cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress concentrations of tensile strips with large holes

Abstract Stress concentrations in thin tensile strips with circular holes have been of interest to engineers for a long time. Many investigations into the subject, both experimental and theoretical have taken place. These studies correlate well up to the point where the ratio of the hole diameter, a, to the strip width, w, equals 0.8. The real controversy begins at ratios of a w greater than this. The results of some studies indicate that as a w approaches one, the tensile stress concentration factor based on the net stress, km approaches one. Other studies indicate that as a w goes to one, km tends to two. A summary of previous work on this subject is presented. For this paper, an investigation into the subject was carried out using the finite element method. This method was applied to seven models each with a different ratio of a w ranging from 0.30 to 0.99. The results of this study are presented and compared to those studies mentioned earlier. The limiting value for km is found to be 1.63 as a w approaches 1.0.
Severe paroxysmal hypertension (pseudopheochromocytoma).

Paroxysmal hypertension always engenders a search for a catecholamine-secreting pheochromocytoma, Yet <2% turn out to have this tumor, and its cause and management have remained a mystery, and the subject of remarkably few papers. This review presents an approach to understanding and treating this disorder, which is increasingly known as “pseudopheochromocytoma.” Patients experience symptomatic blood pressure surges likely linked to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Psychological characteristics of patients with this disorder suggest a psychological basis, attributable to repressed emotion related either to prior emotional trauma or to a repressive (non-emotional) coping style. Interventions based on this understanding appear helpful in most cases. Paroxysms can be treated with an anxiolytic (e.g. alprazolam) and/or oral clonidine; an anxiolytic plus intravenous labetalol are usually effective in severe paroxysms. For preventive therapy, antidepressant agents appear effective in most patients. Although the role of psychotherapy is unclear, reassurance that an acute cardiovascular event is unlikely to occur during a paroxysm can be helpful. Fortunately, with appropriately selected intervention, attacks can be reduced or eliminated in most patients.
Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system

The central nervous system (CNS) poses a unique challenge for drug delivery. The blood-brain barrier significantly hinders the passage of systemically-delivered therapeutics and the brain extracellular matrix limits the distribution and longevity of locally-delivered agents. Polymeric nanoparticles represent a promising solution to these problems. Over the past 40 years, substantial research efforts have demonstrated that polymeric nanoparticles can be engineered for effective systemic and local delivery of therapeutics to the CNS. Moreover, many of the polymers used in nanoparticle fabrication are both biodegradable and biocompatible, thereby increasing the clinical utility of this strategy. Here, we review the major advances in the development of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the CNS.
Full field optical coherence tomography can identify spermatogenesis in a rodent sertoli-cell only model.

Background: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) has replaced conventional testis biopsies as a method of choice for obtaining sperm for in vitro fertilization for men with nonobstructive azoospermia. A technical challenge of micro-TESE is that the low magnification inspection of the tubules with a surgical microscope is insufficient to definitively identify sperm-containing tubules, necessitating tissue removal and cytologic assessment. Full field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) uses white light interference microscopy to generate quick high-resolution tomographic images of fresh (unprocessed and unstained) tissue. Furthermore, by using a nonlaser safe light source (150 W halogen lamp) for tissue illumination, it ensures that the sperm extracted for in vitro fertilization are not photo-damaged or mutagenized. Materials and Methods: A focal Sertoli-cell only rodent model was created with busulfan injection in adult rats. Ex vivo testicular tissues from both normal and busulfan-treated rats were imaged with a commercial modified FFOCT system, Light-CT TM , and the images were correlated with gold standard hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: Light-CT TM identified spermatogenesis within the seminiferous tubules in freshly excised testicular tissue, without the use of exogenous contrast or fixation. Normal adult rats exhibited tubules with uniform size and shape (diameter 328 ±11 μm). The busulfan-treated animals showed marked heterogeneity in tubular size and shape (diameter 178 ± 35 μm) and only 10% contained sperm within the lumen. Conclusion : FFOCT has the potential to facilitate real-time visualization of spermatogenesis in humans, and aid in micro-TESE for men with infertility.
The validity of composite risk-return measures within mutual fund subgroups

THE BASIC HYPOTHESIS tested in this study is that management objectives of a particular mutual fund, to a large extent, determine the risk and return structure of the fund's portfolio. Thus, if funds are grouped by objectives such as growth or income, it is expected that risk will be homogeneous within those mutual fund groups and adjustment for risk is then redundant. The main thrust of this research is to (1) test for homogeneity of risk within and between fund groups within and between time periods and (2) attempt to develop a new composite risk-return index for use in comparing the performance of funds with different objectives. Risk homogeneity was investigated for two risk proxies: the standard deviation of return (Sharpe) and the beta value (Treynor). Three time periods were investigated 1944-1953, 1954-1963 and 1964-1970. Mutual fund objectives were derived from Wiesenberger's publication and funds were classified into four groups: growth, growth-income, income and balanced funds. The results obtained from testing the standard deviations of return are: a) the hypothesis of a within-group homogeneous standard deviation of return is rejected during the 1944-1953 time period, but cannot be rejected during the 1954-1963 and 1964-1970 time periods; b) standard deviations of return are different between subgroups; c) standard deviations within fund groups have grown more similar over time; d) significant positive rank correlation over time occurs when fund types were mixed; however, the within group correlation between the ranks of the individual funds is not significant over time. The following results are obtained by testing the homogeneity of beta values: a) the beta coefficients of mutual fund subgroups do not significantly differ from the average beta coefficient. Income funds during one of the two time periods investigated for this fund type provide the only definite exception to this conclusion; b) all mutual fund groups combined display only one average beta value during the 1964-1970 time period; during the 1944-1953 period the growth and growth-income funds do not significantly differ from their average beta value. Thus, two distinct mutual fund groups can be formed (income funds are not investigated for that particular period); during the 1954-1963 time period four distinct fund groups evolve; c) a majority of the beta values for individual funds are stable over time, whereas stability of average beta values of fund groups over time is not found. The interpretation of the empirical tests of the risk proxies lend credence to the basic hypothesis that (1) homogeneous risk groups of funds with similar objectives do exist, and (2) it is preferable to assume that risk as measured by the above proxies is generally found to be heterogeneous for fund types with different objectives. The generally made assumption of stability of risk over time
Oxidative Stress, Dietary Antioxidant Supplements, and Health: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

See related articles by Goyal et al., [p. 2202][1] and by Kantor et al., [p. 2312][2] Oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant defense system, the latter of which relies heavily on nutrients, has been associated with the risk of many different
Narrative Semiotics and Teachers’ Beliefs Regarding the Relevance of Formal Learning Theory to Classroom Practice: a US study

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to examine teachers’ assumptions about the relevance to classroom practice of the kind of formal learning theory one encounters in educational psychology courses in the USA. Sixty‐six pre‐ and inservice teachers wrote a total of 132 narratives explaining how knowledge of certain aspects of behavioral learning theory could help teachers resolve the problems described in open‐ended case studies. The narratives were evaluated in terms of five parameters which were inferred from theory about narrative discourse. Together the parameters described how an author defined, ordered, and connected the standard components of narrative discourse (setting, problem, resolution, etc.). The analysis indicated that both pre‐ and inservice teachers tended to regard behavioral learning theories as prescriptive solutions that could be applied to any classroom context to yield predictable results. Preservice teachers tended to generalize beyond the boundaries of a case, inferrin...
Effects of adenosine on local stimulus-response latency and induction of atrial fibrillation by premature stimuli.

Premature atrial stimuli delivered during the relative refractory or “vulnerable” period exhibit increased local stimulus-response latency and may occasionally induce atrial arrhythmias. The use of adenosine to treat supraventricular tachycardias may also provoke atrial arrhythmias. In this study we investigated the effects of adenosine on the latency of premature complexes in relation to repolarization and induction of atrial arrhythmias in 14 patients without structural heart disease. A monophasic action potential catheter was used for recording in the right atrium and introducing premature stimuli (S2) at twice diastolic threshold after eight paced (S1) complexes. At short coupling intervals, S2 latency increased relative to S1 latency. S2 was delivered repeatedly at a fixed coupling interval (producing maximal local response latency) and adenosine (6 mg) was given intravenously. Adenosine decreased S2 latency significantly (23 ± 5 to 11 ± 3 ms, P < 0.01), to values similar to S1 latency. However, despite the decrease in S2 latency, the combination of adenosine and S2 more often resulted in transient atrial arrhythmias (11 of 14 patients vs 2 of 14 patients without adenosine, P < 0.05). Adenosine had no effect on S1 latency (9 ± 2 vs 9 ± 2 ms) but decreased monophasic action potential duration from 202 ± 37 to 158 ± 38 ms (P < 0.01). Adenosine was also given to 10 patients S2 introduced at a coupling interval 40–50 ms less than the baseline effective refractory period. This resulted in a decrease in atrial refractoriness and capture of S2 in all cases. Latency for S2 was significantly greater than S1 latency (21 ± 12 vs 9 ± 2 ms, P < 0.01) and transient atrial arrhythmias were induced in 9 of 10 patients. We conclude that for a given S2 coupling interval, adenosine decreases local stimulus–response latency but increases atrial vulnerability to transient atrial arrhythmias. Decreased latency may be related to a shift in the zone of relative refractoriness associated with an adenosine-mediated decrease in monophasic action potential duration. Induction of atrial arrhythmias in the presence of adenosine occurs independently of increased latency and is therefore not dependent on S2 falling within the relative refractory period at the site of stimulation.
Low dose lead effects in calves fed a whole milk diet.

Cattle are the farm species most sensitive to lead (Pb) poisoning and the number of cattle exposed to above normal amounts of Pb each year could be as high as 150,000 world wide. Because of this exposure, it is important to establish the minimum toxic level of Pb which will cause fatal poisoning. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of 1 mg Pb/kg b.w./day on young calves fed a whole milk diet. Clinical assessment, tissue Pb distribution, and hematological indicators of exposure to Pb were investigated.
Electrical and electrochemical characterization of electroconductive PPy-p(HEMA) composite hydrogels

Two groups of polymers that have been the focus of widespread research are hydrogels and conducting electroactive polymers (CEPs). 'Intelligent' hydrogels are highly hydrophilic, cross-linked polymers possessing hydration properties that change in response to specific environmental stimuli such as pH, ionic strength, chemical species, magnetic fields, etc. Conducting electroactive polymers such as polypyrrole, polyaniline and polythiophene are highly conjugated, redox-active polymers with electrical and optical properties that change through many orders of magnitude depending upon redox state (doping). We have formed composites of inherently conductive polypyrrole within highly hydrophilic poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogels. These materials retain the hydration characteristics of hydrogels as well as the electroactivity and electronic conductivity of CEPs and are thus called 'electroconductive hydrogels'. The electrical and electrochemical properties of these polymer composites have been investigated. The electrochemical characteristics observed by cyclic voltammetry suggest less facile reduction of PPy within the composite hydrogel compared to electropolymerized PPy, as shown by the shift in the reduction peak potential from -472 mV for electropolymerized polypyrrole to -636 mV for the electroconductive composite gel. The network impedance magnitude for the electroconductive hydrogel remains quite low, ca. 100 Ohms, even upon approach to DC, over all frequencies and at all offset potentials suggesting retained electronic (bipolaronic) conductivity within the composite.
Host associations of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing medium-sized mammals in a Lyme disease endemic area of southern New York.

Ticks of eight medium-sized mammal species were studied in an area of endemic Lyme disease in Westchester County, N.Y., from 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985. Most (81%) of the 266 total mammal captures were raccoon, Procyon lotor (L.) (47%), opossum, Didelphis virginiana (Kerr) (19%), and striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis Schreber (15%); these host species accounted for 91% of the 1,519 ticks collected. Although the total number of ticks was rather evenly distributed among these mammals, species composition of ticks on each host species differed markedly. Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman, and Corwin was the most abundant tick species and accounted for 45% (690) of the total ticks collected. Immatures were most prevalent (56%) on opossum, and nearly all (86%) adults were found on this host species. I. cookei Marx was second in abundance (34%) and was most prevalent (60%) on skunk. I. texanus Banks and Dermacentor variabilis (Say) were less abundant (less than 20% collectively) and were most prevalent on raccoon. I. dentatus Marx on eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus (Allen), and I. marxi Banks on gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, were least abundant (less than 2% collectively). The prevalence of I. dammini on medium-sized mammals in southern New York may influence the epizootiology of Lyme disease.
Lead poisoning from mobilization of bone stores during thyrotoxicosis

We describe a case of thyrotoxicosis accompanied by markedly elevated blood lead levels (initially 53 micrograms/dl) in a 37-year-old woman. No current source of lead exposure was found; the woman gave a history indicative of lead exposure as a child and as an adult 7 years previously, however. In addition, she was found to have markedly elevated bone lead levels, as measured by K-x-ray fluorescence (154 +/- 5 in the mid-tibia and 253 +/- 6 micrograms/g bone mineral in the patella), and an increased serum osteocalcin level (2.76 nmol/l), reflecting the increased bone turnover that often accompanies hyperthyroidism. During treatment with propylthiouracil, serial observations demonstrated a decline in serum osteocalcin that paralleled a decline in blood lead levels. Bone lead levels did not change appreciably. The patient also continued to have lingering neuropsychological symptoms consistent with chronic lead effects. We suggest that increased bone turnover accompanying thyrotoxicosis led to clinically significant lead poisoning in this patient, due to mobilization of accumulated bone lead stores acquired many years earlier. This phenomenon raises the general issue of more subtle forms of lead exposure from increased bone turnover states (e.g., osteoporosis).
Y-chromosome length in sublines of two mouse strains.

Differences in intermale aggression have been repeatedly reported for DBA/1 and C57BL/10 mice. The results of reciprocal crosses combined with cross-fostering procedures suggest an involvement of the Y chromosome. In the present study, the length of the Y chromosome relative to that of chromosome 19 was ascertained in five sublines of DBA/1Bg, three sublines of C57BL/10Bg, and a C57BL/10.DBA/1-Y congenic stock of mice, which carries the DBA/1Bg Y chromosome. With respect to the length of the Y chromosome relative to that of chromosome 19, two of the DBA/1 sublines are shorter than the other three DBA/1 sublines, and all DBA/1 sublines are shorter than the three C57BL/10 sublines. This is attributable primarily to the length of the Y chromosome. The C57BL/10 sublines and the BL10.D1-Y congenic stock tested exhibit the same relative lengths of the Y chromosome, suggesting that its length has changed on the C57BL/10 genetic background. There is a parallel dependence on autosomal background of the effect of the Y chromosome on intermale aggression.
Physiotherapy diagnosis in clinical practice: a survey of orthopaedic certified specialists in the USA.

Background and Purpose. Diagnosis is a complex process that involves clinical decision-making along several dimensions, culminating in the assignment of a label or labels which inform(s) treatment decisions. Much of the attention given to physiotherapy diagnosis has been devoted to specific, disparate classification systems for low back pain. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how physiotherapists view and approach diagnosis in clinical practice in the USA. Method. A survey was developed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data related to diagnostic process and classification in orthopaedic practice. Subjects comprised 253 Board-certified orthopaedic physiotherapy practioners. A total of 850 surveys were administered; 253 surveys were completed, representing a return rate of 30%. Results. Eighty-four per cent of the respondents report patient care as their primary professional practice area. Seventy-six per cent of the subjects utilized a diagnostic classification system distinct from the medical diagnosis when managing patients with low back pain. Of those, the largest percentage (38%) utilized a general pathophysiological classification system, 32% utilized the McKenzie system and, in decreasing order of frequency, treatment-based classification (9%) and movement impairment classification (7%). Qualitative data suggest considerable variation in how orthopaedic specialists view diagnosis in patient management, with several common themes emerging: physiotherapy diagnosis may incorporate the medical diagnosis, but moves beyond it; physiotherapy diagnosis occurs across multiple levels or systems; physiotherapists tend to view diagnosis as being process-oriented with its primary purpose being to guide treatment decisions. Conclusions. As physiotherapy evolves from a profession that treats by prescription to a doctoring profession it should give serious attention to diagnosis, the foundation of evidence-based practice. Striving for consensus on the role of diagnosis in patient management should become a priority, as well as developing a more standard taxonomy with consistent terminology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Imperial Incompetence and Guatemalan Militarism, 1931–1966

Drawing of Guatemalan and US sources, this paper complicates the instrumentalist argument that US assistance and intervention explain the Guatemalan military's repeated intervention in politics, and the rise of a military government in 1963. This study contends that the US government had little to do with giving Guatemalan officers the capacity and motive to intervene in politics. However, the US did contribute to their opportunity to intervene through its opposition to regimes it opposed, as was the case in the infamous 1954 coup, and also by inadvertently weakening regimes it backed.
Fatigue crack growth in fiber-metal laminates

Abstract The fatigue behavior of cracked fiber-metal laminates containing residual stresses is studied. A finite element model employing special interface elements is developed for this study. The use of the interface element allows the simulation to be completed in a single finite element analysis conducted within the limitations of elasticity theory. The effect of crack closure at the crack tip in the aluminum layer is included in the model. Numerical examples are presented for unstretched and stretched ARALL-1 laminates. The results obtained from the finite element model are compared with experimental results. Good agreement between these results supports the validity of the present model.
A low energy positron spectrometer

Abstract In this paper we describe the design and operation of a low energy (0 to 100 eV) cylindrical electrostatic positron spectrometer. The spectrometer was calibrated with electrons from a heated tungsten coil. Its energy resolution was measured to be 7%. Preliminary results for the negative work function of positrons from gold are presented and discussed.
Efficient Frequency Comb Generation in the 9- \(\mu \) m Region Using Compact Fiber Sources

We demonstrate a midinfrared (mid-IR) frequency comb spanning from 7.5 to \(11.6~\mu \) m at a −20-dB level using difference frequency generation in a AgGaS2 crystal with a compact all-fiber source based on Tm3+ and Er3+-amplifiers. The power of the mid-IR signal is measured to be 1.55 mW and the photon conversion efficiency is 16%. The pulse duration achieved in the mid-IR range is estimated to be \(\sim 80\) fs, which corresponds to 2.6 optical cycles at the 9.2- \(\mu \) m center wavelength. The current approach allows simple power scaling by further amplification of the pump and signal pulses using established fiber amplifier technologies.
SNAP-25 Functional Domains in SNARE Core Complex Assembly and Glutamate Release of Cerebellar Granule Cells

Synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a member of the SNARE protein complex that has been implicated in synaptic vesicle docking and fusion. In this report, we have generated SNAP-25 mutants and assayed their functions in SNARE complex formation and glutamate release from cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. In vitro binding studies show that a deletion mutant lacking the C-terminal 181–206 amino acid sequence inhibits the formation of the SNARE core complex. Additional deletion of an N-terminal 1–31 amino acid sequence abolished this inhibitory activity. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is used to overexpress wild-type and mutant SNAP-25 in cerebellar granule cells. Neurons overexpressing the wild-type protein show slight reductions in glutamate release, ranging from 10 to 15% in both the developing and mature granule cells. A 30–35% inhibition is obtained with the C-terminal deletion mutant, and the inhibitory effect is abolished in the N- and C-terminal double deletion mutant. These results demonstrate that the SNARE core complex exists in a dynamic and reversible state, and the formation of the core complex is necessary for neurotransmitter release in neurons.
A Micromachined Evanescent Mode Resonator

An evanescent mode resonator can be micromachined into miniaturized high Q resonators to be used in communication filters that can be integrated in a planar environment The evanescent mode resonator has performance comparable to a micromachined cavity resonator with the advantage of one tenth the size, easier integration into a filter, and excellent rejection of any higher order periodic resonance. This comes at the cost of sensitivity to fabrication tolerances that requires electronic tuning.
A Review of Federal Sentencing Treatises and Periodicals

Part of the Law Commons Publication Information Michael M. O’Hear, A Review of Federal Sentencing Treatises and Periodicals, 11 Fed. Sent'g Rep. 69 (1998). © 1998 by the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Vera Institute of Justice. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Vera Institute of Justice for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® on Caliber (http://caliber.ucpress.net/) or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center, http://www.copyright.com.
Tissue Regeneration of the Vocal Fold Using Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Synthetic Extracellular Matrix Injections in Rats

Objective To determine the effectiveness of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) transplantation in isolation or within a synthetic extracellular matrix (sECM) for tissue regeneration of the scarred vocal fold lamina propria.
Essential Components of an Integrated Data Mining Tool for the Oil & Gas Industry, With an Example Application in the DJ Basin

Data mining seems to be the new buzz word. During the past several years many industries other than the oil and gas industry have realized the potential bene ts of da5ta mining and have established sophisticated operations in order to implement this exciting technology in their respective organizations. Data mining is not new. It has been around for many years. What is new about its current implementation is the incorporation of machine learning techniques. The oil and gas industry has become familiar with machine learning techniques since the early 1990s. Neural networks, genetic optimization and fuzzy logic have been used in numerous applications, from well log interpretations to hydraulic fracturing optimization. Therefore, the new interest in data mining in this industry is not surprising. The industry is at its peak state for bene ting from what data mining has to o er, thanks to an abundance of digital data. A word of caution is in order, which is the main motivation behind writing this paper. As with many other new tools and technologies, the term \Data Mining" can be, and is currently being, misused on several occasions. In this paper, an attempt has been made to answer questions such as; what is Data Mining? How can it be accomplished? What are the essential components of an integrated data mining process and what would be the bene ts of such a process? In addition to answering questions such as those mentioned above, this paper will provide a road map (a set of guidelines) for a successful data mining project. Finally, the paper concludes by applying the presented guidelines to a hydraulic fracturing data set in the DJ basin of the United States Rockies for a data mining study.
Dwarf mistletoe affects whole-tree water relations of Douglas fir and western larch primarily through changes in leaf to sapwood ratios

Dwarf mistletoes induce abnormal growth patterns and extreme changes in the biomass allocation of their hosts as well as directly parasitizing them for resources. Because biomass allocation can affect the resource use and efficiency of conifers, we studied the influences of dwarf mistletoe infection on above-ground biomass allocation of Douglas fir and western larch, and the consequences of such changes on whole-tree water use and water relations. Sap flow, tree water potentials, leaf:sapwood area ratios (AL:AS), leaf carbon isotope ratios, and nitrogen content were measured on Douglas fir and western larch trees with various degrees of mistletoe infection during the summer of 1996 in western Montana. Heavy dwarf mistletoe infection on Douglas fir and western larch was related to significant increases in AL:AS. Correspondingly, water transport dynamics were altered in infected trees, but responses were different for the two species. Higher AL:AS ratios in heavily infected Douglas firs were offset by increases in sapwood area-based sap flux densities (QSW) such that leaf area-based sap flux densities (QL) and predawn leaf water potentials at the end of the summer did not change significantly with mistletoe infection. Small (but statistically insignificant) decreases of QL for heavily infected Douglas firs were enough to offset increases in leaf area such that whole-tree water use was similar for uninfected and heavily infected trees. Increased AL:AS ratios of heavily infected western larch were not offset by increases of QSW. Consequently, QL was reduced, which corresponded with significant decreases of water potential at the end of the summer. Furthermore, mistletoe-infection-related changes in AL:AS as a function of tree size resulted in greater whole-tree water use for large infected larches than for large uninfected trees. Such changes may result in further depletion of limited soil water resources in mature infected stands late in the growing season. Foliage from infected trees of both species had lower water use efficiencies than non-infected trees. Our results demonstrate substantial changes of whole-tree processes related to mistletoe infection, and stress the importance of integrating whole-tree physiological and structural processes to fully understand the mechanisms by which pathogens suppress forest productivity.
Design, discovery and growth of novel materials

This editorial introduces the special issue on design, discovery, and growth of novel materials. The papers of this special issue review and reveal technical details of of how specific growths are developed and implemented.
Florida nurse practitioners’ attitudes and practices regarding oral cancer prevention and early detection

Purpose: To examine Florida nurse practitioners’ (NPs’) attitudes and practices regarding oral cancer prevention and early detection. Data source: A statewide mail survey was conducted among Florida NPs who provided primary care. The questionnaire was adapted from an existing survey instrument used to measure NPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices about oral cancer prevention and early detection. A total of 448 Florida NPs (33% response rate) completed the survey. Conclusions: Florida NPs reportedly were not well prepared for oral cancer prevention and early detection. Although most NPs realized the importance of annual oral cancer screening for high-risk populations and held positive attitudes toward the benefit of early detection, only 39.3% of respondents thought his or her knowledge about oral cancer was current and more than half had never provided oral cancer examinations. Implications for practice: Florida has among the nation’s highest oral cancer rates, but persons at highest risk are among those least likely to see a dentist. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach involving all relevant healthcare providers, including NPs, may be more effective than relying only on dentists’ efforts in improving survival rates for oral cancer. Strategies are needed to increase the involvement of Florida’s NPs in oral cancer detection.
Topology-1: a knowledge-based system for reasoning about objects and spaces

Abstract The techniques employed in geometric modelling in computer-aided design have been subject to great changes over the last two decades. This evolution over the years may be broken into four generations: modelling of drawings; surfaces; solid shapes; and finally, knowledge-based modelling of solid shapes. This paper commences with an introduction to topology. Then knowledge engineering and its place in reasoning about objects and spaces is explored. Topology-1, which belongs to the fourth category of geometric modellers, is introduced. It is the prototype core element for an interactive knowledge-based computer-aided architectural design system to support the design activity of an architect. The configuration of topology-1 is explained and each component is elaborated. Finally the reasoning capability of the system is illustrated by some queries about a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Kazakh ‘New “New” Wave’

(2010). The Kazakh ‘New “New” Wave’. Studies in Russian and Soviet Cinema: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 195-203.
Design and implementation of an Internet-based virtual lab system for elearning support

Significant advances in Internet and computer technology have made it possible to develop an Internet-based virtual lab system to support distance learning courses that require a laboratory component where Internet-based control laboratory experiments such as measurement, monitoring, and control applications can be accessed remotely. The proposed virtual lab system architecture includes such features as control, measurement, networking, and reporting. This paper addresses issues in the architecture, election, electronics, embedded processors and software, Web and Internet technologies, and laboratory development.
Partition coefficient measurements in picoliter drops using a segmented flow microfluidic device.

A microfluidic method to rapidly measure the octanol−water partition coefficient in thousands of individual picoliter drops is described. A T-junction microfluidic chip is used to generate a segmented flow of monodisperse, fluorescein-laden water in octanol carrier fluid. The partitioning of individual drops reaches equilibrium in less than 2 s. Epifluorescence microscopy is used measure the partition coefficient of fluorescein as a function of pH. Results compare well with previous measurements using traditional shake-flask methods. The methods presented here are rapid, provide detailed statistics, and can be run in parallel, enabling the simultaneous partitioning of thousands of compounds for various applications such as drug development, environmental testing, and combinatorial chemistry. Microfluidic partitioning and extraction in picoliter drops may be useful for studying molecules and particles away from their equilibrium state and in cases with limited samples.
Adverse events related to drugs and drug withdrawal in nursing home residents

Objective: To (1) develop and standardize explicit criteria to link clinical adverse events to drug withdrawal, (2) determine the incidence and severity of Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) and Adverse Drug Withdrawal Events (ADWEs) in a nursing home population, and (3) establish the contribution of demographic, clinical, and functional characteristics to ADEs and ADWEs. Design: Retrospective record review of an admission cohort. Setting and Subjects: Consecutive admissions of residents of an academic Veterans Affairs nursing home with available records and lengths of stay >30 days (n = 175). Subjects were 96% men, aged 70 ± 12 years, and took 7.0 ± 3.4 medications. Methods: We applied standardized algorithms to determine incidence, probability, and severity of ADEs and ADWEs. Multiple regression techniques were used to identify factors associated with frequency and risk of events. Results: Ninety five residents experienced 201 ADEs. Twelve required hospitalization or prolonged hospitalization, and one resident died. Sixty two persons had 94 ADWEs. None were associated with death and one with hospitalization. The four most commonly prescribed drug classes accounted for 72% of ADEs and 80% of ADWEs. Results of multivariate analyses showed common risk factors for both ADEs and ADWEs: number of diagnoses, number of medications, and hospitalization during the nursing home stay. Conclusions: ADEs and ADWEs were common in nursing home residents in this Veteran's Affairs setting. Explicit criteria developed and applied in this study should be applied prospectively in other settings, both to further define risk of drug discontinuation and to assist in development of specific drug discontinuation guidelines.
Quality control procedures for the USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies nutrient values

Accurate dietary assessment depends on a high-quality food and nutrient database. While much progress has been made in the quality of analytical nutrient data, the area of database quality control remains largely uncovered. Increased automation of database maintenance and update processes necessitates stringent quality control procedures. A detailed quality control (QC) plan has advanced over the years and is in place for the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) nutrient values file. Multiple checks are performed for all new and revised data at different steps of the update process to ensure integrity and accuracy in the database. Based on the purpose of the checks, they are grouped into three categories: nutrient integrity checks, database integrity checks, and database validation checks. Details of the QC checks used for the FNDDS nutrient values file and features of the QC system are given. This information can be helpful for managers responsible for maintaining nutrient databases, and discussions on this topic may stimulate development of systems to ensure integrity and accuracy in nutrient databases.
Effects of planting density on canopy dynamics and stem growth for intensively managed loblolly pine stands

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), and foliar nitrogen content are related to stand growth. However, they are all a function of canopy size, and their relative importance is hard to determine. We used intensively managed, 4-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands planted at densities ranging from 740 to 4440 trees ha −1 that possessed very different canopy structures to separate the relationships between IPAR, LAI, and foliar N content. Our objectives were to determine whether stem growth was best correlated with LAI, IPAR, or foliar N content and to determine how the relationship between LAI and IPAR varied among stands of different planting densities. While stem growth rates increased significantly with planting density, from 12.0 to 35.2 m 3 ha −1 y −1 , increases were not proportional, indicating the presence of competition-induced limitations to growth. Annual IPAR (863–2345 MJ m −2 y −1 ), LAI (2.5–4.9), and foliar N content (67–122 kg ha −1 ) all increased as stand density increased from 740 to 4440 trees ha −1 . Stem growth rates were better correlated with annual IPAR ( r 2 = 0.90), than LAI ( r 2 = 0.67) or foliar N content ( r 2 = 0.55). The efficiency of LAI to capture radiation (IPAR LAI −1 ) increased with stand density even though the higher density stands possessed greater LAI, which increased the likelihood of within canopy shading. The increase in IPAR LAI −1 corresponded to significantly decreased variation in light interception within plots as planting density increased. These results indicate that stem growth is best correlated with annual IPAR and underscore the importance of stand structure since the more even distribution of foliage within canopies of higher density stands increased the efficiency of light interception.
Waves in cylindrical shells with circumferential submembers: a matrix approach

Abstract A matrix approach is proposed to investigate waves in circular cylindrical thin shells jointed with circular plates. Both the general propagator matrix and S -matrix formalisms are presented, with emphasis on the latter. The loss of computational accuracy due to the inevitable exponentially growing terms in a propagator matrix is completely avoided by using the S -matrix. This paper demonstrates implementation of S -matrix methods for analyzing waves in complex shell structures with axial symmetry. The basic elements are laid out in detail, including the S -matrix for cylindrical shells, the propagator matrix and the asymptotic S -matrix for plates, and both the propagator matrix and the S -matrix for junctions of cylindrical thin shells with internal and/or external circular plates and for multi-channel elements. The general approach is demonstrated for several examples of cylindrical shells with periodic stiffeners and sub-elements. Dispersion curves are computed and compared with previous results.
Processing effects on optical anisotropy in spin-coated polyimide films

The effects of spinning speed, substrate material, and thermal treatment on the optical anisotropy of spin-coated polyimide films have been examined using the Metricon 2010 Prism Coupler to measure the birefringence. A decrease in the molecular orientation, as determined by birefringence, with increasing film thickness has been attributed to a stress gradient in the thickness of the film and the presence of air-polymer-substrate interfaces. The extent of the thickness dependence is a function of the polymer chain rigidity associated with the polyimide chemistry. The birefringence of the polymer film is also influenced by the substrate material due to the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the film and the substrate. In addition, as a result of potential interdiffusion of solvent molecules and polymer segments between multiple layers of film, the birefringence in polyimide films obtained from multiple coatings of polyamic acid depends on the thermal treatment between the individual coatings. The birefringence of PMDA/ODA polyimide film derived from polyamic acid solution increases as the imidization temperature is increased to 400°C. For preimidized polyimide, the birefringence initially increases upon solvent removal, but decreases above 200°C, possibly indicating the occurrence of thermal cross-linking. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A study of a crude oil spill site for selected metal concentrations remediated by a controlled burning in Southwest Louisiana

Abstract On August 17, 2002 an oil spill occurred at the Chevron Texaco No. 2 Bayou Tank Battery in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, in Southwest Louisiana. The spill covered approximately 3.5 acres of the surrounding marsh. A controlled and in-situ burn of the oil was conducted on August 20, 2002 along with some post-burn “mopping up” on the following day. Within a few days after the burn the growth of new vegetation was observed. A year after the burn, the affected marsh seemed to be no different from the rest of the marsh in the area, as if no spill or burn ever occurred. Analysis of the oil from the No. 2 Bayou Tank Battery showed that there were very low (below detection limit of ICP-OES), if any, concentrations of selected trace metals. Soil cores and grass samples were taken on December15, 2003 and July 15, 2004 from the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge oil spill site for metal determination and compared to cores and grasses taken from the surrounding marsh and confirmed that there was no increase in concentration of any metal that was examined as a result of the oil spill or controlled burn.
Full-Text Aggregator Database Vendors and Journal Publishers: A Study of a Complex Relationship

To acquire journal content rights for full-text aggregator databases, database vendors must enter into negotiations and sign contractual agreements with journal publishers. Through a survey, librarians at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs examined vendors and publishers relationships and the impact of those relationships on full-text journal content in aggregator services.
The thermal chemistry of iodobenzene on Pt(111)

Abstract The surface chemistry of iodobenzene (C6H5I) on Pt(111) has been studied by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and isotopic labeling. XPS results show that for the first layer CI bond scission commences at 175 K. The phenyl fragment (C6H5) left after CI bond cleavage loses a hydrogen and forms an ortho-C6H4 (benzyne) intermediate. Upon further annealing, the benzyne is rehydrogenated and forms benzene (C6H6), with hydrogen supplied by the decomposition of other benzyne species. Formation of benzyne involves a change in the adsorption geometry of the adsorbate adlayer, which consequently opens new decomposition sites on the Pt(111) and allows the dissociation of approximately 70% of the second layer to occur. The dissociation of the second layer leads to additional C6H6 formation via a coupling reaction of a phenyl fragment from the second layer and a surface hydrogen. The role that iodine plays on these reaction pathways and the implications of these results to the surface chemistry of benzene on transition metal surfaces are discussed.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE PRESENCE OF THYROGLOBULIN IN THE BLOOD1

CARLSON, HEKTOEN AND SCHULHOF (1), in a series of publications, have reported the demonstration by immunological reactions of thyroglobulin in the thyroid vein blood and in the lymph, and have stated that factors such as massage and sympathetic stimulation occasionally affected the amount of thyroglobulin produced. Using a similar technic, Hicks (2) was also able to obtain evidence of thyroglobulin in the thyroid vein blood. On the assumption that the above reported results could be duplicated, a series of experiments were undertaken in order to study the excretion of thyroglobulin into the thyroid veins, with particular reference to the effect that various factors might have upon this excretion. The purpose of this paper is to report that except under certain special circumstances, as will be detailed later, we were unable to obtain evidence of such excretion.Serum immune to dog thyroglobulin was prepared by graded injections into rabbits of a 1% dog thyroglobulin solution.
Biogeography of cretaceous/tertiary (k/t) planktic foraminifera

As a result of the process‐level connections between biogeography, systematics, and ecology, analyses of the spatial distribution of organisms across major extinction events can be used to probe the paleobiological structure of those events and constrain the range of plausible explanatory models. Investigation of the biogeography of planktic foraminiferal faunas across the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary using a high‐resolution, taxonomically‐consistent, global database of more that 22 different boundary sections and deep‐sea cores reveals that this group did not undergo a stratigraphically instantaneous ‘mass extinction’ at the K/T boundary that is co‐incident with unambiguous independent evidence for a bolide impact. Rather, this event is better described as an extended or prolonged faunal turnover that was spread over a stratigraphic interval that, in some sections, spans several meters which, in turn, are estimated (using radiometric calibration) to represent as much 2–3 m.y. Beginning in the upper...