cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dificultades cognitivas asociadas a la solución de un ejercicio de mecánica de fluidos en un contexto de aprendizaje virtual

En el presente estudio se examinan las dificultades cognitivas derivadas de una evaluacion realizada en un curso avanzado de ingenieria civil en una universidad chilena, en un contexto de aprendizaje virtual. En este contexto y trabajando con un grupo de 70 alumnos, se realiza una tarea de mecanica de fluidos cuya demanda cognitiva es variable. A partir de un analisis esencialmente cualitativo, los resultados muestran que los alumnos logran responder con asertividad cuando la evaluacion les plantea desafios de baja demanda cognitiva. Sin embargo, serias falencias afloran cuando se les apela a construir razonamientos mas profundos que involucren el despliegue de habilidades para relacionar conceptos y estructurar una solucion de mayor demanda cognitiva. Se concluye que aun en anos avanzados de la carrera persisten lagunas formativas que no logran ser resueltas en la transicion desde la educacion secundaria a la etapa universitaria
A Study of Electric Vehicle and Power Management Strategies

Electric vehicle as a possible way to control or reduce the greenhouse effect, it has been researched extensively with upgrades in the areas of power electrics, energy storage and holds up, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) gives competitive driving range and fuel economy compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. The first electric vehicle can be traced back to a Scottish man named Robert Anderson as non-rechargeable batteries powered this vehicle that it failed. The first successful electric vehicle was known as 'Electro boat' and 'Ricker electric vehicle.' These vehicles were manufactured by the 'Electric vehicle company in the 1890s. In the 1990s, these vehicles started to receive great competition from the internal combustion engine, which consumes cheap gasoline, and for this, the gas tanks can be filled within the required tanks to charge a car battery
Refugee Resettlement Experiences from Sub-Saharan Africa to the Triad Area of North Carolina

This case study describes the needs, challenges, and opportunities that newly resettled refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Eritrea face when they arrive in the Triad area of North Carolina. It focuses on the initial 90-day period in which they receive support from a resettlement agency. Findings of this study show that these newly resettled refugees from sub-Saharan Africa are adjusting to their host community. However, both refugees and service providers pinpoint the lack of resources and the insufficient time they have to receive support in their resettlement process. Both refugees and agency workers agree that the services provided by the agency are useful, but that the agency is trying to fit, mostly in 90 days, a support system that (a) needs to be longer, and (b) should include other community partners. This anthropological study also shows that sub-Saharan African refugees face some similar challenges to other refugees resettled in the USA. However, they also face particular difficulties as a result of the following: the context of exit from their war-torn home countries, the context of reception in their in-transit countries (where they spent numerous years in transitional refugee camps), and the characteristics of a midsize metropolitan area such as the Triad, which is predominantly white and lacks an established diaspora community from sub-Saharan Africa.
Accuracy of body mass index in categorizing weight status in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Purpose To identify the accuracy of Body Mass Index (BMI) to categorize body weight in a sample of children with spina bifida and Down syndrome as compared to typically developing peers. Methods A secondary analysis of 32 children with spina bifida, Down syndrome or no chronic illness. A calculated BMI was plotted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention age- and sex-specific BMI growth charts to determine each child's weight status. Percentage of body fat, obtained by labeled water, was plotted on two different body fat percentile reference curves, one derived from a whole body measure (DXA) of body fat and one by skin-fold measure. Differences in weight categories between calculated BMI and body fat percentile curves were reported. Results The calculated BMI for children with a disability had significant misclassifications as a screening tool for body fat when compared to children without a disability. Misclassifications were increased with the body fat percentile reference curve derived from skin-fold measures and for children who primarily used a wheelchair. Conclusion The current recommendation to use BMI to categorize weight status is not useful for many children with disabilities. Further research to identify an alternative pragmatic strategy is necessary.
Intraspecific, Interspecific, Metabolic, and Phylogenetic Scaling in Platyrrhine Primates

The relative scaling of body parts to body size is an important consideration in modern primatology. Allometric studies allow investigation of changes in shape that occur in conjunction with changes in body size separately from those independent of body size change, the latter often a result of significant new adaptations (Aiello, 1981; Gould, 1975).
Surgical management and outcome of schwannomas in the craniocervical region

Object Schwannomas occupying the craniocervical junction (CCJ) are rare and usually originate from the jugular foramen, hypoglossal nerves, and C-1 and C-2 nerves. Although they may have different origins, they may share the same symptoms, surgical approaches, and complications. An extension of these lesions along the posterior fossa cisterns, foramina, and spinal canal—usually involving various cranial nerves (CNs) and the vertebral and cerebellar arteries—poses a surgical challenge. The primary goals of both surgical and radiosurgical management of schwannomas in the CCJ are the preservation and restoration of function of the lower CNs, and of hearing and facial nerve function. The origins of schwannomas in the CCJ and their clinical presentation, surgical management, adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery, and outcomes in 36 patients treated at Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) are presented. Methods Between 1989 and 2009, 36 patients (mean age 43.6 years, range 17–68 years) with craniocervical schwannom...
IMPROVING WATER RESISTANCE OF WHEAT STRAW-BASED MEDIUM DENSITY FIBERBOARDS BONDED WITH AMINOPLASTIC AND PHENOLIC RESINS

A long standing problem in the manufacture of wheat-straw based composites with cost-effective formaldehyde-based resins is their poor water resistance as demonstrated by their large water thickness swell. In this study, wheat straw based medium density fiberboards were manufactured using 3 resin/wax systems: a melamine-urea-formalde-hyde resin with either low or high wax content, and a phenol-formal-dehyde resin with low wax content. The flexural properties, internal bond strength, and thickness swell of the resulting composites were evaluated and compared according to ASTM methods. The three MDF compos-ites passed the requirements for MDF in interior application, except for the MDF manufactured with the aminoplastic resin and low wax content that failed to provide acceptable thickness swell. Using the phenolic resin in combination with low wax content resulted in a higher grade MDF composite, grade 120, than with the aminoplastic and high wax content. This study demonstrates that wheat straw based MDF manu-factured with cost-effective aminoplastic and phenolic resins can have flexural properties, internal bond strength and thickness swell perfor-mance above the requirements from the American National Standards Institute.
Are state patterns of smoking different for different racial/ethnic groups? an application of multilevel analysis.

Objectives.Tobacco use research has often assumed “average” effects across place, race, and socioeconomic position. We explored and mapped the variation in smoking prevalence for racial/ethnic groups by gender and state after adjusting for demographic factors.Methods.We executed a cross-sectional, weighted, two-level multilevel multiple regression analysis (individuals in states), with current smoking as the outcome, using the 1995–1996 Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplement, for non-Hispanic (NH) whites, NH blacks, and Hispanics. We also calculated adjusted smoking prevalence, 95% confidence intervals, Spearman correlations, and state residual-based maps to examine state patterns.Results.We found different smoking patterns for each racial group. Black women's smoking rates were markedly lower than the national subgroup rate in six clustered states in the deep South. Smoking rates for whites were higher than the subgroup national rate in several Great Lakes states, Texas, Nevada, and North Carol...
The Effect On Wage Of Attending A US News And World Report Best College

A great deal of attention is paid to the annual release of the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. According to national surveys of college freshman, enhanced earning potential is a major motivator in their choosing to attend college and in their selecting which college to attend. Thus you would expect the U.S. News and World Report rankings to be highly correlated with those institutions whose students earn a wage premium. This paper uses the data set High School and Beyond to test the effect on wage of attending a college identified by U.S. News and World Report as a “best college.” I find no statistically significant relationship between attending a U.S. News and World Report “best college” and wage earned.
Gender, Cardiovascular Disease, and the Sexism of Obesity.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to kill more women than men annually in the United States [(1)][1], and although CVD death rates have declined in older women concomitant with the declines in older and young men, rates have actually increased in younger women [(2)][2]. The WISE (Women’s
Intracellular levels and distribution of Ca2+ in digitonin-permeabilized cells.

Digitonin and other saponins can be used to selectively permeabilize the plasma membrane of a wide variety of cells without significantly affecting the gross structure and function of Ca2+-sequestering organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. These characteristics have allowed digitonin to be used in the determination of the intracellular levels and distribution of Ca2+, as well as the measurement of Ca2+ fluxes by organelles “in situ”. Studies conducted with several different types of digitonin-permeabilized cells indicate that the endoplasmic reticulum functions as a high affinity and low-capacity intracellular Ca2+ buffer, whereas mitochondria operate as a relatively low affinity but high capacity Ca2+ buffering system. However, recent findings suggest that mitochondria have a comparable affinity for net Ca2+ uptake in the presence of physiological concentrations of polyamines. The use of permeabilized cells has also been important in the identification of the endoplasmic reticulum as a site at which the recently discovered second messenger inositol trisphosphate acts to bring about an increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. Thus, the selective permeabilization of cells with digitonin and its analogues has been a powerful yet simple tool in the study of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.
Dynamic mechanical properties of crystalline, linear polyethylene

Two sets of dynamic mechanical property data and some stress relaxation data for semicrystalline, linear polyethylene are treated by data reduction methods previously described. These data can be represented by a master plot of reduced modulus versus reduced frequency and two sets of temperature-dependent shift factors. The first of these factors reflects the change of viscoelastic relaxation times with temperature. The second represents a separable change of modulus with temperature which applies over the entire time or frequency range of the experiments. This change is larger and in the opposite direction to that found applicable in the behavior of noncrystalline plastics and rubbers. The two sets of dynamic data show the same frequency–temperature dependence which can be represented by an activation energy of 22 kcal./mole. Small differences in the modulus–temperature dependence are attributed to differences in molecular weight or annealing conditions. The stress relaxation data superposes to a curve in good agreement with the dynamic data but with a factor of 20 difference in time scale. This difference is attributed to the finite strains used in the stress relaxation measurements. Such strains might be expected to increase free volume in simple extension deformations and so accelerate the relaxation.
Gemination in English

An account of consonantal ‘twinning’ in English and other languages.THIS ESSAY concerns itself with gemination in English, but more specifically, it asks whether English has consonantal gemination (CG), as has been reported by some in the literature. Gemination is usually defined as a phonetic doubling (cf. Latin geminus ‘twin’); however, phonetic length (as opposed to a single or nongeminated segment) is a more accurate designation (see Matthews 1997:141, who cites Italian atto [at[Length mark]o] ‘act’, making reference only to ‘doubling’). It has long been known that English does not have contrastive CG as is recognized, say, from the phonemic difference between Classical and Modern Standard Arabic kasara (‘he broke’) and kassara (‘he smashed’) or darasa (‘he studied’) and darrasa (‘he taught’).
Analysis of moving supernumerary limbs of Xenopus laevis.

Abstract Behavioral, electrophysiological, and histological observations were made of adult Xenopus laevis with grafted supernumerary hindlimbs which were innervated by lumbar spinal cord segments. The supernumerary hindlimb moved in a coordinated manner in apparent perfect synchrony with the normal ipsilateral hindlimb. Frogs which had received a grafted limb at a younger tadpole stage (49 or 50) exhibited better homologous movements than did frogs which received a limb at an older stage (52 or 53). We investigated a pair of area-specific reflex responses evoked by natural mechanical stimulation of the limbs while recording activity in nerves supplying knee flexor and knee extensor muscles of the two limbs simultaneously. Appropriate, synchronous reflex responses were recorded in these homologous muscle nerves of the two limbs whether or not the knee moved. An important condition was that the frog had received its grafted limb before a critical stage (54). Some electrophysiological evidence was obtained suggesting that motor neurons do not branch to supply homologous muscles of the two limbs. Our data are consistent with the assumption of an underlying neuronal basis for the behaviorally observed homologous movements, but we can only speculate about the level of neural organization responsible for the coordination of the limbs. Histological studies confirmed an increase in the number of lateral motor column neurons on the experimental side in all cases (ranging from +3.7% to +28.1%). A significant increase in cell size (nuclear cross-sectional area) was shown in three cases. The age of the host tadpole when it receives its grafted supernumerary limb may determine the degree of the two types of cellular responses observed (increase in cell number vs. increase in cell size).
A DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF US EXPORT WHEAT PRICING AND MARKET SHARES

The economics of a higher loan rate to support US wheat prices is analysed. Utilising optimal control theory, a dynamic wheat trade model is developed. The basic premise underlying the model is that the United States finds itself having transient monopoly power in the wheat market. An expression for the optimal pricing policy which maximises the present value of expected profits over the indefinite future is derived. Results from both the theoretical and empirical models demonstrate that the US wheat pricing strategy depends on its costs relative to competitors’ costs, the discount rate and the competitors’ response function. The main policy implication of the analysis is for the dominant wheat exporting country constantly to seek to lower costs relative to competitors and to maintain a price exceeding unit cost without encouraging competitors’ expansion. The United States is the dominant supplier of wheat to the world marketplace. Over the past 20 years, US exports have made up about 40 per cent of the world wheat trade while the nearest competitor, Canada, has supplied less than 20 per cent of the market. The US government’s farm program, with high support and release prices for wheat, is designed to raise farm incomes through raising prices. However, this pricing policy also has an impact on competitors in the international market. The US loan rates have acted as a floor for world wheat prices (Dunmore 1985; Wilson 1986) and as a result there has been increasing competition from the European Community, Canada, Australia and Argentina. The US share of world wheat trade has been falling since the late 1970s. Consequently, US stocks of wheat have grown in recent years while those of the competitors have remained low (Mitchell and Duncan 1987). These trends may have been the outcome of quasi-optimal pricing. Partly in response to the declining market share, a major provision of the 1985 farm bill was a lowering of the loan rate. As discussed by Gardner (1 985), an alternative option would involve using a higher loan rate and production controls to support prices. In this paper, the economics of this alternative are analysed. The dominant position of the United States suggests the short-run response of rival competitors to price signals may be slow. The United States could, therefore, raise the loan rate higher than its present level and increase profits even though some market share would be eroded. However, these short-run profits *The authors are grateful to an anonymous referee and the Editors for their helpful comments and suggestions.
Elastofibroma. Report of a case with special histochemical and electron-microscopic studies.

In elastofibroma, electron-microscopic and histochemical techniques demonstrated that four components may be found in such tissue: elastinophilic granular aggregates, reticulin fibers, a homogeneous matrix, and, on occasion, normal elastic fibers. Lipid was observed in the elastinophilic material, and polysaccharide was found in the matrix. The material is found in and around the few fibroblasts and elastic fibers, as well as dispersed throughout the fibrous mass. It is proposed that this is a true elastodysplasia arising from the increased production of elastic matrix material.
Prospective monetary policy and the empirical relation between money and output

Abstract This note clarifies the empirical implications of non-neutral, prospective monetary policy. The basic message is that prospective monetary policy, even if empirically important, is not an explanation for the positive correlations between observed money growth and output found in the data.
Antithrombotic therapy in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: focus on antiplatelet agents

Pharmacologic advances in the use of antithrombotic agents have paralleled the technologic innovations used in patients undergoing coronary interventions. The recognition of the central role of platelets in the development of complications related to coronary interventions led to the investigation and subsequent routine use of several antiplatelet agents as adjuvants to coronary intervention. Thus, the oral agents aspirin and either ticlopidine or clopidogrel are routinely administered after coronary stenting. Intravenous glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists have been extensively studied and reduce adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing coronary interventions, especially those receiving intracoronary stents. Despite the growing use of GP IIb/IIIa antagonists, much information remains unknown as to the proper dosing and the effects these agents have on other elements of the hemostatic and vascular systems.
The Incense Trees of the Land of Emeralds: The Exotic Material Culture of Kāmaśāstra

One of the many topics discussed in texts of kāmaśāstra is the ideal material environment for the pursuit of sensory pleasures. Later medieval texts describing the pursuit of pleasure and the typical lifestyle of the cultivated urban man focus in increasing detail on the informed consumption of certain luxury commodities, such as perfumes and gemstones. This pleasure-expertise was increasingly valued, such that by the twelfth century one encyclopedia of royal life, the Mānasollāsa, was effectively a vast textual monument to the masterful king’s capacity to enjoy the world. Not only were luxury raw materials subject to a discourse of connoisseurship, but in many cases the exotic nature of these materials was equally celebrated. This preoccupation with the exotic nature of luxury materials displays wide-ranging power at the center of consumption, whilst betraying a truly cosmopolitan fascination with remote, possibly unconquered lands of plenty, whose foreign and beautiful products were essential to the pursuit of erudite pleasures in temple and court alike.
Time required for screening for visual impairment in primary care: a randomized comparison of 3 common visual tests.

Objective: To determine the time required for adults older than 50 years to complete 1 of 3 vision impairment assessment tools in a family medicine residency office. Methods: Patients older than 50 years with no known cognitive or physical deficits that impaired ability to follow directions or complete screening tasks were invited to participate in this trial. Participants were randomized to complete 1 of 3 screening modalities, namely, the Functional Vision Screening Questionnaire (questionnaire), mixed contrast sensitivity reading card (card), or Snellen eye chart (Snellen). The time required to complete the vision assessment was obtained and recorded. Results: Sixty-nine patients, with a mean age of 63 years (SD, 10), participated in the study. The card required 94 less seconds to administer than did the questionnaire (95% confidence interval, 61.24 to 127.11 seconds). Similarly, the card required 67 less seconds to administer than did the Snellen (95% confidence interval, 34.20 to 100.06 seconds). No significant difference existed between time to administer the questionnaire and the Snellen (mean difference, 27 seconds; 95% confidence interval, -5.89 to 59.97 seconds). Conclusions: Primary care-based vision screening may detect patients with impairment who would otherwise not have vision assessment. However, a time-intensive screen will not likely be successfully implemented in a primary care office. The card required statistically significantly less time to administer than did the questionnaire or Snellen. With all modalities requiring at least 1 minute, perhaps none are suitable for use for universal, primary care-based vision screening programs. Further work is needed to characterize the reliability and ease of use of each tool. Language: en
Development and experimental characterization of a fuel cell powered aircraft

Abstract This paper describes the characteristics and performance of a fuel cell powered unmanned aircraft. The aircraft is novel as it is the largest compressed hydrogen fuel cell powered airplane built to date and is currently the only fuel cell aircraft whose design and test results are in the public domain. The aircraft features a 500 W polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with full balance of plant and compressed hydrogen storage incorporated into a custom airframe. Details regarding the design requirements, implementation and control of the aircraft are presented for each major aircraft system. The performances of the aircraft and powerplant are analyzed using data from flights and laboratory tests. The efficiency and component power consumption of the fuel cell propulsion system are measured at a variety of flight conditions. The performance of the aircraft powerplant is compared to other 0.5–1 kW-scale fuel cell powerplants in the literature and means of performance improvement for this aircraft are proposed. This work represents one of the first studies of fuel cell powered aircraft to result in a demonstration aircraft. As such, the results of this study are of practical interest to fuel cell powerplant and aircraft designers.
Ethics and Community Involvement in Syntheses Concerning American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian Health: A Systematic Review.

Background: The objective of this research was to review reporting of ethical concerns and community involvement in peer-reviewed systematic reviews or meta-analyses concerning American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) health. Methods: Text words and indexed vocabulary terms were used to query PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the Native Health Database for systematic reviews or meta-analyses concerning AI/AN/NH health published in peer-reviewed journals, followed by a search through reference lists. Each article was abstracted by two independent reviewers; results were discussed until consensus was reached. Results: We identified 107 papers published from 1986 through 2012 that were primarily about AI/AN/NH health or presented findings separately for AI/AN/NH communities. Two reported seeking indigenous reviewer feedback; none reported seeking input from tribes and communities. Approximately 7% reported on institutional review board (IRB) approval of included studies, 5% reported ...
Spatio-temporal properties of elementary perception: an investigation of parallel, serial, and coactive theories

Abstract A mathematical theory and related experimental methodology are developed that permit strong, converging tests of parallel versus serial versus channel summation processing and of exhaustive versus self-terminating processing. An experimental design is used for two studies, in which the presence or absence of a target in each of two positions, is factorially combined with two levels of brightness (a version of the double factorial paradigm). When both targets are present (redundant target condition) the two levels of brightness permit factorial technology to determine mental architecture and stopping rules. Comparison of the single versus double target conditions allows capacity analyses that strongly reinforce the double target factorial phase of the investigation. The results provide decisive support for parallel channels with either a self-terminating stopping rule or a coactive summation of information. General serial models and any variety of exhaustive processing were conclusively falsified.
An impurity of malathion alters the morphology of rat lung bronchiolar epithelium

Oral administration of O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS), an impurity in technical malathion, caused morphological changes in the bronchiolar epithelium of rat lungs. OOS-treated rat lungs had fewer but larger Clara (non-ciliated) cells than lungs from control rats given either corn oil or purified malathion. Moreover, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in bronchopulmonary lavage fluid was significantly higher in OOS than in control rats. We interpret these data to mean that OOS, and/or its metabolite(s) causes a lesion in the lung. Because of the widespread agricultural use of technical malathion, future work should address the significance of our findings and the possible toxic effect of OOS on lung tissue.
Physical chemistry: Oil on troubled waters

The nature of the boundary between water and oil is crucial to many nanometre-scale assembly processes, including protein folding. But until now, what the interface really looks like remained in dispute.
Determination of molecular structure at surfaces using angle-resolved electron- and photon-stimulated desorption

We review recent data and theoretical models related to the use of angleresolved electron-and photon-stimulated desorption in determining the structures of molecules at surfaces. Examples include a variety of structural assignments based on ESDIAD (electron-stimulated desorption ion angular distributions), the observation of short-range local ordering effects induced in adsorbed molecules by surface impurities, the influence of electron-beam damage on surface structure, and a direct comparison of ESD and PSD ion yields for the same system.
A Stochastic Simulation of the Failure Process and Ultimate Strength of Blended Continuous Yarns

The mechanics of the failure process and ultimate strength of a twisted yarn structure are studied using a newly proposed stochastic model of the failure process. The impor tance of the twist reinf...
Spherical model of acceptor-associated bound magnetic polarons.

A spherical model of the bound magnetic polaron in wide-gap semimagnetic semiconductors is described. The analysis includes effects due to the saturation of the spin-correlation function between the carrier and the magnetic ions. Magnetic fluctuations enter in a natural way: The assumption that the magnetic entropy follows the classical Gaussian form is not used.
Myths that never die

(1988). Myths that never die. International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 27-58.
The Membrane Properties of Condensing Strings

Abstract It is pointed out that near a phase transition the string action requires an extra term to control the fluctuations and it is shown that the associated coupling constant, which is dimensionless, is asymptotically free in the ultraviolet. Attention is drawn to previous studies of the same term in biophysical membranes and microemulsions.
Letter by Forfia and Borlaug Regarding Article, “Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Target of Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition in a 1-Year Study”

To the Editor: We greatly enjoyed the elegant and informative study from Guazzi et al,1 identifying dramatic improvements in cardiopulmonary function among patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF) after treatment with the phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor sildenafil. These results are very exciting, particularly in the absence of established treatments for HFpEF, and they provide key preliminary evidence supporting the use of phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor compounds in this context. However, the characteristics of the subjects enrolled in this study are not typical of garden variety HFpEF or even PH-HFpEF patients, raising questions regarding the broad applicability of these data. In the study of Guazzi and colleagues, the mean central venous pressure (CVP) was …
Preventing Aspiration in the Nursing Home: The Role of Biofilm and Data from the ICU

Two aspiration syndromes have been identified: Aspiration pneumonia is infectious caused by micro-aspiration of oral bacteria secondary to neurogenic dysphagia or sedation. Infectious bacteria may also be aspirated from the stomach. Aspiration pneumonitis classically follows large bolus aspiration of food, acid, or digestive enzymes and is initially noninfectious. Large bolus gastric aspiration events may have an acute/dramatic onset. This article discusses (1) prevention of recurrent aspiration events caused by 2 common motility disorders: neurogenic dysphagia and gastro esophageal reflux; (2) mechanical source control (debridement/drainage) of sites that may harbor large collections of bacteria protected from antibiotics in biofilm including dental plaque, coated tongue, and chronic sinusitis.
Unipolar depression in adolescents: clinical outcome in adulthood.

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined the longitudinal clinical course and adult sequelae of adolescent unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) using a controlled longitudinal design. Method Subjects were 28 adolescents (15.4 ± 1.3 years) with systematically diagnosed unipolar MOD and 35 group-matched control subjects who participated in a crosssectional electroencephalogram sleep and neuroendocrine study. Using standardized instruments, interviewers who were blind to subjects' initial diagnoses conducted follow-up clinical assessments 7.0 ± 0.5 years later in 94% of the original cohort. Results The depressed group showed high rates of recurrence of MDD episodes during the interval period (69%). They also had elevated rates of new-onset bipolar disorder (19%). Twenty-three percent of subjects with an initial diagnosis of MDD had no additional depressive episodes after the index assessment. The rate of new onset of depression in the controls was 21%. Low socioeconomic status predicted recurrence of depressive episodes in the MDD group. MDD subjects with recurrence(s) and controls with new onset of depression during the follow-up period had significant psychosocial morbidity, as evidenced by disruption in interpersonal relationships and dissatisfaction with life and decrease in global functioning, compared with both MDD subjects with no further episodes and control subjects who had never been psychiatrically ill. These psychosocial deficits persisted after remission from depressive episode(s). Conclusions Adolescent unipolar MDD predicts continued risk for recurrences with persistence of depressive episodes and psychosocial morbidity into adulthood. A sizable minority, however, have sustained periods of remission associated with good social adjustment.
Cavity Induced Transparency

We consider a two-level atom inside a cavity. We find that the absorption spectrum of the atom may exhibit a hole at line center for a weak probe. This hole appears when the cavity linewidth is small compared to the atom-field coupling strength, which is itself smaller than the atom's free space linewidth. In the weak-field limit, this system is analogous to a three-level atom, where similar absorption holes at line center occur due to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). In EIT, a strong field is required to strongly mix the upper two levels, whereas in the system we consider, it is the atom-field coupling strength that plays this role. An alternate explanation in terms of interference between the cavity field and atomic polarization is given. We also examine the driven cavity case.
An acoustical application of the logarithmic transformation to a normally distributed random variable

The logarithmic transformation, Y=a \log X , of the normally distributed random variable X is discussed in this paper. Particular attention is focused on the field of acoustical noise measurements. The probability density function, mean value, and standard deviation of Y are derived, and a graphical method for estimating its 95th and 97.72nd percentiles is presented.
(Happily) Living in Sin: Media and Politics in Romania

Politics and media in Romania have more than just a symbiotic relationship, one in which they rely on each other. The elites that lead these two institutions share common values, beliefs, and attitudes, which translate into practices and behaviors. The end result is a corruptible, corrupt and corrupting relationship, between two corruptible, corrupt and corrupting institutions, that is detrimental to democracy in general, to the watchdog role of the media, and to their professionalization.
Derepression of HPRT locus on inactive X chromosome of human lymphoblastoid cell line.

Human XX lymphoblastoid cells with a deletion in the HPRT locus on the active X were exposed to HPRT clone pHPT32. HPRT+ isolates GPT3 and GPT5 lacked pHPT32 DNA, suggesting that their HPRT+ phenotype resulted from expression of a cellular gene. GPT3 mutated to thioguanine resistance at least 100 times more frequently than cells in which the expressed HPRT locus was on the active X. Most GPT3- derived HPRT}- had lost one entire X chromosome, indicating that the HPRT+ phenotype of GPT3 resulted from derepression of the HPRT locus on its inactive X. Virtually unchanged G6PD and PGK activities and the presence of a late-replicating X in GPT3 suggest that derepression of the inactive X was not general. Eleven of the GPT3-derived mutants had a tiny centric remnant that may result from a frequently operative mechanism of X chromosome loss. The detection of partial or complete loss of an X by direct selection presents unusual opportunities for genotoxicity detection with human cells.
Development and Validation of a Novel Assay to Identify Radiosensitizers that Target Nucleophosmin 1

A series of indole analogs that are synthesized using the scaffold of a potent radiosensitizer, YTR107, were tested for their ability to alter the solubility of phosphorylated nucleophosmin 1 (pNPM1). NPM1 is critical for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. In response to formation of DNA DSBs, phosphorylated T199 NPM1 binds to ubiquitinated chromatin, in a RNF8/RNF168-dependent manner, forming irradiation-induced foci (IRIF) that promote repair of DNA DSBs. A Western blot assay was developed using lead molecule, YTR107, for the purpose of screening newly synthesized molecules that target pNPM1 in irradiated cells. A colony formation assay was used to demonstrate the radiosensitization properties of the compounds. Compounds that enhanced the extractability of pNPM1 upon radiation treatment possessed radiosensitization properties.
Long-term recovery of PCB-contaminated sediments at the Lake Hartwell superfund site: PCB dechlorination. 1. End-member characterization.

Under anaerobic conditions, such as those typically found in buried sediments, the primary metabolic pathway for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is reductive dechlorination in which chlorine removal and substitution with hydrogen by bacteria result in a reduced organic compound with fewer chlorines. Vertical sediment cores were collected from Lake Hartwell (Pickens County, SC) and analyzed in 5-cm intervals for 107 PCB congeners in a total of more than 280 samples from 18 sediment cores and surface samples. This paper reports on extensive PCB dechlorination measured in Lake Hartwell sediments and the characterization of dechlorination end-member (EM) patterns using chemical forensic methods. PCB congener fingerprinting and a multivariate receptor modeling method, polytopic vector analysis (PVA), were used for identification and characterization of weathered and dechlorinated PCB congener patterns. Dechlorination resulted in a substantial shift in buried sediments from tetra- through decachlorobiphenyl co...
A vibrational assignment for methyl formate and methyl acetate

Abstract The infrared spectra of methyl formate and methyl acetate in the vapor phase and as solutions in CS 2 and CCl 4 have been obtained from 3–34 μ. Assignments of the fundamental vibrational frequencies have been made for both molecules with the exception of the type a ″ torsional frequencies. The band contours observed in the spectrum of methyl formate vapor are consistent with the molecule having the cis -configuration and the spectra of both methyl formate and methyl acetate could be interpreted satisfactorily on the basis of this one isomer. No evidence was obtained for the presence of the trans isomer.
Detection of fading overlapping multipath components

Overlapping multipath propagation is one of the main sources of mobile-positioning errors, especially in fast channel fading situations. In this paper we present a technique for detecting the existence of overlapping fading multipath components. Such information is vital for accurate resolving of overlapping multipath components as well as avoiding unnecessary computations and errors in single-path propagation cases. The proposed algorithm exploits the property that fading multipath components fade independently. An analysis of the proposed technique is performed to validate its functionality and to select the algorithm parameters. The paper also presents simulation results that show a high ability of the proposed technique to detect overlapping multipath components along with its impact on the accuracy of multipath resolving techniques.
Microfabrication of a wall shear stress sensor using side-implanted piezoresistive tethers

This paper presents the microfabrication process of a MEMS piezoresistive shear stress sensor for direct, quantitative measurement of time-resolved, fluctuating wall shear stress. The sensor structure integrates shadow side-implanted diffused resistors into the sensor tethers for detecting in-plane deflection. Temperature compensation is achieved by integrating a fixed, dummy Wheatstone bridge adjacent to the active shear stress sensor. The device is fabricated from an SOI wafer using an 8-mask process. A phosphorus blanket implantation forms an n-well to ensure P/N junction isolation. Boron implantation forms a heavily doped Ohmic contact. The tethers and floating element are defined by patterning PECVD oxide via RIE and DRIE. The Si is etched vertically to 8 mm via DRIE to form the trench for the sidewall implant. The scallops formed on the sidewalls during DRIE are smoothed by hydrogen annealing. After a preamorphization implant, boron is implanted at an oblique angle of 54° to achieve a 5 mm shadow side-wall implantation. The structure is released from the backside using a combination of DRIE and RIE to etch the silicon, oxide, and nitride layers. Finally, the sensors are annealed in forming gas. Preliminary electrical testing indicates linear, junction-isolated resistors.
The theory of Kent; a histologic study of the normal atrioventricular communications of the human heart.

This is an anatomic study of an alternate theory of conduction, first advanced by Kent, that conduction from atria to ventricles is by way of numerous muscular communications, rather than exclusively through the bundle of His. The entire atrioventricular rings of 22 fetal and newborn hearts, in addition to the A-V node, bundle and bundle branches in five adult hearts, were serially sectioned. No muscular communications outside the conduction system were found. Communications between the A-V node, bundle and left bundle branch with the ventricular musculature were frequently found in the fetus, and less commonly in the adult.
Comparisons of patties using mixtures of ground meat from beef, pork and chevaline☆

Sensory panels were used to evaluate five different ground meat products. The control product was ground beef and this was compared with products consisting of 70% beef and 30% pork; 50% beef, 30% pork, and 20% chevaline; 40% beef, 30% pork, and 30% chevaline; and 30% beef, 30% pork, and 40% chevaline. Analysis of sensory panel data revealed no significant difference (P < 0·05) in juiciness, flavor intensity, or flavor desirability. Raw and cooked samples of each of the five products were analyzed for proximate composition and were found to be comparable in nutritive value. There were small but non-significant differences in amino acid composition.
Opportunities and challenges for treating rare-earth elements

Rare-earth elements (REEs) have become an important group of metals used in various high-tech industries. In this paper, the authors have first reviewed and discussed various mineral-processing techniques used in the processing of these REE-containing ores. Because the majority of minerals from which REEs are extracted are monazite, bastnasite, and xenotime, the discussion has focused around the ores containing these three minerals. Following this discussion, various leaching technologies have been reviewed and problems associated with leaching technologies have been assessed again in the context of the afore-mentioned three minerals. The leaching technologies discussed here include leaching using various acids, and also leaching after acidic and alkaline roasting of the ores. Because of chemical similarities of these REEs, it is very difficult to separate the individual elements from each other. Various technologies used in this regard including chemical precipitation, ion exchange, and solvent extractio...
CHARACTERISTIC-VIEW MODELING OF CURVED-SURFACE SOLIDS

Given a 3-D object (solid), it is possible to divide the exterior viewing space of the solid into maximally connected subspaces of vantage points such that the perspective views of the solid from all vantage points within a subspace have identical labeled line-junction graphs. We refer to such subspaces as the characteristic-view domains (CVDs) of the solid, and to a representative perspective view from within a domain, as a characteristic view (CV). The concept suggests a scheme for modeling 3-D objects in which the infinite number of possible views of a given solid are represented by a finite set of characteristic views (together with their respective projection-defining parameters). The concept was introduced more than 15 years ago as a modeling scheme to facilitate real-time recognition of 3-D objects. However, the difficulty of determining the CVs hindered its application. This article describes a technique for computing the characteristic views of general solids bounded by quadric surfaces (including polyhedra as a special case), and suggests how the technique can be used for 3-D object recognition.
Mechanical Gating Properties of Mscl in Mammalian Cells

Mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) is a nonselective channel found in the plasma membrane of E. coli. It serves as an emergency release valve that protects cells from lysis by allowing the efflux of osmolytes under acute osmotic downshock. Studies of the MscL in yeast models and reconstituted liposomes have suggested that the channel can directly sense biophysical changes in its membrane environment. In particular, the channel is found to be gated by membrane tension on the order of 7-13 dynes·cm−2 and can have lower activation threshold with increased hydrophobic mismatch between the channel and lipid bilayer. Although MscL is the best characterized mechanosensitive channel, its mechanical gating and potential modes of activation when expressed in mammalian cells have not been fully investigated. To better understand the channel gating properties in mammalian cells, we employed different methods of mechanical stress application to human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells expressing MscL WT and G22S, a mutant MscL with lower activation threshold. RPE cells were made to express MscL WT and G22S via infection of tetracycline regulated adenovirus vectors. We found that MscL WT and G22S were activated to allow influx of a fluorescent dye that increased with increasing osmotic downshock. Acoustic tweezing, a method akin to magnetic tweezing that applies acoustic pressure to displace microbubbles, was used to exert mechanical stress to the cell membrane. Microbubbles were functionalized to attach either to integrins or to transmembrane transferrin receptors. We found that MscL can be activated and the threshold of activation depends on the coupling of force transduction. Our results suggest that MscL retains its mechanical gating in mammalian cells and support the potential for MscL to be utilized as a mechanosensor in mammalian cells.