cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proctocolectomy and quadruple-limb W pouch reconstruction for the management of pediatric ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis

Abstract Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the procedure of choice for many children with ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis. The modified quadruple-limb (W) IPAA was designed to increase reservoir compliance and capacity, and to improve functional results by decreasing stool frequency. However, only limited information has been reported concerning the technical considerations and functional outcomes from W IPAA modification and utilization in the pediatric population. Additionally, pediatric IPAA physiological adaptation, expressed as IPAA volume/pressure relationships, for any type of IPAA design has not been described. In this report, the authors analyze their functional and physiological results with W IPAA in 19 children undergoing colectomy for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis. Since 1986, 19 children (5 girls, 14 boys; mean age, 15.3 years [range, 11 to 18 years]) have undergone proctocolectomy with W IPAA for ulcerative colitis (n = 9) and familial polyposis (n = 10). IPAA pressure and volume profiles were measured in 10 patients at 2 and 12 months postileostomy takedown, and in five patients at 3 years. W IPAA compliance was calculated as the change in volume over change in pressure (ΔVΔP). There were no deaths, anastomotic leaks, or pelvic sepsis. The 24-hour stool frequency (mean ± SEM) decreased significantly ( P ≤ .05) from 4.6 ± 0.6 at 2 months to 3.3 ± 0.1 at 12 months. No nighttime evacuation occurred after 12 months. W IPAA evacuation volume significantly increased ( P ≤ .05) from 238 ± 22.9 mL at 2 months to 346 ± 26.5 mL at 12 months and remained stable thereafter. Reservoir compliance (12.0 ± 1.1 mL/mm Hg at 2 months, 15.1 ± 1.5 mL/mm Hg at 12 months) did not increase significantly with reservoir adaptation. At 12 months, continence was excellent in all patients except two who reported occasional minimal nighttime seepage. The authors conclude that the W IPAA, modified to outlined pediatric standards, is a viable option for ileal reservoir reconstruction in the pediatric population; it provides excellent functional properties relative to straight ileoanal or non-IPAA procedures, and maintains stable initial and long-term pressure/volume relationship profiles and compliance characteristics necessary for optimal IPAA function.
Microplasma reforming of hydrocarbons for fuel cell power

Abstract The implementation of a microplasma approach for small scale reforming processes is explored as an alternative to more standard catalyst-based processes. Plasmas are a known approach to activating a chemical reaction in place of catalysts, and microplasmas are particularly attractive owing to their extremely high electron and power densities. Their inherent compactness gives them appeal for portable applications, but their modularity leads to scalability for higher capacity. We describe the realization of experimental microplasma reactors based on the microhollow cathode discharge (MHCD) structure by silicon micromachining for device fabrication. Experiments were carried out with model hydrocarbons methane and butane in the reactors within a microfluidic flow and analytical setup. We observe several key phenomena, including the ability to liberate hydrogen from the hydrocarbons at temperatures near ambient and sub-Watt input power levels, the tendency toward hydrocarbon decomposition rather than oxidation even in the presence of oxygen, and the need for a neutral carrier to obtain conversion. Mass and energy balances on these experiments revealed conversions up to nearly 50%, but the conversion of electrical power input to chemical reaction enthalpy was only on the order of 1%. These initial, exploratory results were recorded with devices and at process settings without optimization, and are hence promising for an emerging, catalyst-free reforming approach.
Rapid Rotating-Frame Imaging Using an RF Pulse Train (RIPT)

The rotating-frame imaging (RFI) method has proven useful for measuring the spatial distributions of NMR-visible nuclides without the aid of static magnetic field gradients. However, traditional RFI has several disadvantages, including relatively poor time efficiency and high RF power deposition in the sample. A B1-gradient imaging technique, rapid rotating-frame imaging using an RF pulse train (RIPT), is discussed which can reduce both the image data-acquisition time and the RF power deposition by several orders of magnitude compared to RFI. The method is most readily applied to samples having only one resonance line, but a chemical-shift-selective version is also described which permits imaging of arbitrary lines in multipeak spectra. It is shown that RIPT images can be produced even when sample relaxation times are only a few milliseconds. Furthermore, by adding a suitable preparation period to the sequence, the RIPT signal intensity can be weighted by the relaxation time constant. Finally, postprocessing techniques are described which correct some of the image distortions common to most B1-gradient imaging techniques.
Spinal Cord NMDA Receptor-Mediated Activation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Is Required for the Development and Maintenance of Bone Cancer-Induced Pain Hypersensitivities in Rats

Abstract Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls mRNA translation and is critical for neuronal plasticity. However, how it participates in central sensitization underlying chronic pain is unclear. Here, we show that NMDA receptors are required for the functional role of spinal cord mTOR in bone cancer pain induced by injecting prostate cancer cells (PCCs) into the tibia. Intrathecal rapamycin, a specific mTOR inhibitor, dose dependently attenuated the development and maintenance of PCC-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Rapamycin alone did not affect locomotor activity and acute responses to thermal or mechanical stimuli. Phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K (a downstream effector) was increased time dependently in L 4-5 dorsal horn and transiently in L 4-5 dorsal root ganglions on the ipsilateral side after PCC injection, although total expression of mTOR or p70S6K was not changed in these regions. The increases in dorsal horn were abolished by intrathecal infusion of DL-AP5, an NMDA receptor antagonist. Moreover, NMDA receptor subunit NR1 colocalized with mTOR and p70S6K in dorsal horn neurons. These findings suggest that PCC-induced dorsal horn activation of the mTOR pathway participates in NMDA receptor-triggered dorsal central sensitization under cancer pain conditions. Perspective The present study shows that inhibition of spinal mTOR blocks cancer-related pain without affecting acute pain and locomotor function. Given that mTOR inhibitors are FDA-approved drugs, mTOR in spinal cord may represent a potential new target for preventing and/or treating cancer-related pain.
Energetics of hydrogen impurities in aluminum and their effect on mechanical properties

The effects of hydrogen impurities in the bulk and on the surface of aluminum are theoretically investigated. Within the framework of density-functional theory, we have obtained the dependence on H concentration of the stacking fault energy, the cleavage energy, the Al/H surface energy, and the Al/H/Al interface formation energy. The results indicate a strong dependence of the slip energy barrier in the $[2\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}11]$ direction, the cleavage energy in the [111] direction and the Al/H/Al interface formation energy, on H concentration and on tension. The dependence of the Al/H surface energy on H coverage is less pronounced, while the optimal H coverage is \ensuremath{\leqslant}0.25 ML. The calculated activation energy for diffusion between high-symmetry sites in the bulk and on the surface is practically the same, 0.167 eV. From these results, we draw conclusions about the possible effect of H impurities on mechanical properties and, in particular, on their role in embrittlement of Al.
DIVERSE: a framework for building extensible and reconfigurable device-independent virtual environments and distributed asynchronous simulations

We present DIVERSE, a highly modular collection of complimentary software packages designed to facilitate the creation of device-independent virtual environments and distributed asynchronous simulations. DIVERSE is free/open source software, containing both end-user programs and C++ application programming interfaces (APIs).DPF is the DIVERSE graphics interface to OpenGL Performer. A program using the DPF API can run without modification on platforms ranging from fully immersive systems such as CAVEs to generic desktop workstations.The DIVERSE toolkit (DTK) contains all the nongraphical components of DIVERSE, such as networking utilities, hardware device access, and navigational techniques. It introduces a software implementation of networks of replicated noncoherent shared memory. It also introduces a method that seamlessly extends hardware drivers into interprocess and Internet hardware services.We will describe the design of DIVERSE and present a specific example of how it is being used to aid researchers.
ON THE USE OF STOCHASTIC HESSIAN INFORMATION IN OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR MACHINE LEARNING

This paper describes how to incorporate sampled curvature information in a Newton-CG method and in a limited memory quasi-Newton method for statistical learning. The motivation for this work stems from supervised machine learning applications involving a very large number of training points. We follow a batch approach, also known in the stochastic optimization literature as a sample average approximation approach. Curvature information is incorporated in two subsampled Hessian algorithms, one based on a matrix-free inexact Newton iteration and one on a preconditioned limited memory BFGS iteration. A crucial feature of our technique is that Hessian-vector multiplications are carried out with a significantly smaller sample size than is used for the function and gradient. The efficiency of the proposed methods is illustrated using a machine learning application involving speech recognition.
Theories meet realities: designing a learning game for girls

Nongamers expert in interaction design, learning, girls and games, and art teamed up with avid gamers versed in game design to create a fun science learning game that teaches evolution, adaptation and the history of life on earth to 8th and 9th graders.Funded by the National Science Foundation, we strove to design a game with high fun value, great science, and great pedagogy that also was good for girls. Ideally the game would integrate learning and fun in new ways.Game design progressed through 50 versions across four quite different game concepts (Earth Zoo Ship, The Critter Card Game, The Tree of Life Game, and Life Preservers), informed by frequent playtesting as well as design team member input. Pedagogy, science, and fun often conflicted. Girls were harder to engage and motivate than boys. Version 50 playtested well and will be used in experimental research on playstyle, gender and learning.
Real-Time View-Dependent Extraction of Isosurfaces from Adaptively Refined Octrees and Tetrahedral Meshes

We describe an adaptive isosurface visualization scheme designed for perspective rendering, taking into account the center of interest and other viewer-specified parameters. To hierarchically decompose a given data domain into a multiresolution data structure, we implement and compare two spatial subdivision data structures: an octree and a recursively defined tetrahedral mesh based on longest-edge bisection. We have implemented our view-dependent isosurface visualization approach using both data structures -- comparing storage requirements, computational efficiency, and visual quality.
Does Levodopa Accelerate Parkinson’s Disease?

Therapeutic options for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have expanded tremendously over the last 5 years, although levodopa remains the gold standard of therapy. A major therapeutic controversy has been the question of levodopa’s potential to cause toxic effects on nigrostriatal cells, thus potentiating the progression of the disease. The answer to that question will guide physicians in the timing of levodopa initiation and its dosage. The issue of levodopa toxicity was initially raised because of its potential to cause long term adverse effects (dyskinesias and motor fluctuations), which are not observed in untreated patients.
Right inframammary mini-thoracotomy approach to the mitral valve in women with breast implants.

ObjectiveMinimally invasive cardiac surgery in patients with breast implants is challenging. Obtaining access to cardiac structures without injuring the prosthesis and at the same time maintaining ...
Laparoscopic repair of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia in an adult.

ABSTRACT A patient undergoing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication had an intraoperative finding of a left Bochdalek hernia, which was repaired with an onlay of fenestrated PTFE. This appears to be the first report of such a case.
Inelastic-light-scattering study of magnetoplasma modes in a wide parabolic quantum well.

Inelastic light scattering was used to study the dispersion and magnetic-field dependence of both inter-Laudau and intersubband magnetoplasma modes in a wide parabolic quantum well. The intersubband magnetoplasmon energy (\ensuremath{\sim}11 meV) was found to be much greater than expected from a simple self-consistent Hartree calculation (\ensuremath{\sim}2 meV). The value is in fact very close to the bare harmonic energy of the well. This striking example of the absence of corrections to the single-particle energy from electron-electron interactions is the result of Kohn's theorem. In a magnetic field, the intersubband magnetoplasmon energy is constant except at the field where the inter-Landau energy crosses the intersubband energy. After the crossover, the intersubband energy shifts to a lower value. This is interpreted as a shift in oscillator strength from a bulklike to a surfacelike magnetoplasma mode.
Localization of N-acetylaspartylglutamate-like immunoreactivity in selected areas of the rat brain

N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) was detected immunohistochemically in the rat brain using an antiserum which recognizes carbodiimide-fixed NAAG. NAAG-like immunoreactivity is described in 5 areas of the brain; olfactory bulb, septal nuclear area, lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus and the entorhinal cortex/hippocampal formation. Mitral cells of the olfactory bulb and neurons concentrated in the medial septum were densely immunostained. A dense population of immunoreactive puncta was found in the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). The LGN also contained immunoreactive neurons. The entorhinal cortex contained numerous immunoreactive cells in layers II-III while the hippocampus had few neurons that were NAAG-positive.
A scalable model for complex flows

Abstract We describe a scalable parallel algorithm for numerical simulations of turbulent, radiative, magnetized, and reactive fluid + particle systems on message-passing, distributed-memory computers. Accurate simulation of such complex flows has applications in engine combustion, industrial pulverized coal burners, astrophysics, inertial confinement fusion, nuclear systems, and many other strategically and economically important areas. Our algorithm has been developed based on a widely-used combustion code KIVA-3, a plasma and radiation hydrodynamics code R-MHD, a classical particle dynamics code CMDT, and a discrete ordinates particle transport code TORT. The development is being done on the Intel Paragon with PVM and MPI extensions. We report high levels of parallel efficiency and scalability (up to 1024 nodes) for a baseline engine test case, using our current message-passing reactive and turbulent flow code. The three-dimensional extension of radiation magnetohydrodynamics component is still being worked at and we hope to report further progress in the future.
Association between reliance on devices and people for walking and ability to walk community distances among persons with spinal cord injury.

Objective To identify and describe the frequency of reliance on assistive devices and/or people for ambulating distances and stair climbing. Design Survey. Setting A total of 429 adults with traumatic spinal cord injury who were able to walk at least 10 m were identified through inpatient and outpatient hospital databases at a specialty hospital in the southeast United States. Outcome measure Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire including items related to distances walked and devices used for ambulation. Results Participants best able to ambulate community distances were those who were independent with ambulation and those who used one cane or crutch. Reliance on people or use of a walker was associated with walking shorter distances. Regression analysis indicated reliance on devices or people for walking predicted variation in ability to ambulate community distances after controlling for demographic and injury characteristics. Conclusion This study suggests that reliance on devices or a ...
Optimal checkpointing and local recording for domino-free rollback recovery

Abstract Backward error recovery or rollback recovery is a well-known technique used in the design of reliable uni-processor computer systems. However, use of this technique for design of reliable distributed computer systems could result in uncontrolled rollback which is known as the domino effect. Here, we formally present the reasons for the domino effect by specifically identifying the unmatched receives (backward dependency) and unmatched sends (retransmission dependency) that occur during reexecution as the sole causes. A technique is developed which selectively stores the received messages in order to account for the backward dependencies and which coordinates the checkpoints to eliminate the retransmission dependencies, thus achieving domino-free rollback. Rollback is confined only to the interacting processes by dependency tracking of the messages. Further, we present a scheme for identifying and purging possibly contaminated messages during recovery. Our scheme is compared with some of the existing schemes and its significant advantages are highlighted.
Neurophysiological concomitants of soman-induced respiratory depression in awake, behaving guinea pigs

Abstract Soman-induced respiratory failure was investigated in awake, behaving guinea pigs chronically instrumented to allow concurrent recordings of medullary respiratory-related unit (RRU) activity, diaphragm electromyogram (DEMG), and electrocorticogram. Responses to soman typically began with hyperpnea. Loss of consciousness, as indicated by the development of seizure activities, took place shortly after the onset of hyperpnea. This was followed by dyspnea, hypopnea, and, finally, respiratory failure. The most profound respiratory dysfunctions were seen during the development of dyspnea characterized by a progressively degenerative RRU-DEMG phase relationship (phase anomalies) and mixed patterns of ataxic breathing. Electrophysiographic records indicated that the anomalous RRU-DEMG phase phenomenon is attributable to a state of functional dissociation in some brainstem mechanisms that are normally involved in the orchestration of a synchronous respiratory drive. The failure of bulbar rhythmogenic mechanisms to maintain an orderly and synchronous recruitment of respiratory drive, which led to untimely and chaotic activations of respiratory muscles, was apparently the underlying cause of various ataxic breathing patterns and a reduced ventilatory efficiency. Spectral analyses of DEMG activities showed that, despite episodic muscle fasciculations and signs of fatigue, the functional integrity of the diaphragm was not significantly compromised by soman at a dose sufficient to produce respiratory failure. These findings not only support the notion of a relatively more important involvement of central respiratory mechanisms in soman-induced respiratory failure, but also identify a state of functional dissociation of central respiratory timing mechanisms as being a significant component in soman intoxication.
TOWARD A REALISTIC THERMODYNAMIC MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC MODEL OF THE GLOBAL SOLAR CORONA

In this work, we describe our implementation of a thermodynamic energy equation into the global corona model of the Space Weather Modeling Framework and its development into the new lower corona (LC) model. This work includes the integration of the additional energy transport terms of coronal heating, electron heat conduction, and optically thin radiative cooling into the governing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy equation. We examine two different boundary conditions using this model; one set in the upper transition region (the radiative energy balance model), as well as a uniform chromospheric condition where the transition region can be modeled in its entirety. Via observation synthesis from model results and the subsequent comparison to full Sun extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray observations of Carrington rotation 1913 centered on 1996 August 27, we demonstrate the need for these additional considerations when using global MHD models to describe the unique conditions in the low corona. Through multiple simulations, we examine the ability of the LC model to assess and discriminate between coronal heating models, and find that a relative simple empirical heating model is adequate in reproducing structures observed in the low corona. We show that the interplay between coronal heating and electron heat conduction provides significant feedback onto the three-dimensional magnetic topology in the low corona as compared to a potential field extrapolation, and that this feedback is largely dependent on the amount of mechanical energy introduced into the corona.
Teaching The Millennial Generation: Considerations For Nurse Educators

A particular challenge for nurse educators has always been to discover the most relevant ways to promote student learning. Each generation of students presents with unique circumstances. The predominant characteristics of the current generation of nursing students are presented in this article. Suggestions are given regarding strategies to strengthen and maintain the characteristics that will be beneficial to students when they become RNs, while at the same time modifying or diminishing those that will not.
Classical discrimination conditioning of heart rate and bar-press suppression in the rat

Eight rats, previously trained on a variable interval (VI-30 sec) schedule for food reinforcement, received two days of adaptation to tones and five days of classical discrimination conditioning in which one of two tones was paired with shock. The major findings were (a) responses to the CS+ included bar-press (B-P) suppression and a decrease in heart rate (HR); (b) responses to the CS− included B-P facilitation and an increase in HR; (c) changes in HR conditioned more slowly than changes in B-P; and (d) the HR response topography indicated that most HR responding occurred in the latter half of the CS-US interval.
Extracting Answers from the Web Using Knowledge Annotation and Knowledge Mining Techniques

Abstract : Aranea is a question answering system that extracts answers from the World Wide Web using knowledge annotation and knowledge mining techniques. Knowledge annotation, which utilizes semistructured database techniques, is effective for answering large classes of commonly occurring questions. Knowledge mining, which utilizes statistical techniques, can leverage the massive amounts of data available on the Web to overcome many natural language processing challenges. Aranea integrates these two different paradigms of question answering into a single framework. For the TREC evaluation, we also explored the problem of answer projection, or finding supporting documents for our Web-derived answers from the AQUAINT corpus.
A More Powerful Test in Three-Level Cluster Randomized Designs.

Abstract Field experiments that involve nested structures frequently assign treatment conditions to entire groups (such as schools). A key aspect of the design of such experiments includes knowledge of the clustering effects that are often expressed via intraclass correlation. This study provides methods for constructing a more powerful test for the treatment effect in three-level cluster randomized designs with two levels of nesting (at the second and third levels). When the intraclass correlation structure at the second and third level is assumed to be known, the proposed test provides higher estimates of power than those obtained from the typical test based on level-3 unit means, because it preserves the degrees of freedom associated with the number of level-2 and level-1 units. The advantage in power estimates is more pronounced when the number of level-3 units (e.g., schools) is small and the samples are homogeneous (e.g., low-achieving schools).
A qualitative study of supervisees’ internal representations of supervisors

Eleven US-based doctoral student supervisees were interviewed regarding their internal representations (IRs) of their clinical supervisors. Data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. In speaking about their overall IR experiences, supervisees reported that their exposure to IRs occurred at off-site practicum placements. The IRs, which were both spontaneous and intentionally invoked, usually were auditory in form, were stimulated by supervisees’ clinical work, were used to guide their clinical performance, and were considered a normal part of their development. When describing one specific IR, supervisees characterized the relationship with the supervisor as positive, and noted that supervision focused on clinical interventions. These brief and vivid IRs were auditory/verbal in form, occurred spontaneously, and consisted of the supervisor instructing or supporting the supervisee when s/he felt challenged or doubted her/himself clinically. The IRs yielded positive effects, but were usually no...
A study of the racial identity and achievement of black males and females

A review of the literature suggests that little information exists regarding the self‐perceptions of gifted Black students. Yet, more than 400 studies have explored the racial identity status and development of Black children and adults. This study examined the racial identity and achievement of 152 Black males and females. Forty‐two Black adolescents (28%) were identified as gifted by their school districts. Sixty‐two students (42%) were underachieving, a disproportionate percentage of them male. Comparisons were made by three variables — gender, achievement status (underachieving vs. achieving) and academic ability (44 gifted, 67 potentially gifted, and 38 general education students). T‐test and ANOVA results indicate that students tended to have strong, positive racial identities. However, males and underachievers had less positive racial identities than females and achievers. Also, gifted students had more positive racial identities than other students.
Combining Geogrid Reinforcement and Lime Treatment to Control Dry Land Longitudinal Cracking

In Texas, dry land longitudinal cracking on the farm-to-market network is one of the most prevalent pavement distresses caused by the volumetric change of expansive subgrade soils. Geogrid reinforcement and lime treatment are found to be the most effective methods to control dry land cracks. To provide a safer and more conservative approach for the pavement structure over expansive subgrade, it is desirable to combine the two methods to be more effective in controlling dry land cracks. This paper describes how to appropriately integrate geogrid and lime so that both methods can contribute to the prevention of longitudinal cracks due to the shrinkage of expansive subgrade. Finite element modeling shows that the best place to install the geogrid should be at the interface of the lime-treated layer and the untreated soil, which is close to the initiation location of shrinkage cracks. At this location, the geogrid can effectively reduce the stress concentration at the upper crack tip. A geogrid with higher stiffness provides more benefit. Lime treatment can improve the tensile strength and fracture toughness of the expansive soil, which further reduces the possibility of cracks propagating through the lime-treated layer. Therefore, the combination of geogrid reinforcement and lime treatment is efficient for the control of dry land longitudinal cracking. The development of multiple shrinkage cracks helps to decrease stress concentration at the crack tips when the geogrid stiffness is at a low level. If the geogrid has an extremely high stiffness, the effect of additional shrinkage cracks is not significant in the numerical simulation.
μ-Acetato-μ-(5-chloro-2-{1,3-bis[2-(5-chloro-2-oxidobenzylideneamino)ethyl]imidazolidin-2-yl}phenolato)-bis[methanolnickel(II)] methanol monosolvate monohydrate

The crystal structure shows that the title compound, [Ni2(CH3CO2)(C27H24Cl3N4O3)(CH4O)2]·CH3OH·H2O, con­tains [Ni2L(OAc)(CH3OH)2] mol­ecules in the unit cell {H3L = 5-chloro-2-{1,3-bis[2-(5-chloro-2-oxidobenzylideneimino)-ethyl]imidazolidin-2-yl}phenolate} with water and methanol as solvates. The title compound is a neutral dinuclear compound, in which the L3− Schiff base acts as a hepta­dentate ligand, using each one of its N2O compartments to coordinate a nickel atom. The acetate anion bridges the two nickel atoms via one O while the distorted octahedral coordination sphere for each nickel atom is completed by a coordinated methanol ligand. One of the coordinated methanol ligands is involved in an intra­molecular hydrogen bond to the uncoordinated O atom of the bridging acetate ligand while the other forms a hydrogen bond with the methanol solvate. The solvate water mol­ecule forms strong hydrogen bonds to both terminal phenolato O atoms. The methanol solvate mol­ecule also forms a hydrogen bond with the water solvate mol­ecule.
RELATIVISTIC DYNAMICS OF EXPANDING SOURCES

Given a relativistically expanding source, the transformation of the emission spectrum from the comoving frame of the source to the observer's frame is calculated. In particular, we deal with two special cases, that of a uniformly expanding sphere and that of a cylinder. In each case we consider a power-law spectrum with two distinct regions — the optically thick and thin parts — and transform those regions separately. The results are discussed, and a generalized procedure for transforming a spectrum of unspecified form is outlined. This procedure takes into account any bulk motion by the source as well as expansion. Finally, applications of this procedure to astrophysical sources are briefly discussed.
Computation and plotting of solid particle flow in rotating cascades

Abstract A numerical technique to solve the three dimensional equations of motion of solid particles suspended by a compressible fluid flow in a rotating cascade of a turbomachine is presented. The solution of these equations utilizes the numerically computed nonparticle fluid flow properties through the same cascade channel. It also takes into consideration the experimentally investigated phenomenon of solid particle impingement with the blade surface and turbomachine casing and their subsequent rebound. Computer plottings of the absolute paths of the solid particles, their trajectories relative to the rotor blades, and their velocity distributions in a turbine stator, turbine stage, and a compressor one and one-half stage are given.
Clinical utility of free drug monitoring

Most drugs are bound to serum proteins to a various degree. Only unbound or free drug is pharmacologically active. Usually total drug is measured for therapeutic monitoring because there is equilibrium between bound and free drugs, and concentration of free drug can be predicted from total drug concentration. However, under certain conditions this equilibrium is disturbed and the measured free drug concentration can be significantly higher than expected from total drug concentrations, especially for strongly protein-bound drugs. In such case a patient may experience drug toxicity even if the total drug concentration is within the therapeutic range. Conditions like uremia, liver disease and hypoalbuminemia can lead to significant increases in free drug concentration. Therefore, monitoring free phenytoin and free valproic acid is recommended in these patients. Drug-drug interactions can also lead to a disproportionate increase in free drug concentration. One strongly protein-bound drug can significantly displace another strongly protein-bound drug if both drugs share the same binding site. Several over-the-counter pain medications such as salicylate, naproxen, and ibuprofen can cause significant displacement of both phenytoin and valproic acid from albumin binding site. Interestingly, such interactions are absent in uremic patients. Elderly patients may have increased free phenytoin or valproic acid due to hypoalbuminemia. Elevated free phenytoin concentrations have also been reported in patients with AIDS. Although digoxin is 25% bound to protein, monitoring free digoxin is useful in patients with elevated endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactive substances or in patients overdosed with digoxin and being treated with digibind. Monitoring free digoxin can also eliminate interference of Chinese medicines Chan Su and Danshen in serum digoxin measurement by certain immunoassays. However, free drug monitoring is not a routine procedure in clinical laboratories due to technical difficulties and lack of established reference ranges for free drugs.
Increased pre-dispersal seed predation in sunflower crop-wild hybrids.

The fitness of crop-wild hybrids can influence gene flow between crop and wild populations. Seed predation levels in crop-wild hybrid plants can be an important factor in determining plant fitness, especially in large-seeded crops such as sunflower. To determine patterns of pre-dispersal seed predation, seeds were collected from wild sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) and wild×crop F1 hybrids at three experimental field sites in eastern Kansas. Seed heads were dissected and each seed was counted and scored for categories of seed damage by lepidopteran and coleopteran larvae. Hybrid seed heads showed significantly higher levels of insect-damaged seeds. The average hybrid plant had 36.5% of its seeds (or 45.1 seeds per plant) eaten by insect larvae while the average wild plant lost only 1.8% (or 95 seeds) to seed predators. Hybrid populations had higher levels of total insect damage even when date of flowering, flower head diameter, and the number of open heads within the study site were accounted for. These results suggest that the reduced fecundity of F1 crop-wild sunflower hybrids demonstrated in other studies may be augmented by the increased seed predation in hybrid flower heads. Fecundity estimates of crop-wild hybrid and wild plants that disregard differential seed predation levels may not accurately reflect the actual relative contributions of hybrid and wild plants to future generations.
Five-year effect of medical and surgical therapy on resting left ventricular function in stable angina: Veterans administration cooperative study

Abstract The effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medical therapy on 5-year resting left ventricular (LV) function was studied in 194 randomized patients with stable angina in the Veterans Administration Study of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. LV ejection fraction (EF) was determined in a central laboratory. The 92 medical and 102 surgical patients were comparable at entry with respect to historic, angiographic and electrocardiographic prognostic indicators. Twenty-eight percent of the medical and 30% of the surgical patients had a baseline EF of
Abstract 4452: Mother-daughter communication and breast cancer prevention knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors between Hispanic and non-Hispanic college women

Background: Although breast cancer prevention programs focus primarily on women ages 40 and older, little is known about breast cancer prevention awareness among young women. Cancer communication is essential for early detection and treatment for Hispanic and non-Hispanic women. Data trends show Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced stages of breast cancer at an early age. Aim: The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine mother-daughter communication and breast cancer prevention knowledge, attitudes, and breast self-examination (BSE) behaviors between Hispanic and non-Hispanic college women. Method: Using a cross sectional study design, a convenience sample of college women ages 18 and older were surveyed in Fall 2010 at a southwestern university. Survey items were developed using the Health Belief Model framework. An open-ended item was included to elicit descriptions of breast cancer prevention advice received from their mothers. Results: Self-reported data were obtained from 71 college women (44% Hispanic and 56% non-Hispanic) ages 18 to 49 with a mean age of 22.6 (SD = 5.6). Overall, 33% received mother-daughter communication about breast cancer prevention, 80% received a provider9s recommendation to conduct BSE, and 62% conducted BSE. Nearly 74% knew someone with breast cancer. Bivariate analysis revealed no significant differences for mother-daughter communication, knowledge, and self-efficacy for breast cancer prevention. In content analysis, only non-Hispanic college women received advice from their mothers about modifiable risk factors for breast cancer prevention. Hispanic college women (84%) were more likely compared to non-Hispanic women (63%) to have friends who supported BSE (p=.023). In addition, Hispanic college women (61%) were more likely compared to non-Hispanic women (38%) to seek online breast cancer information (p=.023). Conclusion: Our preliminary findings support the need for college educational breast cancer prevention programs including risk factors. Future research is suggested with a larger sample size to validate findings as well as to explore Internet use to seek quality online health information with an emphasis on breast cancer prevention information. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4452. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4452
Pinacol macrocyclization-based route to the polyfused medium-sized CDE ring system of lancifodilactone G.

The polyfused medium-sized CDE ring system of lancifodilactone G is assembled via B-alkyl Suzuki−Miyaura cross-coupling and SmI2-mediated pinacol macrocyclization as the key strategic steps.
Short segment pyloric narrowing. Pylorospasm or pyloric stenosis

Short segment narrowing of the pyloric canal is a common finding in infants with chronic vomiting, and most often is due to pylorospasm. In such cases, it is transient, and offers no real problem in diagnosis. On the other hand, when it persists, a question arises as to whether it is due to fixed stenosis. Differentiation of the two conditions is difficult, but important, for while spasm can be treated medically, true stenosis requires surgical intervention. Just how to accomplish this differentiation is the subject of this report, and for the most part, centers around the infant's response to a therapeutic trial of antispasmodics. Patients with pylorospasm respond favorably, while those with fixed stenosis do not. Generally, these latter patients require polyromyotomy, but in the occasional infant, so little muscle hypertrophy is present that we have found pyloroplasty to be the preferred procedure.
Bisexual Erasure in ‘Lesbian Vampire' Film Theory

Lesbian vampire theory operates within the matrix of feminism, queer theory, and horror studies. Bisexuality has a strained relationship with queer theory, and Christopher James provides a compelling account of how bisexuality has been appropriated by queer, lesbian, and gay theory. The strategy James terms “appropriation without representation” occurs when theorists do not include bisexuality as a sexual orientation in their analysis, yet they label characters that behave in bisexual ways as gay or lesbian. Bisexual characters have been written out of scholarship about ‘lesbian vampire' films through this appropriation. A bisexual epistemological perspective accounts for a broader understanding of the sexuality expressed in films that are traditionally included in the ‘lesbian vampire' subgenre, such as The Hunger (1983), Blood and Roses (1960), and Daughters of Darkness (1971). This article charts how bisexuality functions invisibly within these so-called lesbian vampire films and how scholarship surrou...
OGG1 is degraded by calpain following oxidative stress and cisplatin exposure

Abstract Deficient repair activity for 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanine (8-oxoguanine), a premutagenic oxidative DNA damage, has been observed in affected tissues in neurodegenerative diseases of aging, such as Alzheimer's disease, and in ischemia/reperfusion injury, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancer. These conditions have in common the accumulation of oxidative DNA damage, which is believed to play a role in disease progression, and loss of intracellular calcium regulation. These observations suggest that oxidative DNA damage repair capacity may be influenced by fluctuations in cellular calcium. We have identified human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1), the major 8-oxoguanine repair activity, as a specific target of the Ca 2+ -dependent protease Calpain I. Protein sequencing of a truncated partially calpain-digested OGG1 revealed that calpain recognizes OGG1 for degradation at a putative PEST (proline, glutamic acid, serine, threonine) sequence in the C-terminus of the enzyme. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that OGG1 and Calpain I are associated in human cells. Exposure of HeLa cells to hydrogen peroxide or cisplatin resulted in the degradation of OGG1. Pretreatment of cells with the calpain inhibitor calpeptin resulted in inhibition of OGG1 proteolysis and suggests that OGG1 is a target for calpain-mediated degradation in vivo during oxidative stress- and cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Polymorphic OGG1 S326C was comparatively resistant to calpain digestion in vitro , yet was also degraded by a calpain-dependent pathway in vivo following DNA damaging agent exposure. The degradation of OGG1 by calpain may contribute to decreased 8-oxoguanine repair activity and elevated levels of 8-oxoguanine reported in tissues undergoing chronic oxidative stress, ischemia/reperfusion, and other cellular stressors known to produce perturbations of intracellular calcium homeostasis which activate calpain.
Augmenting commercial wireless transceivers with time-of-arrival positioning

The augmentation of commercial wireless hardware with time-of-arrival (ToA) estimation enables pervasive wireless networks to serve additionally as positioning systems. ToA-augmented wireless links offer the ability to provide accurate localization in environments not served by global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) with greater accuracy than inertial sensing systems and wireless fingerprinting. In this paper we propose the augmentation of IEEE 802.11 commercial hardware with ToA through an add-on hardware module. Two processing architectures are introduced, loopback and loopback with probing, to leverage the ToA module. The calibration of local device clocks due to unstable frequency references is also presented. Finally, a discussion of positioning algorithms with simulations demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed ToA module to provide high-precision, low-cost positioning without the addition of significant system infrastructure.
Undergraduate laser and optical physics laboratory course at the U.S. Air Force Academy

We have developed a new senior-level undergraduate laboratory course at the US Air Force Academy. The students perform six experiments that include; optical modulators, waveguiding, laser kinetics, CO2 lasers, harmonic generation and the measurement of ultrashort laser pulses. These experiments were chosen so that there is an integrated theme of lasers and optics, to teach experimental methods and reinforce fundamental physics concepts. © (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Energy transfer from vibrationally excited SF6 to benzene, hexafluorobenzene, fluorobenzene and toluene

Abstract Relaxation of vibrationally excited SF6 by the two distinct processes, V → R,T and V → V, was studied using the various large-molecule deactivators benzene, hexafluorobenzene, fluorobenzene and toluene. Energy relaxation rates were measured using two methods, one sensing changes in the translational energy of the gas mixture, the other sensing changes in the internal energy of the deactivating molecule. Collision efficiencies and estimates of accuracy for the V → R,T and V → V energy transfer processes were determined through detailed modeling. Results are compared with previous studies in which the time-resolved vibrational energy in the donor molecule was measured, but an unambiguous distinction between V → R,T and V → V processes could not always be made.
Measurement of diurnal changes in potato tuber growth

A system was developed for continuous,in situ measurement of potato tuber growth. The system consists of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) attached to a nylon line which is looped around a developing tuber. Tension is applied to the line so that changes in tuber circumference can be measured with the LVDT and recorded at selected time intervals with a datalogger. Measurements of tubers from potted plants grown in the greenhouse show that tubers follow a diurnal pattern of expansion and contraction. Expansion occurs primarily during the late night and early morning hours when turgor recovery normally occurs.
A parallel algorithm for finding a maximum clique of a set of circular arcs of a circle

Abstract This paper gives a parallel algorithm for the problem of finding a maximum clique of a circular-arc graph when a circular-arc model is given. Our parallel algorithm runs in O(log2 n) time using O(n3/log n) processors in the CREW PRAM model.
Functional Assessment of Behavior and Effective Supports for Young Children with Challenging Behaviors

This article provides a proactive functional assessment and intervention framework for addressing challenging behaviors in young children. A three-tiered model is described that outlines prevention...
Jamaican vomiting sickness: A theoretical investigation

Abstract Jamaican Vomiting Sickness has been investigated for over sixty years, and yet this acute disease remains an epidemiological mystery. In this article, we have critically examined the toxin hypotheses emphasized in the literature—particularly the ackee and yam theories of causation. Because of the inadequacies of the conventional toxin hypotheses, we suggest that more attention should be given to a malnutrition hypothesis and a psychogenic hypothesis. Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (JVS), a reportedly culture bound syndrome, may very well have multiple causation. That is, toxin, malnutrition, and psychogenic etiologies may be operative independently and sometimes jointly in the epidemics and family outbreaks of acute and often fatal Jamaican Vomiting Sickness.
A comparison of intralingual and intravenous epinephrine before and during cardiovascular depression

Dose-response methodology was used to evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of epinephrine administered intravenously and intralingually to normotensive and acutely hypotensive dogs and monkeys. Results indicate that the intralingual route is much less effective than the intravenous route and that conventional doses of emergency drugs injected intralingually may not afford sufficient resuscitative effects to be lifesaving during cardiovascular depression.
Total Synthesis of the Putative Structure of Lucentamycin A

A rapid and stereoselective enolate-Claisen rearrangement provides access to the 4-ethylidene-3-methylproline (Emp) subunit of lucentamycin A. Synthesis of the putative structure of the cytotoxic natural product suggests the need for structural revision.