cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wood-Frame Residential Buildings in Windstorms: Past Performance and New Directions

Residential buildings in coastal areas are often at risk to hurricanes, which can result in both wind and storm surge damages, while tornadoes are one of the most devastating natural hazards that have occurred in all 50 states of the USA and can happen during any season of the year. This chapter focuses on summarizing some past studies on the performance of wood-frame residential buildings in recent major hurricanes and tornadoes. Damage data collected from hurricanes shows that in most hurricanes the damage to residential wood-frame buildings often comes from high winds, hurricane surge, flooding, and rainwater intrusion due to damage in the building envelope. Roof systems experienced extensive damage either directly from wind or due to failure of the flashing and coping. Hurricanes are often accompanied by heavy rain that results in substantial water intrusion through the breached area of the building, which in turn results in substantial financial loss to the structure and its contents. On the other hand, data collected from recent tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Joplin, and Moore show that, for an EF-4 or EF-5 tornado, damage levels increase from the outer edges toward the centerline of a tornado track. Residential building damage in tornados is caused by high wind loading or debris impact, or both. A general procedure for performance-based wind engineering is proposed, and research needs for development of wood-frame performance-based wind engineering are also highlighted in this chapter.
Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption

Early case-control studies showed a protective effect of smoking on the risk for AD. In addition to survival bias, this finding was likely related to the design of these studies, which excluded individuals with evidence of cerebrovascular disease from the cases, but not from the controls. Cohort studies, which identified incident Alzheimer cases regardless of the presence of cerebrovascular disease, have shown the opposite association, increased risk for incident AD with smoking. This association was stronger in men, in those without a family history of dementia and in those who did not carry an APOE-e4 allele. The risk for AD in relation to smoking is modified by age, with younger people showing an increased risk and older people a decreased risk. A likely explanation is that smokers susceptible to AD do not survive to old age. The association of smoking and increased risk for AD appears to be restricted to current rather than former smoking, consistent with the data on stroke risk. Studies of alcohol consumption suggest that low to moderate intake of alcohol is inversely associated with AD risk, with both teetotalers and heavy drinkers incurring higher risks. Many studies have shown that wine consumption is inversely associated with AD risk, likely due to the high levels of polyphenols. Multiple biologic mechanisms may underlie alcohol effects on incident AD, including the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular benefits from low to moderate consumption, brain atrophy from higher consumption, and modulation of amyloidosis. Associations between alcohol and AD could represent a true effect or several biases, including survival, healthy-person effect, reverse causation and confounding.
Conceptual understanding in a computer-assisted algebra 1 classroom

Over the last several decades, technology has had a tremendous impact on all parts of our society. In education the calculator in the 1970's, the computer in the 1980's and the World Wide Web of the 1990's have bombarded us with advances, to such a degree that state and federal leaders along with national education organizations have put pressure on our schools to implement new standards and mandates. These implementations are asking schools to increase test scores while teaching with connectedness and understanding. This seems almost impossible with our mathematics curriculum. One solution districts are contemplating is using computer-assisted-instruction (CAI). Examining the potential for a CAI environment in the teaching, learning, and development of understanding of mathematics in an Algebra 1 classroom is the focus of this study. This study utilized a mixed methodology and focused on CAI's influence on algebra 1 students' developing conceptual understandings during a typical unit. The CAI program Cognitive Tutor has shown increases in student achievement (i.e. standardized tests) but a key issue is whether the students understand the concepts any better. This study explored this influence on algebra 1 students utilizing the CAI program Cognitive Tutor with those in a traditional direct instruction class. The students were tested pre and post for achievement and a subset of the sample, six from the control (direct instruction) group and six from the treatment (Cognitive Tutor) group, constructed concept maps throughout the study to be used as a measure of the conceptual understandings. The six students from the treatment group (Cognitive Tutor) went through an interview to attempt to understand what aspects of the Cognitive Tutor program they felt had the most influence on their sense making and understanding. The analysis indicated that Cognitive Tutor, as a complete program, increases student achievement, deepens understanding and connectedness of concepts, and left them with a feeling that Cognitive Tutor had many characteristics that their best math teacher would possess. Although these analyses answered the questions of this study, future research is needed.
Three-Electrode Sliding Nanosecond Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator: Modeling and Physics

We present a numerical study of plasma dynamics in a three-electrode sliding nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge flow actuator. A two-dimensional self-consistent plasma model including the effe...
Investigation of the relationships between thermal sensations of local body areas and the whole body in an indoor built environment

Abstract This study investigated the relationship of thermal sensations of local body segments and the whole body for a better understanding of how to estimate the overall thermal perception, as a function of partial body sensations, while considering human factors such as gender and body mass index. Thermal comfort, which can be expressed as a function of thermal dynamics between the human body and ambient thermal conditions, primarily consists of a combination of local thermal perceptions. An individual body area contributes to an overall thermal sensation at different significance levels, so that specific areas have high potential for determining the whole-body sensation. This is especially true in a typical building environment where thermal conditions are uniformly distributed and no extremely cold or hot condition occurs. For this study, a series of human subject experiments was conducted with 18 volunteers in an environmental chamber, while thermal conditions changed and thermal sensations were surveyed in the regular way. Seven local body areas were selected, based on current thermoregulation-related literature, and their local body sensations were recorded together. This study revealed that each local body sensation significantly correlated with the overall sensation, but that whole-body sensations varied for each individual body area. In addition, results of this research also suggested optimal combinations of local body areas that could represent the whole-body sensation with a high degree of accuracy.
Local and Regional Spatial Analysis of Plant Virus Disease Epidemics with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geostatistics

Recent advances in personal computer hardware and the rapid development of spatial analysis software that is user-friendly on PC's has provided remarkable new tools for the analysts of plant diseases, particularly ecologically complex virus diseases. Due to the complexity of the disease cycle of the animal-vectored plant virus, these diseases present the most interesting challenges for the application of spatial analysis technology. While traditional quantitative analysis of plant diseases concentrated on within-field spatial analysis, often involving rather arcane mathematical descriptions of pattern, the new spatial analysis tools are most useful at the dimension where many disease epidemics occur, the regional level. The output of many of the programs used in spatial analysis is a highly visual picture of a disease epidemic which has a strong intuitive appeal to managers of agricultural enterprises. Applications by us, thus far, have included tomato, pepper and cotton virus diseases in Arizona. Mexico, California and Pakistan. In addition, this technology has been applied by us to Phytophthora infestans in potato and tomato. Aspergillus flavus in cotton, and regional insect problems of tomato and cotton.
Metabolic profile of a crossfit training bout

CrossFit is a physically and metabolically-demanding training mode increasing in popularity among recreational athletes. Presently, however, scarce evidence is available documenting its energetic profile. This study investigated the metabolic characteristics of a CrossFit training bout as measured by expired gases and blood lactate. Eleven females and 7 males completed a 12-minute CrossFit bout on two occasions separated by three days. During both experimental sessions (Pt1, Pt2), subjects performed as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) within the timed workout which consisted of consisted of 12 box jumps (30” for males, 20” for females), 6 thrusters (24 kg for males, 16 kg for females), and 6 bar-facing burpees in sequence. Oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), blood lactate (BL), and repetitions completed were measured during both experimental sessions. The average VO 2 and RER of both bouts (Pt1 and Pt2) was 37.0 ± 4.8 ml/kg/min and 1.04 ± 0.1, respectively. Average BL significantly increased above pre-exercise concentrations (3.0 ± 1.3 mmol/L) at 4 min (10.1 ± 3.2 mmol/L; p < 0.01), 8 min (12.3 ± 3.5 mmol/L; p < 0.01), and immediately post at 12 min (12.6 ± 3.9 mmol/L; p < 0.01). Repetitions completed in Pt2 (140.2 ± 25.9) were significantly different to repetitions completed in Pt1 (131.2 ± 27.2) (p = 0.023). Average repetitions completed in Pt1 and Pt 2 was 135.7 ± 26.6. These data suggest that CrossFit is a metabolically-demanding conditioning method that relies heavily on both aerobic and anaerobic energy production and may represent an alternative to traditional methods of exercise to improve fitness and longevity.
A preclinical study of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in NSCLC.

161Background: Multiple clinical studies have shown that adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is remarkably effective in melanoma patients. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) shares similarities with melanoma in terms of mutational burden and sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We therefore sought to test whether TIL ACT may represent a viable option for the treatment of NSCLC patients. We utilized tissue collected from patients enrolled on the prospective ImmunogenomiC prOfiling of Non-small cell lung cancer (ICON) study. Methods: TIL and tissue-infiltrating lymphocytes were expanded ex vivo from 97 freshly resected early-stage localized NSCLC tumors and 39 matched uninvolved lung tissues. Growth and functional characteristics of TIL were assessed via flow cytometry, TIL-tumor reactivity assays, and analysis of TCRβ sequencing data. Results: NSCLC showed an increased proportion of CD3+ lymphocytes within the tumor-infiltrating leukocyte component as com...
The composition and biosynthesis of milk fat.

Publisher Summary A feature that makes the mammary gland distinct among mammalian tissues is that it periodically undergoes changes of the most striking kind, structurally and functionally. These changes are controlled by the actions of specific hormones and can be divided into four stages. The first is called “cellular proliferation” and occurs when the animal attains adulthood. The second stage is characterized by the morphological differentiation of the epithelia of the terminal ducts and alveoli into secretory cells. This change occurs during the late part of pregnancy and is completed after parturition. The third stage begins after parturition and continues throughout the lactational period. During this time the epithelial cells are concerned with milk synthesis, and cell growth diminishes. “Involution” is the fourth stage and although it starts in lactation, the process becomes most pronounced after extended lactation or cessation of suckling. The secreting cells disappear resulting in atrophy of the gland and a return to the beginning of the rhythmic changes associated with the estrus cycle. Lactogenesis, or the initiation of milk secretion, is a different process from the one that maintains an established production.
Criticality of spatiotemporal dynamics in contact mediated pattern formation

The tissues of multicellular organisms are made of differentiated cells arranged in organized patterns. This organization emerges during development from the coupling of dynamic intra- and intercellular regulatory networks. This work applies the methods of information theory to understand how regulatory network structure within and between cells relates to the complexity of spatial patterns that emerge as a consequence of network operation. A computational study was performed in which undifferentiated cells were arranged in a two dimensional lattice, with gene expression in each cell regulated by an identical intracellular randomly generated Boolean network. Cell-cell contact signalling between embryonic cells is modeled as coupling among intracellular networks so that gene expression in one cell can influence the expression of genes in adjacent cells. In this system, the initially identical cells differentiate and form patterns of different cell types. The complexity of network structure, temporal dynamics and spatial organization is quantified through the Kolmogorov-based measures of normalized compression distance and set complexity. Results over sets of random networks from ordered, critical and chaotic domains demonstrate that: (1) Ordered and critical intracellular networks tend to create the most complex intercellular communication networks and the most information-dense patterns; (2) signalling configurations where cell-to-cell communication is non-directional mostly produce simple patterns irrespective of the internal network domain; and (3) directional signalling configurations, similar to those that function in planar cell polarity, produce the most complex patterns when the intracellular networks are non-chaotic.
Dynamic Credentials and Ciphertext Delegation for Attribute-Based Encryption

Motivated by the question of access control in cloud storage, we consider the problem using Attribute-Based Encryption ABE in a setting where users' credentials may change and ciphertexts may be stored by a third party. Our main result is obtained by pairing two contributions:We first ask how a third party who is not trusted with secret key information can process a ciphertext to disqualify revoked users from decrypting data encrypted in the past. Our core tool is a new procedure called ciphertext delegation that allows a ciphertext to be 're-encrypted' to a more restrictive policy using only public information.Second, we study the problem of revocable attribute-based encryption. We provide the first fully secure construction by modifying an attribute-based encryption scheme due to Lewko et al. [9] and prove security in the standard model. We then combine these two results for a new approach for revocation on stored data. Our scheme allows a storage server to update stored ciphertexts to disqualify revoked users from accessing data that was encrypted before the user's access was revoked while key update broadcasts can dynamically revoke selected users.
Finishing the First Term

By the time the national space strategy, which was initiated by SIG (Space) in late 1982, reached Ronald Reagan’s desk for his approval in August 1984, it was primarily an accounting of the space decisions made during first Reagan term. These decisions, including approval of going ahead with a multiyear and multibillion dollar space station program, expanded international cooperation in the space station and other National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) projects, and greatly increased emphasis on facilitating private sector involvement in commercially motivated space activities, did add up to a more ambitious space program than had been in place when Reagan had come to the White House in January 1981. But that program would be conducted employing the same share of the Federal budget as had been the case when Reagan took office. Most Reagan space initiatives did not require, at least in the short term, an increase in the space budget, and there had been some budget reductions to offset new programs. Ronald Reagan “liked” civilian space, but he was apparently not willing to increase the NASA budget by anything more than a token amount to finance major new space initiatives. As Reagan was reelected in November 1984, an ambitious space agenda was being proposed for the second Reagan term. For a variety of reasons, most of all the tragic 1986 space shuttle Challenger accident that was a major setback for the U.S. program, this ambitious agenda was not actively pursued. The accomplishments during Ronald Reagan’s first term would thus end up being the high point in establishing his space legacy.
Mortality risk from heat stress expected to hit poorest nations the hardest

Anthropogenic climate warming has increased the likelihood of extreme hot summers. To facilitate mitigation and adaptation planning, it is essential to quantify and synthesize climate change impacts and characterize the associated uncertainties. By synergistically using projections of climate scenarios from an ensemble of regional climate models and a spatially explicit version of an empirical health risk model, here we quantify the mortality risk associated with excessive heat stress for people aged over 65 years old across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Our results show that mortality risk is expected to intensify by a factor of 8–20 in the last 30 years of the twenty-first century with respect to the historical period (1951–2005) if no climate change mitigation planning is undertaken. If global warming is limited to 2 °C, the mortality risk is expected to rise by a factor of 3–7 for the same period. Further analyses reveal that much of the increase in mortality risk is due to the increase in frequency of warm days rather than their intensity. Unfortunately, the poorest countries with least contribution to climate change are expected to be most impacted by it, as they will experience higher mortality risks compared to wealthier nations.
The Bench Speaks on Judicial Performance Evaluation: A Survey of Colorado Judges

Since 1990, Colorado has maintained a state-operated judicial performance evaluation (JPE) program for appellate and trial court judges. The program is generally designed to serve four purposes: (1) providing voters in retention elections with information about the judges seeking retention; (2) educating the public about qualities and levels of performance expected of judges; (3) recognizing and highlighting the individual and collective strengths of judges; and (4) providing information to sitting judges to help them improve their performance on the bench. While there is widespread agreement that JPE advances these goals, that agreement is based primarily on anecdotal information and informal observation. By contrast, there has been very little empirical analysis of whether (and to what extent) JPE is informing and educating the public, or usefully demonstrating professional strengths and weaknesses to judges. This survey is the first part of a multi-stage study concerning the effectiveness of JPE in Colorado. It was designed to elicit feedback from sitting Colorado judges regarding the extent to which JPE provides them with useful feedback that can be used for professional self-improvement, and to determine whether the existence of JPE has had any effect on judicial independence and accountability.
Situated Learning in Systems-Level Coursework

Computer science coursework at the undergraduate level at most institutions includes low-level systems coursework. Such coursework is often largely theoretical. When students complete assignments which involve writing software, they often do so in the context of operating systems not identified and/or connected with their everyday experiences (e.g., Minix or XINU). Approaches also tend to focus on kernel-level operations - leaving out the connections to higher levels of the OS (e.g. graphical user interfaces). To connect systems concepts and assignments to students' personal experiences and provide a mechanism to discuss high-level layers of interactive operating systems, we assembled a Linux/Android operating system variant specifically geared to be accessible to students taking introductory systems courses, dubbed "Reptilian". Reptilian, available as an Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) image, provides both an Ubuntu-derived user-space and the standard Android GUI user-space. The appliance provides a typical Linux kernel development environment for assignments while facilitating demonstration of connections between layers in a modern operating system. To investigate the impact of the use of Reptilian, we compared questions on student evaluations between two semesters - one using Minix as the target system for student assignments and another using Reptilian. The curricula topics were identical, and both courses were taught by the same instructor. Students the cohorts completed comparable projects focused on the process table and filesystem, while the Reptilian cohort also completed a GUI layering assignment. We found that students rated content relevance, learning, and engagement of critical thinking more highly in the Reptilian cohort compared to the Minix cohort.
Recognizing Poor Sleep Quality Factors During Oral Health Evaluations

Oral health practitioners routinely perform oral health assessments for the dental patient to determine if oral disease is present. Systemic health is often a contributor to oral health concerns. One area in particular that has a direct effect on oral structures and oral health is poor sleep quality and open mouth breathing. Sleep is a fundamental process of the human body, which regulates core biological functions. Sleep quality reflects a person's ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and enter into the various rejuvenating sleep cycles for the full duration. A person who does not obtain quality sleep can exhibit a wide range of oral, systemic, and cognitive health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea, which historically has been considered an adult male disease, is being recognized more often in women children. Research suggests various oral malformations found in newborns and young children can manifest as obstructive sleep apnea in adults. Oral health professionals are in a position to recognize the relationship between sleep and health, identify sleep quality concerns in relation to oral health assessments, administer sleep quality assessments, and determine appropriate referrals for further sleep quality evaluation.
Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in an Adult With Sjögren's Syndrome: A Diagnostic Dilemma Revealing a Rare Association With Primary Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects middle-aged women. It is rarely associated with solid neoplasms. We report a 60-year-old woman with a past medical history relevant for SS who was diagnosed with advanced-stage gastric adenocarcinoma upon evaluating for peritoneal carcinomatosis and succumbed two months after her original diagnosis. This case highlights the significance of considering gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy as an essential differential, particularly when evaluating patients with SS who fail conservative treatment for their GI symptoms.
Dignity and Transcultural Forensic Consultation.

We analyze and comment on a legal case (Edward Gatherer v. Drexel Gomez, 1989) from Barbados. We theorize that in this kind of case a forensic psychiatrist consultant could helpfully advise the principals regarding pitfalls to avoid in resolving their conflict. Use of the consultant has certain advantages over taking such disputes to courts of law. In this case the rector of an Anglican Church in Barbados sued the bishop of his diocese. At question was whether the mandatory retirement age of 65 years applied to the rector. The case was eventually appealed to the United Kingdom9s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and their decision was rendered in June 1992 in favor of the plaintiff. We describe a reference framework of techniques and methods that we think would be useful in this hypothetical forensic consultation. One important aspect of the analysis and case commentary is that going to court circumvents the obligation of those having disputes in this unique space to safeguard each other9s dignity. The court system ignores reconciliation of the disputants to each other and to the Church body. We explore the complexity that attaches to transcultural forensic consultation.
From orbitals to observables and back.

Molecular orbital framework is of central importance in chemistry. Often used by chemists and physicists to gain insight into molecular properties, Hartree–Fock or Kohn–Sham orbitals are obtained from rather crude treatments and, strictly speaking, are not observables. Yet, quantum mechanics offers a route for connecting general many-electron wavefunctions with reduced quantities—density matrices and orbitals—which give rise to observable properties. Such mapping makes possible, in principle, reconstruction of these objects from sufficiently detailed experimental data. This Perspective discusses Dyson orbitals and various types of natural transition orbitals and illustrates their role in modeling and interpreting different types of spectroscopic measurements.
There is more to an elevated bicarbonate

Citation:Hadigal S, Ryals S, Wagner M, Berry R. There is more to an elevated bicarbonate. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(1):111–112.
This Guillain-Barré Won’t Go Away: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in an 18-year-old male

Introduction: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare diagnosis, encompassing a group of related neuropathies that share the characteristics of chronicity, demyelination, inflammation, and immune-mediation. It exists along a temporal continuum with its acute counterpart: the demyelinating form of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a monophasic illness which typically resolves in the span of weeks. First line treatments of CIDP include corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and plasma exchange, although more aggressive presentations may require additional immunotherapy. We present a case of CIDP in an adolescent patient. As a disease …
Limiting the executive power after the Second World War: the invention of administrative science:

This article analyses the emergence of administrative science in France in the wake of the Second World War. The birth of this discipline is examined through the history of its founders, a group of...
Changes to Family Caregiving of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities during COVID-19

The strict restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the lives of many at-risk people and their family caregivers. This study explored how family caregivers perceived that family...
Implementing Enhanced Primary Care Registered Nurse Reimbursement in Rural Health Clinics: A Policy Analysis.

Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) were created in 1977 to address the high health care needs, limited provider access, and poor health outcomes of rural Americans. Although innovative at their inception,...
Using a depth camera for crop row detection and mapping for under-canopy navigation of agricultural robotic vehicle

Abstract Computer vision provides local environmental information for robotic navigation in crop fields. It is particularly useful for robots operating under canopies of tall plants such as corns (Zea Mays) and sorghums (Sorghum bicolor), where GPS signal is not always receivable. However, the development of under-canopy navigation systems is still an open research area. The key contribution of our work is the development of a vision-based system for under-canopy navigation using a Time-of-Flight (ToF) camera. In the system, a novel algorithm was used to detect parallel crop rows from depth images taken under crop canopies. Two critical tasks in navigation were accomplished based on the detection results: 1) generating crop field maps as occupancy grids when reliable robot localization is available (from other sources such as GPS and IMU), and 2) providing inter-row vehicle positioning data when the field map is available and the localization is not reliable. The proposed system was evaluated in field tests. The test results showed that the proposed system was able to map the crop rows with mean absolute errors (MAE) of 3.4 cm and 3.6 cm in corn and sorghum fields, respectively. It provides lateral positioning data with MAE of 5.0 cm and 4.2 cm for positioning in corn and sorghum crop rows, respectively. The potential and limitations of using ToF cameras for under-canopy navigation were discussed.
Real Time Thermal Wave Tomography

We report a thermal wave tomographic method that utilizes real-time techniques. A reference cooling curve, corresponding to a surface region beneath which there are no subsurface scatterers, is subtracted from the time dependence of every pixel of the image as it is generated. This is followed by a pixel-by-pixel determination of the peak contrast times of these subtracted curves and the peak times are stored as a 512 x 480 tomogram, all of which is done in real-time. We also store a peak-contrast image in which each individual pixel is displayed as it appeared when its contrast with the background was maximum. Currently, we are able to carry out this tomographic imaging at sampling rates up to 10 Hz. The process has been implemented with two different systems, both using an Inframetrics IR-600 Camera for data collection. In one of the systems the real-time processor is a series of DataCube boards on a VME bus controlled by a Sun 3/160 workstation. The other system is comprised of a Perceptics NuVision processor under the control of a Macintosh II microcomputer.
Plasma emission and absorption spectroscopy with an optical fiber probe

An optical-fiber probe has been used to measure the emission and absorption coefficients of a parallel-plate RF plasma. The probe, made of crofon, is inserted into a glass tube filled with air at atmospheric pressures in order to prevent the initiation of a discharge by the RF capacitively coupled inside the tube. The probe end of the glass tube is designed as a half-lens for focusing. The advantage of the probe is its capability to make localized measurements, allowing three-dimensional mapping of the emission and absorption properties of the plasma. The experiments were carried out in a parallel-plate reactor which was used for sputtering Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting thin films. Measurement of an RF glow discharge with an electron density approximately=10/sup 10/-10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/, electron temperature approximately=1.0 eV, neutral pressure approximately=115 mtorr, and RF power of 30 W at a frequency of 500 kHz gave values of alpha =2.2*10/sup -2/ cm/sup -1/ and epsilon =9.2*10/sup 6/ for lambda =6166 AA. Theoretical calculations indicate that the absorption coefficient of the bremsstrahlung radiation is much less than the measured alpha value. >
Spectral subspaces of subscalar and related operators

For a bounded linear operator T E L(X) on a complex Banach space X and a closed subset F of the complex plane C, this note deals with algebraic representations of the corresponding analytic spectral subspace XT(F) from local spectral theory. If T is the restriction of a generalized scalar operator to a closed invariant subspace, then it is shown that X T (F) = E T (F) = ∩ λ ¬∈ F (λ-T) p X for all sufficiently large integers p, where E T (F) denotes the largest linear subspace Y of X for which (λ-T) Y = Y for all λ∈C \ F. Moreover, for a wide class of operators T that satisfy growth conditions of polynomial or Beurling type, it is shown that X T (F) is closed and equal to E T (F).
Obstruction of Blastodisc Formation by Cytochalasin B in the Zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio

The blastodisc formation in the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, was obstructed by treatment with 1.0 μg/ml of cytochalasin B (CB), but not by 1.0 μg/ml of colchicine. The cortex in normal eggs contained a meshwork of microfilaments associated with the plasma membrane. The cortex was thicker at the vegetal pole and thinner at the animal pole of the egg. In CB treated eggs the cortex contained masses of microfilaments detached in places from the plasma membrane. Microtubules were never observed in the cortex of eggs with or without CB treatment. These results suggest that ooplasmic segregation, which results in blastodisc formation, is carried out by activity of the cortex, which contains CB sensitive microfilaments.
Correlation of Acute Phase Reactants and Temporal Artery Biopsy (TAB) in Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) (P6.291)

OBJECTIVE: To determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (WESR) and C- reactive protein (CRP) in predicting positive TAB. BACKGROUND: GCA is a granulomatous vasculitis of large and medium sized arteries in persons over 50 years. Inflammatory markers (WESR and CRP) are used to screen patients for GCA, but TAB remains gold standard for diagnosis. DESIGN/METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with TAB positive or TAB negative GCA with classical features (headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness) and ischemic optic neuropathy seen between January 2007 and April 2012 were included if at least 1 marker (ESR or CRP) was obtained within 4 weeks preceding TAB. Normal range for WESR was based on 3 validated formulae (Miller, Hayreh and American committee of Rheumatology {ARC}); CRP was based on normal range at local laboratory (0-0.9). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for each marker were calculated. RESULTS: Eleven patients (8 females and 3 males; mean age 74.09 years) were included. Presenting symptoms included visual loss (8/11), headache (8/11), scalp tenderness (5/11), jaw claudication (3/11) & constitutional- (5/11). Of 13 TAB (2 bilateral), 7 were positive and 6 negative. - Elevated ESR: sensitivity: 67% (all formulas); specificity: 57%- 86%; PPV: 57%- 80% ; NPV: 67%- 75%. -Elevated CRP: sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV: 50%. -Elevated ESR & CRP: sensitivity- 50% (all formulas); specificity- 100% (Miller& ARC), 67% (Hayreh); PPV- 100% (Miller & ARC), 60% (Hayreh) CONCLUSIONS: Pre-biopsy ESR and CRP were neither sensitive nor specific in predicting positive TAB. Combined specificity and PPV for both markers were 100% (Miller & ARC); while sensitivity remained 50%. Despite small sample size, our results emphasize importance of symptom constellation for treatment initiation in GCA rather than relying on laboratory parameters. Study Supported by: Disclosure: Dr. Sudhakar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kedar has nothing to disclose.
Characterization of the interactions between the active site of a protein tyrosine kinase and a divalent metal activator

Protein tyrosine kinases are important enzymes for cell signalling and key targets for anticancer drug discovery. The catalytic mechanisms of protein tyrosine kinase-catalysed phosphorylation are not fully understood. Protein tyrosine kinase Csk requires two Mg2+ cations for activity: one (M1) binds to ATP, and the other (M2) acts as an essential activator. Experiments in this communication characterize the interaction between M2 and Csk. Csk activity is sensitive to pH in the range of 6 to 7. Kinetic characterization indicates that the sensitivity is not due to altered substrate binding, but caused by the sensitivity of M2 binding to pH. Several residues in the active site with potential of binding M2 are mutated and the effect on metal activation studied. An active mutant of Asn319 is generated, and this mutation does not alter the metal binding characteristics. Mutations of Glu236 or Asp332 abolish the kinase activity, precluding a positive or negative conclusion on their role in M2 coordination. Finally, the ability of divalent metal cations to activate Csk correlates to a combination of ionic radius and the coordination number. These studies demonstrate that M2 binding to Csk is sensitive to pH, which is mainly responsible for Csk activity change in the acidic arm of the pH response curve. They also demonstrate critical differences in the metal activator coordination sphere in protein tyrosine kinase Csk and a protein Ser/Thr kinase, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. They shed light on the physical interactions between a protein tyrosine kinase and a divalent metal activator.
From discipline to responsibility training: A humanistic orientation for the school

Angry, alienated, and affluent high school students are no longer either motivated or contained by the more traditional “care, custody, control, conformity” curriculum. These adolescents respond positively to a humanistic relevant, and realistic educational philosophy which stresses the worth and dignity of students, an appreciation of individual differences, and a recognition of their inherent rights regarding self-determination and freedom of choice. A nine-step discipline process, which can become a profound learning experience for potentially disruptive students, provides numerous opportunities to become more responsible and to adopt more productive behavior for those who move through the system.
Use of urinary collection devices in skilled nursing facilities in five states.

OBJECTIVES: To assess use of urinary collection devices (external, intermittent, and indwelling catheters; pads or briefs) and examine predictors of indwelling catheters in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: SNFs in California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas. PARTICIPANTS: All patients admitted to SNFs in 2003 who remained there for 1 year (N 557,302). MEASUREMENTS: Characteristics of patients who used different collection strategies (indwelling, intermittent, and external catheterization; pads or briefs) and predictors of indwelling urinary catheterization from the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of indwelling catheterization was 12.6% at admission and 4.5%at the annual assessment (Po.001). Intermittent and external catheterization were infrequently used (o1% at admission and annual assessment). Paraplegia, quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, and comatose state were strongly associated with indwelling catheterization. Male residents were more likely to use an indwelling catheter at every assessment, as were obese patients; individuals with diabetes mellitus, renal failure, skin conditions, deep vein thrombosis, aphasia, or end-stage disease; and those who were taking more medications. CONCLUSION: Coinciding with federal regulations, urinary catheterization was lower than has been reported previously and declined over time. Further reduction should be targeted atthe evaluation ofskin problems, appropriateness of multiple medications, and alternative measures in patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, deep vein thrombosis, and communication problems. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:854– 861, 2008.
American Indian Self-Determination: The Political Economy of a Policy that Works

Since the 1970s, federal American Indian policy in the United States has been aimed at promoting self-determination through self-governance by federally-recognized tribes. This policy has proven to be the only policy that has worked to make significant progress in reversing otherwise distressed social, cultural and economic conditions in Native communities. The policy of self-determination reflects a political equilibrium which has held for four decades and which has withstood various shifts in the party control of Congress and the White House. While Republicans have provided relatively weak support for social spending on Indian issues when compared to Democrats, both parties’ representatives have generally been supportive of self-determination and local self-rule for tribes. Analysis of thousands of sponsorships of federal legislation over 1970-present, however, finds the equilibrium under challenge. In particular, since the late 1990s, Republican congressional support for policies of self-determination has fallen off sharply and has not returned. The recent change in the party control of Congress calls into question the sustainability of self-determination through self-governance as a central principle of federal Indian policy.
Ambassador Frederic Sackett and the collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1930–1933: Sackett and the financial crisis

T he financial crisis of 1931 threatened to bring down the Bruning government. Ambassador Sackett was acutely aware of the danger for the Weimar Republic and of the opportunity the crisis presented to Hitler. More determined than ever to aid his friend Bruning and thwart Hitler, Sackett intervened to help preserve the Weimar Republic. He took advantage of his leave of absence in the United States to emphasize the depth of the impending crisis, and when it struck he used his influence with President Hoover to urge him to intervene to help Bruning. Sackett's reports to the State Department were a decisive part of the American deliberations leading to the announcement of the Hoover Moratorium, and in Washington he participated in the complex discussions that prompted the president to act. When Sackett returned to Berlin, he engaged in the trying negotiations with the Germans and again went beyond his instructions in the interest of helping Bruning. The crisis began in May 1931, when, first in Vienna and then in Berlin, major banks began to fail. The problem quickly spread throughout Europe, creating heavy new burdens for nations already beset by deepening economic depression. President Hoover decided that the United States would have to intervene. Faced with a financial crisis of international proportions, Hoover offered the European powers a one-year holiday in the payment of war debts owed to the United States in exchange for the Entente Allies agreeing to forgo reparations payments from Germany during the same period.
High beam quality from a nanosecond, image-rotating optical parametric oscillator

Summary from only given. We designed and built a KTiOPO/sub 4/ crystal collinear phase matching optical parametric oscillator (OPO) that rotates the image of the resonated wave by 90/spl deg/ on each pass of the cavity. Our goal is to verify the predictions of high beam quality from such an OPO even for high pulse energy and large Fresnel number.
Diagrams for the Leksell Gamma Knife 4C automatic positioning system accessible shot coordinates.

We have developed a graphic representation (APS shot-range diagrams) of achievable shot coordinates with the automatic positioning system (APS) for Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery. We formulated a mathematical relationship between the APS coordinate system and the Leksell frame coordinate system (frame-system) by considering the relative translation and rotation. Using the transformation equations, we calculated the Y–Z coordinate domain in the frame-system (domain B), which corresponds to the known coordinate domain achievable in the APS coordinate system (domain A). APS shot-range diagrams were presented by overlaying of domain B over domain A so that one can easily visualize the achievable shot coordinates with APS for various gamma angles. Domains A and B are identical for a 90° gamma angle, but they are different for other gamma angles. Applications of the diagrams to clinical cases, in which Leksell GammaPlan treatment planning software automatically set some of the shots in a treatment plan as trunnion shots because of the APS coordinate limit, enabled us to avoid the trunnion shots, and consequently to achieve much faster treatment delivery. In conclusion, APS shot-range diagrams can be used for achieving more efficient treatment delivery by avoiding unnecessary trunnion shots with a Gamma Knife unit equipped with the APS.
Continuum modelling of explosive fracture in oil shale

Fracture and fragmentation studies on 80 ml/kg Anvil Points oil shale with plate impact, Hopkinson bar, capacitor discharge, and HE techniques have shown that the dynamic fracture stress, fracture energy, and fragment size depend on the rate of tensile loading. A model coupling fracture, fragmentation, and stress wave propagation and based on the activation and growth of an initial Weibull distribution of fracture-producing flaws has been found effective in describing the observed rate-dependent fracture phenomena from static to high strain-rate impulse loading. The fracture model has been incorporated into one- and two-dimensional stress-wave computer codes and is being used to evaluate blasting geometries and stress-pulse tailoring for in situ rubblization of oil shale.
Differences in wrist mechanics during the golf swing based on golf handicap

Abstract Objectives Variation in swing mechanics between golfers of different skill levels has been previously reported. To investigate if differences in three-dimensional wrist kinematics and the angle of golf club descent between low and high handicap golfers. Design A descriptive laboratory study was performed with twenty-eight male golfers divided into two groups, low handicap golfers (handicap = 0–5, n = 15) and high handicap golfers (handicap ≥ 10, n = 13). Methods Bilateral peak three-dimensional wrist mechanics, bilateral wrist mechanics at ball contact (BC), peak angle of descent from the end of the backswing to ball contact, and the angle of descent when the forearm was parallel to the ground (DEC-PAR) were determined using an 8 camera motion capture system. Independent t-tests were completed for each study variable (α = 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficients were determined between golf handicap and each of the study variables. Results The peak lead arm radial deviation (5.7 degrees, p = 0.008), lead arm radial deviation at ball contact (7.1 degrees, p = 0.001), and DEC-PAR (15.8 degrees, p = 0.002) were significantly greater in the high handicap group. Conclusion In comparison with golfers with a low handicap, golfers with a high handicap have increased radial deviation during the golf swing and at ball contact.
Microbial diversity in the rhizosphere of corn grown under conventional and low-input systems

Abstract Microbial processes within the rhizosphere of crop plants are crucial to agriculture. The relation of soil microbial community diversity to cropping system, yield, and soil quality are unclear at present. The Farming Systems Trial at the Rodale Institute Research Center, Kutztown, PA, is a 15-year study in which a conventional corn-soybean rotation has been compared with low-input systems (i.e. animal manure or legumes as nitrogen sources). The effects of the cropping systems on diversity of fast-growing, aerobic, culturable bacteria and fungi were conducted in 1994 by taking 84 cores in between corn plants in June, July, and August. Rhizosphere bacteria and fungi were extracted, plated, and counted. Approximately 6000 bacteria were identified by fatty acid methyl ester analysis, while 18000 fungi were identified by microscopic examination of spores. Microbial diversity and evenness were calculated using several different methods. Total counts, diversity, and evenness were not significantly different for the three cropping systems. These results suggest that conventional agricultural practices may maintain high indices of microbial diversity in the rhizosphere. The functional significance of this needs to be investigated.