced by Iodine-125 and Iodine-123

Abstract Kishikawa, H., Wang, K., Adelstein, S. J. and Kassis, A. I. Inhibitory and Stimulatory Bystander Effects are Differentially Induced by Iodine-125 and Iodine-123. Radiat. Res. 165, 688–694 (2006). The bystander effect, originating from cells irradiated in vitro, describes responses of surrounding cells not targeted by the radiation. Previously we demonstrated that the subcutaneous injection into nude mice of human adenocarcinoma LS174T cells lethally irradiated by Auger electrons from the decay of DNA-incorporated 125I inhibits growth of co-injected LS174T cells (inhibitory bystander effect; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99, 13765–13770, 2002). We have repeated these studies using cells exposed to lethal doses of 123I, an Auger electron emitter whose emission spectrum is identical to that of 125I, and report herein that the decay of 123I within tumor cell DNA stimulates the proliferation of neighboring unlabeled tumor cells growing subcutaneously in nude mice (stimulatory bystander effect). Similar i...
A Validity Study of Scores From Self-Anchored-Type Scales for Measuring Depression and Self-Esteem

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that scores from a self-anchored scale for depression function as unidimensional indicators of depression and that scores from a self-anchored scale for self-esteem function as unidimensional indicators of self-esteem. A total of 228 responses were obtained from a purposive sample of clinical and nonclinical respondents. The research hypothesis implied a measurement model that was tested using structural equation modeling methods. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that scores from the self-anchored scale for depression serve as indicators of the construct depression but not with the scores from the self-anchored scale for self-esteem functioning as indicators of the construct self-esteem. The results suggested that self-anchored scales may be used to measure depression but not self-esteem. A number of practice applications of these results are discussed, including the possible use of multi-item self-anchored scales.
Reflection as vision: Prospects for future literacy programming

An overview of the perspectives and suggestions presented in this volume indicates some features of a vision for the future of community-based literacy programming.