cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploiting mechanical flexure to design tunable periodic structures

We present novel approaches for designing periodic structures with tunable frequency responses. The proposed techniques exploit mechanical deformations and do not rely on using any electronically tunable devices to achieve tunability. Overlapping, stretching, and flexure are the three main mechanical means of tuning studied in this work. All of these techniques can be used to tune the capacitance and/or inductance of suitably-designed sub-wavelength periodic structures. The concepts introduced in this work are experimentally demonstrated by designing and fabricating a mechanically-tunable miniaturized-element frequency selective surface (MEFSS). The MEFSS is fabricated on an accordion-like substrate that can be contracted or stretched to change its frequency of operation. The response and tuning properties of this structure are experimentally characterized using a free-space measurement system. Experimental demonstrations confirm the viability of using mechanical flexure to tune the responses of such sub-wavelength periodic structures.
The Digital Darkroom, Part 1: Digital Technology in Plastic Surgery

We present here, in complete form, The Digital Darkroom , a 3-part series that covers (1) equipment for the digital darkroom, (2) the basics of digital photography, and (3) digital presentations in plastic surgery. Part 1 examines the uses and advantages of this new technology, the basic principles and components necessary to set up and operate a digital darkroom, and some basic terminology.
Long-Term Solar Variability: Evolutionary Time Scales

Abstract : Galileo, who played a central role in the modern discovery of sunspots, may have wondered whether the Sun varies. Certainly, his 17th century contemporaries did. The Sun itself all but answered this question a few decades later when it nearly stopped forming sunspots as it entered what is now known as the Maunder Minimum. Herschel's speculation that the price of wheat might be related to the number of sunspots indicates that the possibility of solar variability was firmly established in the scientific thought of the late 18th century (Eddy, 1983). In the mid-19th century, the approximately 11-year variation in sunspot number was recognized, apparently first by Schwabe.
Dynamics of CO2 adsorption on sodium oxide promoted alumina in a packed-bed reactor

CO2 adsorption in packed-bed reactors has potential applications in flue gas CO2 capture and adsorption enhanced reaction processes. This work focuses on CO2 adsorption dynamics on sodium oxide promoted alumina in a packed-bed reactor. A comprehensive model is developed to describe the coupled transport phenomena and is solved using orthogonal collocation on finite elements. The model predicted breakthrough curve matches very well with experimental data obtained from a pilot-scale packed-bed reactor. Several dimensionless parameters are also derived to explain the shape of the breakthrough curve.
Fuel loading prediction models developed from aerial photographs of the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains of New Mexico, USA

Fuel load prediction equations that made use of aerial photographs were developed for Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) and Pinyon–Juniper (Pinus edulis Engelm.)–(Juniperus monosperma Engelm.) cover types from one-time measurements made in the Santa Fe watershed (SFWS) located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, and at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) located in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. The results of the watershed data set were favorable and exhibited a high degree of relative accuracy. The results from the LANL data set did not share the same degree of accuracy, but rather exhibited a high degree of error. Use of these or similar prediction equations may be limited to certain regions and community types that exhibit similar regional characteristics such as terrain, soil, and weather conditions. Applied use of the prediction equations required less time than traditional fuel sampling performed onsite, but suffered from a loss of accuracy. It is strongly suggested that additional study of this method be undertaken to generate more accurate and reliable equations. Hopefully, more accurate equations may augment existing fuel sampling techniques and be put to practical use for fire planning purposes.
Stable crack growth under mixed-mode conditions

Abstract T he problem of a plane strain crack growing quasi-statically in an elastoplastic solid under mixed-mode conditions is studied. Two possibilities are considered: interfacial crack growth, corresponding to the case where the phases on either side of the crack plane arc dissimilar, but tougher than the interface; and asymmetric crack growth in a homogeneous solid, corresponding to the case where the phases are identical. but the direction of crack propagation is determined by a weak surface in the material. The constitutive behavior of the two phases is characterized by the J 2 -flow theory of plasticity with linear hardening, but with generally distinct elastic and plastic properties. The goal is to characterize the asymptotic near-tip stress and deformation fields of the problem. To this end, a variable-separable form is assumed for the most singular term in an asymptotic expansion of the solution, and the associated eigenvalue problem is solved. The strength of the singularity in the radial distance from the crack tip serves as the eigenvalue, and the angular variations of the fields pose as the corresponding eigenfunctions. It is found that within this class of solutions only two distinct solutions are possible in general. These two solutions possess slightly different singularity strengths, and it is found that the angular variations of the corresponding stress and deformation fields are uniquely determined up to arbitrary amplitude factors. Thus, the “mixity” parameter (measuring the relative proportions of the shear and tensile stresses straight ahead of the crack) associated with these two asymptotic near-tip solutions can only take in general one of two discrete values. These mixity values normally correspond to either a tensile-like mode with dominating tensile stresses in the line ahead of the crack, or a shear-like mode with the opposite behavior. A direct implication of this result is that the effect of the applied remote boundary conditions can only be sensed at the tip of the crack through the amplitude of the (otherwise determinate) asymptotic fields. This result in turn suggests a ductile mechanism for explaining the dependence of the toughness of a nominally brittle interface on the phase angle of the applied loading during crack growth. The asymptotic predictions are compared with numerical full-field results for the problem of crack growth along a brittle-ductile interface, under small-scale yielding and mixed-mode conditions. Novel physical and mathematical arguments arc provided to help elucidate the surprising results.
Effect of a two-year public education campaign on reducing response time of patients with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Earlier application of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) improves efficacy. 1–5 For maximal benefit, patients must recognize cardiac symptoms and seek care promptly. To determine whether a public education program would improve the public's ability to recognize symptoms of AMI and seek prompt medical attention, thereby reducing delay between onset of symptoms and hospital presentation, we evaluated emergency department records before and after a public education campaign.
Boundary Interpolation by Finite Blaschke Products

Given 2n distinct points z1, z′1, z2, z′2, ..., zn, z′n (in this order) on the unit circle, and n points w1, ..., wn on the unit circle, we show how to construct a Blaschke product B of degree n such that B(zj) = wj for all j and, in addition, B(z′j) = B(z′k) for all j and k. Modifying this example yields a Blaschke product of degree n - 1 that interpolates the zj's to the wj's. We present two methods for constructing our Blaschke products: one reminiscent of Lagrange's interpolation method and the second reminiscent of Newton's method. We show that locating the zeros of our Blaschke product is related to another fascinating problem in complex analysis: the Sendov Conjecture. We use this fact to obtain estimates on the location of the zeros of the Blaschke product.
Kinetic fractionation of stable nitrogen isotopes during amino acid transamination

Abstract This study evaluates a kinetic isotope effect involving 15N, during the transamination reactions catalyzed by glutamic oxalacetic transaminase. During the transfer of amino nitrogen from glutamic acid to oxaloacetate to form aspartic acid, 14NH2 reacted 1.0083 times faster than 14NH2. In the reverse reaction transferring NH2 from aspartic acid to α-ketoglutarate, 14NH2 was incorporated 1.0017 times faster than 15NH2. Knowledge of the magnitude and sign of these isotope effects will be useful in the interpretation of the distribution of 15N in biological and geochemical systems.
Exploratory data analysis: A comparison of statistical methods with artificial neural networks

Abstract Knowledge acquisition is perceived as a major bottleneck in the deployment of expert systems. This problem is more severe in knowledge- based control systems because the knowledge is often difficult to extract and needs to be constantly updated to reflect changing processing conditions. This article considers the problem of extracting processing knowledge directly from historical plant operational data. First we consider the features of the problem. The applicability of machine learning algorithms is considered. Quadratic regression, induction and artificial neural network modeling are applied to a process selected from composite manufacturing. The results show that, while neural networks are a promising new approach, there is a need to focus attention on the preprocessing of data to cope with data reduction and process nonlinearity. Methods based on statistical analysis will play an important role in this preprocessing.
Manufacturing virtual enterprises through the use of the National Industrial Information Infrastructure Protocols (NIIIP)

Manufacturing plays a central role in successfully competing in international markets. Improving a company's manufacturing capability and, consequently its posture in global markets, requires that the company respond more rapidly to market opportunities. The rate at which new product ideas mature to commodity status is increasing, resulting in a growing emphasis on time-to-market as a key competitive differentiator. Realizing these new efficiencies in product development requires that organizations interconnect, software systems interoperate, and individuals interact. These challenges are being addressed by the National Industrial Information Infrastructure Protocols (NIIIP) Consortium in its work to define and develop virtual enterprise technology. This paper presents an overview of NIIIP technology and discusses a program deploying NIIIP technology to establish new standards for integrating manufacturing applications, focusing on manufacturing execution systems.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction by multilayered structures

The dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction in crystals is a theory of wave propagation in periodic structures and, as such, its application to the diffraction by artificial periodic multilayered structures should, in principle, be straightforward. In practice, this is not so; the conventional theory involves a number of approximations that may fail for multilayered structures. The central problem is that of calculating multiple scattering effects: those that occur within a single bi-layer and those that involve different bi-layers. A modified Darwin dynamical theory of diffraction is formulated, which, once the scattering from a single bi-layer is known, allows the calculation of the diffraction by the full multilayer to be performed exactly without any further approximations. In particular, many-beam effects are included in a very straightforward way. For the calculation of the transmission and reflection coefficients of the single diffuse bi-layer two alternatives are offered: either one uses an improved kinematical theory (including corrections for index of refraction, absorption and total reflection) which has the advantage of rather general applicability provided the bi-layer is not too thick, or, one adopts for the single interface the special Epstein profile which allows for full consideration of multiple scattering effects. We find that the scattering by a diffuse boundary differs from that of a sharp boundary by a factor which is not of the Debye-Waller form, that there is an increased sensitivity to diffuse structure close to weak (nearly forbidden) reflections, and that the analytical treatment described here offers a very appreciable increase in numerical efficiency over recursive methods of calculation.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Combined BS and MS Degree Program in Architectural Engineering

This paper describes the implementation of a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree program in architectural engineering at Kansas State University (KSU). The BS degree in architectural engineering at KSU is a five-year, 162-credit program. Students accepted into the combined BS/MS program have the potential to reduce their undergraduate program by 15 complementary and free electives and then complete a 30-credit MS program. Availability of the program has contributed to a significant increase in the number and quality of graduate students with the potential to make a significant contribution in the building industry.
Time-resolved radical species and temperature distributions in an Ar–O2–H2 mixture excited by a nanosecond pulse discharge

Abstract Time- and space-resolved temperature and absolute concentrations of OH and H are measured by UV Rayleigh scattering, Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF), and Two-Photon Absorption LIF (TALIF), respectively, in an Ar–O 2 –H 2 (80:20:2) mixture at P = 40 torr and T 0 = 300 K. The mixture is excited by a 50-pulse burst from a repetitive nanosecond pulse discharge (NSPD) in a point-to-point geometry, operated at 100 kHz pulse repetition rate and 5 Hz burst repetition rate. One-dimensional radial distributions of temperature and species concentrations across the discharge filament, during and after the burst, are obtained from Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence images of the laser beam. Both temperature and species concentration profiles are found to expand with time, with peak centerline values of T peak ≈ 1200 K, [H] peak ≈ 6.0 ⋅ 10 15 cm −3 , and [OH] peak ≈ 1.0 · 10 15 cm −3 . Secondary maxima in OH distributions are detected near the periphery of the filament after a few tens of discharge pulses. Experimental results are compared with predictions of a plasma chemical kinetics model. The model reproduces trends in temporal evolution of radial distributions of temperature, as well as OH and H concentrations. Based on a rate of species production analysis, the secondary peaks in OH radial distributions are found to be caused by radial diffusion of H atoms from the central region of the discharge filament, with subsequent formation of HO 2 and OH via reactions H + O 2 + M → HO 2 + M and H + HO 2 → OH + OH in the low-temperature peripheral regions. The results demonstrate significant potential of the present approach for quantitative, time- and spatially-resolved studies of coupled radical reaction kinetics and diffusion over a wide range of temperatures, pressures, and mixture compositions.
Processing of pimento waste to provide a pigment source for poultry feed

Fresh pimento pulp waste was dehydrated in a pilot Arnold dehydrator to give meals rich in the red xanthophylls, primarily capsanthin. Xanthophyll content of the dehydrated meal ranged from 896 to 1114 mg/kg. Dejuicing of the pimento pulp prior to dehydration decreased charring during drying as well as the quantity of water to be evaporated. Carotenoid losses during dehydration ranged from 17 to 22% for xanthophyll and 0 to 10% for carotene. Although the unprotected pimento carotenoids were rapidly lost during storage either alone or in admixture with dehydrated lucerne, addition of the antioxidant ethoxyquin proved to be very effective in preventing carotenoid storage losses. Levels of 1% pimento meal should be adequate in poultry diets when fed in combination with lucerne meal.
Predictors of breast asymmetry after breast-conserving operation for breast cancer.

Background Although breast-conserving surgery is the standard of care for early-stage breast cancer, many women report breast asymmetry after this procedure. Risk factors for poor esthetic outcomes are not well understood. Study Design A self-administered survey was sent to patients who underwent lumpectomy (n = 898) at the University of Michigan Medical Center between January 2002 and May 2006 (n = 714, response rate=79.5%). Breast asymmetry was assessed using items from the Breast Cancer Treatment and Outcomes Survey. Responses were summed to generate a score, and linear regression was used to generate adjusted breast asymmetry scores by patient-related factors (age, body mass index [BMI], tumor size, and tumor position in the breast) and treatment factors (reexcision lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and postoperative seroma). Results Patient-related risk factors for breast asymmetry included younger age (asymmetry score: 18.7 versus 16.2, p=0.03), higher BMI (17.1 versus 19.2, p=0.007), and larger tumors (16.7 versus 19.1, p=0.01). Resection of superior medial tumors and inferior lateral tumors was also associated with substantially higher asymmetry. Treatment-related risk factors for asymmetry included reexcision lumpectomy (18.1 versus 16.9, p=0.013), postoperative seroma (19.3 versus 17.2, p=0.005), and radiation therapy (17.9 versus 15.0, p=0.008). Increasing breast asymmetry score was associated with a higher odds of desiring breast reconstruction (odds ratio=1.2, 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.30). Conclusions Both patient- and treatment-related factors place women at risk for poor esthetic outcomes after breast-conserving surgery. Oncoplastic and reconstructive options should be considered for those at a higher risk for poor esthetic outcomes at the time of consultation.
Quantification of arterial cerebral blood volume using multiphase‐balanced SSFP‐based ASL

A new technique is introduced in the present study for in vivo measurement of arterial cerebral blood volume (CBV) by combining arterial spin labeling (ASL) with a segmented multi-phase balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout sequence. This technique takes advantage of the phenomenon that the longitudinal magnetization of flowing blood is not or only marginally disturbed (besides T1 relaxation) by the bSSFP ±α pulse train. When the blood water exchanges into tissue, it becomes quickly saturated by the bSSFP pulse train due to 0 velocity and reduced T1, T2 relaxation times. Therefore, labeled blood water behaves like an intravascular contrast agent in multi-phase bSSFP scans, and can be used to quantify arterial CBV in a similar way as dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI. Both Bloch equation simulation and in vivo experiments were carried out to demonstrate the feasibility for quantifying CBV in arteries, arterioles and capillaries using two variants of the proposed method. Functional MRI of visual cortex stimulation was further performed using multi-phase bSSFP based ASL and compared with vascular-space occupancy (VASO) contrast. The proposed multi-phase bSSFP based ASL technique may allow separation of CBV of different vascular compartments for fMRI studies and clinical evaluation of the cerebral vasculature.
Velocity profiles in symmetrically branched tubes simulating the aortic bifurcation

Abstract The purpose of this study was to measure velocity profiles in a symmetrically branched tube with an area ratio (0.8) and angle of branching (70°) that were comparable to the bifurcation of the human descending aorta. Velocity profiles were measured in steady and pulsatile flow with a laser Doppler anemometer. In the branch near the vertex of the bifurcation the profiles were markedly skewed toward the inner wall during both steady and pulsatile flow. Points of inflection in the velocity profiles, where the profiles changed from convex to concave, occurred downstream from the vertex of the bifurcation. A region of transient flow reversal was found along the outer wall during minimal flow in the pulsatile cycle at mean Reynolds numbers below 1000. These observations are pertinent in understanding flow at bifurcations with a branch-to-trunk area ratio of less than one, as occurs at the aortic bifurcation.
A theoretical investigation on fullerene-like phosphorus clusters

Abstract Representative fullerene-like phosphorus P n clusters in the range of 14 ⩽ n ⩽ 60 are for the first time investigated with density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock (HF) methods. Total energies, structural properties, binding energies, and HOMO–LUMO gaps of several P n clusters are systematically calculated and discussed. Present results indicate that all the P n clusters found on local energy minima are unstable with respect to dissociation into P 4 molecules, with their stability decreasing almost monotonically with the cluster size in the range of 14 ⩽ n ⩽ 40. In agreement with density functional tight-binding (DFTB) results, P n clusters tend to behave differently from their C n and Si n equivalents as evinced by their decreased stabilities, pentagon-fusion patterns, and more expanded structures.
Acute plasmalemma permeability and protracted clearance of injured cells after controlled cortical impact in mice.

Cell death after traumatic brain injury (TBI) evolves over days to weeks. Despite advances in understanding biochemical mechanisms that contribute to posttraumatic brain cell death, the time course of cell injury, death, and removal remains incompletely characterized in experimental TBI models. In a mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model, plasmalemma permeability to propidium iodide (PI) was an early and persistent feature of posttraumatic cellular injury in cortex and hippocampus. In cortical and hippocampal brain regions known to be vulnerable to traumatic cell death, the number of PI + cells peaked early after CCI, and increased with increasing injury severity in hippocampus but not cortex (P < 0.05). Propidium iodide labeling correlated strongly with hematoxylin and eosin staining in injured cells (r = 0.99, P < 0.001), suggesting that plasmalemma damage portends fatal cellular injury. Using PI pulse labeling to identify and follow the fate of a cohort of injured cells, we found that many PI + cells recovered plasmalemma integrity by 24 h and were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling negative, but nonetheless disappeared from injured brain by 7 days. Propidium iodide-positive cells in dentate gyrus showed significant ultrastructural damage, including plasmalemma and nuclear membrane damage or overt membrane loss, in all cells when examined by laser capture microdissection and transmission electron microscopy 1 to 24 h after CCI. The data suggest that plasmalemma damage is a fundamental marker of cellular injury after CCI; some injured cells might have an extended window for potential rescue by neuroprotective strategies.
Seismic Monitoring of the Alteration of Flow Paths In a Fracture By Mineral Deposition

SUMMARY Fluid flow and compressional wave propagation measurements were made on fractured samples prior to and after the chemical deposition of calcium carbonate. We observed that the initial void geometry (aperture and contact area) controlled the amount and spatial distribution of mineral deposition within the fracture. The most reliable seismic indicator that the fracture had been altered was a reduction in the variance of the frequency distribution of the received signal. The reduced variance indicates that the fracture is homogenized by mineral deposition in the fracture voids. Homogenization occurs because the mixing predominantly takes place in the dominant flow paths within the fracture, which tend to have lower fracture stiffness. The results indicate that acoustic imaging (as opposed to single measurement) techniques are required in this characterization because they provide statistical indicators that help monitor changes in fracture geometry caused by mineral deposition.
Terror and Taboo: The Follies, Fables and Face of Terrorism

Terror and Taboo: The Follies, Fables and Face of Terrorism. JOSEBA ZULAIKA and WILLIAM A. DOUGLASS. London and New York: Routledge, 1996 xii + 292 pp., notes, bibliography, Index.
Development of the Stretch Reflex in the Newborn: Reciprocal Excitation and Reflex Irradiation

The stretch reflex is a spinal cord pathway between a muscle's stretch receptors and its own motor units. This reflex is thought to play an important role in normal motor function, because it is unique as a monosynaptic pathway, and because its hyperactivity is a hallmark of many motor disorders. We previously reported a difference in the stretch reflexes in healthy newborn infants and nonambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy (CP): these reflexes are characterized by responses from the stretched muscle and from the reciprocal or antagonist muscle. We proposed the existence of a functional spinal cord pathway that connects both agonist and antagonist muscles at a single joint. We hypothesized that this "reciprocal excitation" is a functional pathway of all newborn infants, which during the normal course of development of motor skills in infants is eliminated. If the CNS is damaged at birth, as in CP, the pathway of reciprocal excitation endures and is reinforced. In the current study of newborns, we recorded stretch reflex responses from all major muscle groups of the lower limb. This "irradiation of reflexes" is a normal phenomenon of the newborn CNS. This pathway becomes suppressed during normal maturation and control of coordinated limb movements.
Die wirtschaftlichen Folgen des Wohlfahrtsstaats

Was sind die wirtschaftlichen und Beschaftigungsfolgen groserer Sozialversicherungsprogramme? Stimmt es, dass ein groserer Wohlfahrtsstaat Ressourcen von wirtschaftlichen Aktivitaten abzieht und die Investitionsentscheidungen von Unternehmen verzerrt? Ich untersuche theoretische und empirische Forschungsarbeiten zu den wirtschaftlichen Folgen des Wohlfahrtsstaats. Diese Sichtung zeigt, dass die Daten die Vorhersagen einer negativen Beziehung zwischen einem hoheren Niveau des Sozialschutzes und dem Wachstum nicht bestatigen. Sowohl Versicherungs-programme als auch andere Masnahmen, die die Investitionen in Humankapital oder die Gesamtproduktivitat der Arbeitnehmer steigern, erzeugen wichtige externe wirtschaftliche Effekte, die die potenziell verzerrenden Effekte hoherer Steuern ausgleichen. Empirische Untersuchungen konnen auch keine durchgangig negative Beziehung zwischen einem groseren Wohlfahrtsstaat und dem Beschaftigungs-niveau aufdecken. Die Folgen des Wohlfahrtsstaats auf die Beschaftigung werden von bestehenden Institutionen und Masnahmen — wie dem Grad der Zentralisierung des Systems fur Tarifverhandlungen — bestimmt, die einen Einfluss auf die Verteilung der Kosten hoherer Steuern zwischen Arbeitnehmern und Unternehmen haben. Infolgedessen sind die Beschaftigungsfolgen eines groseren Wohlfahrtsstaats nicht linear.
Purification and characterization of a papaya (Carica papaya L.) pectin methylesterase isolated from a commercial papain preparation.

Abstract We purified a Carica papaya pectin methylesterase (CpL-PME; EC 3.1.1.11) from a commercial papain preparation. This CpL-PME was separated from the abundant cysteine endopeptidases activities using sequential hydrophobic interaction and cation-exchange chromatographies and then purified by affinity chromatography using Sepharose-immobilized kiwi PME inhibitor protein to obtain a single electrophoretically homogeneous protein. The enzyme was purified 92-fold with 38% yield, providing a specific activity of 1200 U/mg. The molecular weight was determined to be 35,135 by MALDI-TOF-MS in linear mode. MALDI-TOF-MS peptide mass fingerprinting following trypsin digestion indicated CpL-PME represents a novel Carica PME isoform. The CpL-PME required salt for activity, and it showed a broad activity range (pH 6–9) and moderate thermostability (optimum ca. 70 °C). A calcium-insensitive methylated lime pectin treated with CpL-PME to reduce degree of methylesterification by 6% converted the substrate to high calcium sensitivity, indicating a processive mode of action. These properties support further research to apply CpL-PME to tailor pectin nanostructure.
Global Document Delivery, User Studies, and Service Evaluation: The Gateway Experience

This study examines user and service data from 2002-2006 at the East Asian Gateway Service for Chinese and Korean Academic Journal Publications (Gateway Service), the University of Pittsburgh. Descriptive statistical analysis reveals that the Gateway Service has been consistently playing the leading role in global document delivery service as well as in global resource sharing.
Production and judgment of plausible similes by young children

Abstract The abilityof 72 3- to 7-year-old children to produce appropriate similes, to evaluate a given simile's appropriateness, and to select a most appropriate simile from among three candidate similes was tested in a simple story-telling situation. Similes were based on basic physical features (color, texture, shape, temperature, loudness, and size). Stimulus similes were appropriate (e.g., “round as a ball”), flawed (e.g., round as a mouth), or vague (e.g., round as a toy). Minimum competence on the tasks appeared around Age 3 for the multiple choice task, Age 4 for the production task, and Ages 5 to 7 for the evaluation task. The children's performance was interpreted in terms of their ability to use simile informativeness and attribute salience in detecting anomalous language.
Business Investments in IT: Managing Integration Risks

Organizations invest hundreds of millions of dollars in IT infrastructure and applications to reduce costs and enhance productivity. Benefiting from such investments requires identifying and mitigating integration risks associated with IT-enabled business-process changes.
Approximate model matching for non-linear control systems

Approximate model matching refers to the problem of controlling a non-linear system so as to achieve a response resembling that of a desirable model. The paper presents a family of recursive output feedback controllers that can achieve approximate model matching in all cases where it is possible. The design of these controllers depends on the solution of a set of algebraic inequalities.
Low-risk corpus cancer: is lymphadenectomy or radiotherapy necessary?

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to find readily ascertainable intraoperative pathologic indicators that would discriminate a subgroup of early corpus cancers that would not require lymphadenectomy or adjuvant radiotherapy. Study Design: Between 1984 and 1993, a total of 328 patients with endometrioid corpus cancer, grade 1 or 2 tumor, myometrial invasion ≤50%, and no intraoperative evidence of macroscopic extrauterine spread were treated surgically. Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 187 cases (57%), and nodes were positive in nine cases (5%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered to 65 patients (20%). Median follow-up was 88 months. Results: The 5-year overall cancer-related and recurrence-free survivals were 97% and 96%, respectively. Primary tumor diameter and lymphatic or vascular invasion significantly affected longevity. No patient with tumor diameter ≤2 cm had positive lymph nodes or died of disease. Conclusion: Patients who have International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade 1 or 2 endometrioid corpus cancer with greatest surface dimension ≤2 cm, myometrial invasion ≤50%, and no intraoperative evidence of macroscopic disease can be treated optimally with hysterectomy only. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1506-19.)
Use of impedance threshold device in conjunction with our novel adhesive glove device for ACD-CPR does not result in additional chest decompression.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of using an adhesive glove device (AGD) to perform active compression–decompression CPR (AGD-CPR) in conjunction with an impedance threshold device (ITD) in a pediatric cardiac arrest model. Design Controlled, randomized animal study. Methods In this study, 18 piglets were anesthetized, ventilated, and continuously monitored. After 3 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, animals were randomized (6/group) to receive either standard CPR (S-CPR), active compression–decompression CPR via adhesive glove device (AGD-CPR) or AGD-CPR along with an ITD (AGD-CPR + ITD) for 2 min at 100–120 compressions/min. AGD is delivered using a fingerless leather glove with a Velcro patch on the palmer aspect and the counter Velcro patch adhered to the pig's chest. Data (mean ± SD) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with pair wise multiple comparisons to assess differences between groups. p -Value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results Both AGD-CPR and AGD-CPR + ITD groups produced lower intrathoracic pressure (IttP, mmHg) during decompression phase (−13.4 ± 6.7, p = 0.01 and −11.9 ± 6.5, p = 0.01, respectively) in comparison to S-CPR (−0.3 ± 4.2). Carotid blood flow (CBF, % of baseline mL/min) was higher in AGD-CPR and AGD-CPR + ITD (respectively 64.3 ± 47.3%, p = 0.03 and 67.5 ± 33.1%, p = 0.04) as compared with S-CPR (29.1 ± 12.5%). Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP, mmHg) was higher in AGD-CPR and AGD-CPR + ITD (respectively 19.7 ± 4.6, p = 0.04 and 25.6 ± 12.1, p = 0.02) when compared to S-CPR (9.6 ± 9.1). There was no statistically significant difference between AGD-CPR and AGD-CPR + ITD groups with reference to intra-thoracic pressure, carotid blood flow and coronary perfusion pressure. Conclusion Active compression decompression delivered by this simple and inexpensive adhesive glove device resulted in improved cerebral blood flow and coronary perfusion pressure. There was no statistically significant added effect of ITD use along with AGD-CPR on the decompression of the chest.
Correlations Between Quantum Mechanics and Continuum Mechanics for Ferroelectric Material Simulations

Higher order effects in ferroelectric materials are investigated by integrating electron density calculations using quantum mechanics into a homogenized, nonlinear continuum modeling framework. Electrostatic stresses based on the Hellmann-Feynman theorem are used to identify connections with the higher order quadrupole density. These higher order relations are integrated into a nonlinear mechanics free energy function to simulate electromechanical coupling. A specific example is investigated by conducting density functional theory (DFT) calculations on barium titanate and fitting the results to a thermodynamic potential function. Through the use of nonlinear geometric effects, electromechanical coupling is obtained without the use of electrostrictive or piezoelectric coupling coefficients.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Current Research on the Genetic Contributors to Schizophrenia

In this article, we review genetic research on schizophrenia to illustrate current strategies, findings, challenges, and future directions in the study of a relatively common, severe psychopathological phenotype. Family, twin, and adoption studies indicate that overall genetic effects on schizophrenia are both important and complex. Although efforts to identify specific causal genetic variants have utilized the full range of molecular and analytic techniques, results have been modest. Several putative common genetic variants of small effect appear to be implicated along with some extremely rare variants of potentially large effect. It seems clear that most of the genetic contributors to the liability to schizophrenia, as well as nongenetic ones, remain to be identified. New strategies give reason for optimism that our understanding of the causes of this tragic disorder will continue to increase.
A New Double‐Layered Launderable Bed Sheet for Patients with Urinary Incontinence

In a skilled nursing facility, 36 patients (chiefly elderly) with persistent urinary incontinence were the subjects of this study. In their management, the usual disposable pads were compared with a new launderable bed sheet (Kylie) which absorbs urine in the second layer while maintaining a dry surface next to the patient's skin. There was a 42 percent reduction in the frequency of bedding changes with the new bed sheets. The patients experienced increased comfort due to decreased skin wetness and decreased creasing of the sheets. The reduced frequency of bed linen changes permitted longer undisturbed periods for the patient. Management costs were reduced by 40 percent with the launderable bed sheets. There were no adverse effects on the condition of the patients or in the quality of care.
Psychometrically matched tasks evaluating differential fMRI activation during form and motion processing

Functional magnetic resonance imaging has seen extensive use in comparing cognitive processing between healthy subjects and persons with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (McGuire, Howes, Stone, & Fusar-Poli, 2008; Sava & Yurgelun-Todd, 2008), Alzheimer's disease (Drzezga, 2008; Sperling, 2007; Wierenga & Bondi, 2007), and Parkinson's disease (Dagher & Nagano-Saito, 2007; van Eimeren & Siebner, 2006). A major aim of this approach is to characterize differences in the amount, location, or connectivity of brain activity between the control and patient groups. However, the interpretation of such differences is often confounded by performance differences between groups, since patients with brain dysfunction often perform more poorly than healthy subjects on cognitive tasks. Individual differences in performance may reflect differences in perceptual processing, attention, learning efficiency, effort, or cognitive strategies. More generally, comparison of fMRI activation between conditions may also be influenced by individual differences in performance. In the visual modality, for example, parametric manipulation of stimulus detectability, decision certainty or effort can have marked effects on activation. Huang et al. (Huang, Xiang, & Cao, 2006) varied the visibility of a target stimulus in a masking paradigm, and found that activation in V1 decreased with decreased stimulus visibility. Volz et al. (Volz, Schubotz, & von Cramon, 2005) showed that increasing uncertainty in a decision making task increased activation within the posterior frontal median cortex. Haynes et al. (Haynes, Driver, & Rees, 2005) reported that the psychometric visibility for target stimuli in a metacontrast paradigm affected effective connectivity between primary visual cortex and the fusiform gyrus. Differences in effort or emotional state may result in variations in the fMRI signal and its intensity during various tasks, including working memory tasks (Banich et al., 2009; Jansma, Ramsey, de Zwart, van Gelderen, & Duyn, 2007; Onoda, Okamoto, & Yamawaki, 2009; Specht, Willmes, Shah, & Jancke, 2003). In conjunction, these findings motivate development of approaches which allow individual calibration of accuracy levels to minimize effects of task performance or stimulus detectability on brain activation. Such matching is critical in the determination of differential deficits – that is, areas or tasks in which patients with the disorder are more affected compared to healthy subjects than in other areas/tasks. Neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), provide a great opportunity to investigate neural processing and strategies used during task execution. Without psychometric matching, however, different performance levels are likely to be associated with different cognitive strategies or activation, potentially negating the value of post hoc correlations of performance with the extent/severity of the disease/disorder.
Genesis of Body Surface Potentials in Varying Types of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

Isopotential body surface maps and the sequence of epicardial excitation were studied in children with three types of pure right ventricular hypertrophy; that is, secundum atrial defects, valvular pulmonic stenosis, and tetralogy of Fallot. Patients with similar types of hypertrophy demonstrated internal consistency as to the anatomy, sequence of epicardial excitation of the right ventricular free wall, and body surface potential distribution; however, these phenomena varied between the three groups for each type of hypertrophy. These studies indicate that diagnostic information is available on the body surface to distinguish: (1) right ventricular hypertrophy due primarily to dilatation (secundum atrial septal defects), (2) right ventricular hypertrophy with symmetrical increase in thickness throughout the right ventricle (valvular pulmonic stenosis with moderate to severe right ventricular hypertrophy), and (3) right ventricular hypertrophy proximal to infundibular narrowing (tetralogy of Fallot) from o...
High-speed optical sampling using a silicon-chip temporal magnifier

We demonstrate a single-shot technique for optical sampling based on temporal magnification using a silicon-chip time lens. We demonstrate the largest reported temporal magnification factor yet achieved (>500) and apply this technique to perform 1.3 TS/s single-shot sampling of ultrafast waveforms and to 80-Gb/s performance monitoring. This scheme offers the potential of developing a device that can transform GHz oscilloscopes into instruments capable of measuring signals with THz bandwidths.
The 1980s recession in the UK: A business cycle accounting perspective

Abstract This paper applies ‘Business Cycle Accounting’ methodology introduced by Chari, Kehoe and McGrattan [Chari, V.V., Kehoe, P.J., McGrattan, E.R., 2007. Business cycle accounting. Econometrica 75 (3), 781–836] to the UK economy. In particular, I examine the cyclical episode from 1979 to 1989. The chosen method enables me to decompose fluctuations in aggregates to isolate the effects corresponding to different distortions in the underlying model. I find distortions in the labor–leisure decision to play a significant role in both the recession in the early 1980s and the subsequent recovery of the UK economy. Furthermore, scenario simulations show that the improvement of the labor wedge was necessary for the recovery of the UK economy starting in 1984. After reviewing evidence on the effects of the new labor market policies introduced by the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher on union density and collective bargaining, the results suggest that the reforms were essential for the improvement in economic performance. Future research on the period should therefore focus on modeling the labor market distortions and the reforms that were intended to reduce them.
Emergent Control of Manual and Vocal-Motor Activity in Relation to the Development of Speech

Babbling typically precedes, resembles, and conceivably facilitates development of speech, and yet there is no accepted neurobiological characterization of babbling. Here we report a study of infants' developing control of vocal behavior in relation to manual activity performed under differing conditions of audibility. We hypothesized that babbling is associated with the onset of left-lateralized motor control, as expressed in repetitive right-handed activity, and that audibility facilitates such activity. Sixty-one normally developing infants were seen before (N = 21) or at various intervals following (N = 40) the onset of babbling. In experimental trials, audible or inaudible rattles were placed in left or right hands equally often. Analysis of manual activity revealed little shaking movement in the youngest and vocally least differentiated infants, and a sharp increase in shaking in slightly older infants who had recently begun to babble. Surprisingly, audibility only marginally enhanced shaking activity. A dextral bias was evident in the shaking of infants who had recently begun to babble, but not in younger or older infants. These and other findings suggest that the left cerebral hemisphere may be disproportionately involved in the production of repetitive vocal-motor activity as occurs in babbling.
Comparison of high affinity binding of calcium channel blocking drugs to vascular smooth muscle and cardiac sarcolemmal membranes

The binding of the 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker [3H]nitrendipine to canine cardiac sarcolemmal and bovine aortic membranes was found to be rapid, specific, saturable, and reversible. Dissociation constants (Kd) determined by Scatchard analysis were 0.14 and 0.16 nM and the maximal numbers of binding sites (Bmax) were 0.96 +/- 0.2 and 0.08 +/- 0.01 pmole/mg protein for cardiac and aortic membranes respectively. Values of Kd calculated from kinetic data were approximately 0.10 nM for both membrane preparations. Competition assays with the enantiomers of a nisoldipine derivative indicated that [3H]nitrendipine binds stereoselectively. The order of potency of several nifedipine analogs for inhibition of binding of [3H]nitrendipine to cardiac and aortic membranes paralleled their relative potencies for inhibition of contraction in smooth muscle. It is concluded that the high affinity binding sites for nitrendipine in bovine aortic smooth muscle membranes are similar to those of canine ventricular sarcolemma.
Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and function by single photon emission computed tomography

Although planar radionuclide techniques provide accurate, noninvasive measurements of myocardial perfusion and function that are of proven clinical value in the evaluation of the cardiac patient, they are limited by poor object contrast and superimposition of surrounding structures. Due to incomplete angular sampling and significant longitudinal distortion, limited angle tomography did not solve these problems. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can acquire scintilation information over very small angles of rotation and, thus, improve both object contrast and delineation of overlying or adjacent structures without distortion. The early SPECT systems were cumbersome, dependent on individual user developed software, and had extremely long acquisition and processing time. Improved camera design, new software algorithms, and the use of array processors have simplified and standardized quality control, decreased processing time, and minimized the number of user interventions. New image display formats and quantitative methods of analysis have made interpretation less cumbersome, more reliable and highly reproducible. Cardiac SPECT has been used with thallium-201 and gated blood pool imaging in both research and clinical applications and shown an improvement over planar methods of acquisition.
The admixture model in linkage analysis

We study an appropriate version of the score statistic to test the hypothesis of no linkage in a sample of phase known meioses and show that accurate approximations to the genome wide significance level can be obtained by using a large deviation approximation to evaluate Rice's formula for the expected number of upcrossings of a smooth random process.