cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competitive Designs of Evaporator Top Cap of the Micro Loop Heat Pipe

The Micro Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) is a two phase device that may be used to cool electronics, solar collectors and other devices in space applications. A LHP is a two-phase device with extremely high effective thermal conductivity that utilizes the thermodynamic pressure difference developed between the evaporator and condenser and capillary forces developed inside its wicked evaporator to circulate a working fluid through a closed loop. While previous experiments have shown reduction in chip temperature, maximum heat flux was less than theoretically predicted. This paper addresses the main problem with the past designs of top cap which has been the conduction of heat from the heat source to the primary wick. The new top cap design provides conduction pathways which enables the uniform distribution of heat to the wick. The provision of conduction pathways in the top cap increases the pressure losses and decreases the temperature drop. The feasible competitive designs of the top cap with conduction pathways from the fabrication point of view were discussed in detail. Calculation of pressure drop and temperature drop is essential for the determination of optimal solutions of the top cap. Approximate pressure drop was calculated for the top cap designs using simple 2-D microchannel principles. Finite element modeling was performed to determine the temperature drop in the conduction pathways. The conditions used for arriving at the optimal design solutions are discussed. A trapezoidal slot top cap design was chosen for fabrication as it was relatively easy to fabricate with available MEMS fabrication technologies. The exact pressure drop calculation was performed on the fabricated top cap using commercial flow solver FLUENT 6.1 with appropriate boundary conditions. The temperature drop calculation was performed by finite element modeling in ANSYS 6.1. Obtained values of pressure drop and temperature drop for fabricated trapezoidal slot top cap was found to be within the optimal limits.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Rapid structural design change evaluation with an experiment based FEM

Abstract The work in this paper proposes a dynamic structural design model that can be developed in a rapid fashion. The approach endeavours to produce a simplified FEM developed in conjunction with an experimental modal database. The FEM is formulated directly from the geometry and connectivity used in an experimental modal test using beam/frame elements. The model sacrifices fine detail for a rapid development time. The FEM is updated at the element level so the dynamic response replicates the experimental results closely. The physical attributes of the model are retained, making it well suited to evaluate the effect of potential design changes. The capabilities are evaluated in a series of computational and laboratory tests. First, a study is performed with a simulated cantilever beam with a variable mass and stiffness distribution. The modal characteristics serve as the updating target with random noise added to simulate experimental uncertainty. A uniformly distributed FEM is developed and updated. The results show excellent results, all natural frequencies are within 0·001% with MAC values above 0·99. Next, the method is applied to predict the dynamic changes of a hardware portal frame structure for a radical design change. Natural frequency predictions from the original FEM differ by as much as almost 18% with reasonable MAC values. The results predicted from the updated model produce excellent results when compared to the actual hardware changes, the first five modal natural frequency difference is around 5% and the corresponding mode shapes producing MAC values above 0·98.
Fatigue in Textile Fibers Part III: Fatiguing by Biaxial Rotation

A single-station machine on which a fiber can be fatigued in a localized region, by being axially rotated in a bent configuration, has been built. The test fiber, on either side of the bend, is mou...
Critical Appraisal of the Evidence

Based on the relation found to exist between low CSF 5-HIAA and suicide attempt, in particular violent suicide attempt, both in depressed and in so-called nondepressed suicide attempters, the conclusion was drawn that decreased central 5-HT metabolism is related to (auto)aggression, rather than to depression. We challenged this conclusion and that for three reasons: Violent suicide attempt accumulates in certain types of depression making it impossible to conclude whether the biological variable relates to (auto)aggression or to that type of depression as such. Nondepressed suicide attempter is a diagnosis that should be based on presuicidal not on postsuicidal data, in order to avoid false-positive diagnoses. Suicide method is not a reliable index of seriousness of the attempt. Risk/rescue ratio should be used instead. Next the data are discussed that do support the hypothesis that diminished 5-HT metabolism in the brain is related to disregulation of aggression. Finally, the hypothesis is launched that both mood and aggression disorders are related to decreased 5-HT metabolism in the CNS. This would provide a biological explanation for the clinical observation that disorders in mood and in aggression often go hand in hand. Biological research of psychiatric disorders gains in informative value as the psychopathological analysis of the phenomena one studies is more comprehensive. Biological suicide research is no exception to this rule.
Analysis of kernel density estimation of functions of random variables

In the current investigation, the problem of estimating the probability density of a function of m independent identically distributed random variables, g(X 1, …, X m ) is considered. Defining the integrated square contrast (ISC)and its mean (MISC), we study the central limit theorem of (ISO–MISC) as well as the second order approximation of both ISC and MISC. Via simulation and also using real data, we address some of the practical aspects of choosing the optimal bandwidth which minimizes the asymptotic MISC and its data based analog which minimizes ISC.
WE‐C‐ValA‐08: Development of a Patient Specific Respiratory Motion Model for Predicting Dose to Moving Organs During Radiotherapy

Purpose: Respiratory motion is an important limitation to accurate calculation of dose to organs in the thorax and abdomen during treatment. We describe a model to estimate 3‐dimensional motion in patient CTimages. This model can be parameterized by navigators such as a signal from a respiratory monitor, or diaphragm position measured in fluoroscopy. We evaluate the accuracy of the model in predicting anatomic changes in respiration‐correlated CT (RCCT) images of lung cancer patients. Method and Experiment: Our method makes use of deformable image registration, thereby automating the modelcalibration and providing a complete determination of 3D trajectories for all tissue voxels of the moving organs.Calibration of the model uses a series of RCCT images. Each 3D image in the series is tagged by two navigators: current diaphragm position and precursor position which distinguishes between the inspiration and expiration portion of the respiratory cycle. Nonrigid registration is used to calculate the deformation field that maps each 3D image to a reference 3D image at end expiration. We perform a principle component analysis (PCA) to determine the 3D deformation parameterized by navigators. We evaluate the model by comparing the predicted 3D images with actual 3D images at different phases in the breathing cycle. Results: For RCCT images, predicted images calculated from the first two principal components at different respiration phases are found to accurately reproduce anatomic motion observed in the actual images, indicating the model's ability to predict the voxel trajectory anywhere in the cycle. Furthermore, the model can predict motion induced changes that were not in the original image set, such as deeper and shallower breathing. Conclusion: Preliminary experimental results indicate that the proposed method is a potentially useful tool for treatment planning and evaluation of dose to moving organs when patient breathing is monitored.
Observing Literacy Practices in History Classrooms

History teachers are faced with numerous literacy-related decisions about the types of texts they use and how students are taught to learn with texts. Teachers' decisions about texts and instruction reflect their knowledge of historical inquiry processes and attitudes about the purpose of history instruction, specifically whether instruction on historical processes should be integrated with instruction on the historical narrative. Eight high school history teachers were observed over a three-week period to assess their literacy-related decisions. Records were kept of the texts they used and the activities and instruction they provided in association with various types of texts. Frequency counts were made for each teacher for different texts and activities, and comparisons were made across teachers. Additionally, an analysis was conducted to assess the way different texts were used. Results indicated that teachers relied heavily on textbooks and general literacy instruction, such as worksheets and vocabula...
Simulation of a flexible manufacturing system-applications of computer operating system techniques

Scheduling rules for a specific general purpose Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) were investigated. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate effects and interactions of three types of scheduling rules on FMS performance. The rules included part scheduling on the machines and two resource allocation rules for tool scheduling and cart scheduling. Due to the numerous similarities in the scheduling and resource allocation problems of computer operating systems and the FMS, some techniques from operating systems were applied to the FMS to reduce thrashing, prevent deadlocks and increase cart utilization efficiency. A SLAM simulation model was developed to study the performance of the scheduling rules.
Structural insights into human serum albumin-mediated prostaglandin catalysis.

Previous studies have shown that many arachidonic acid metabolites bind to human serum albumin (HSA) and that the metabolism of these molecules is altered as a result of binding. The present study attempted to gain insights into the mechanisms by which prostaglandins bound to subdomain 2A of HSA are metabolized by catalytic processes. The breakdown of the prostaglandin 15-keto-PGE2 to 15-keto-PGA2 and 15-keto-PGB2 in the presence of wild-type HSA and a number of subdomain 2A mutants was examined using a previously validated spectroscopic method which monitors absorbance at 505 nm. The species examined using this method were wild-type HSA, K195M, K199M, F211V, W214L, R218M, R218P, R218H, R222M, H242V, R257M, and bovine serum albumin. Previous studies of HSA-mediated catalysis indicated that the breakdown of HSA-bound prostaglandins results from an alkaline microenvironment in the binding site. Our results show that the catalytic breakdown of HSA-bound 15-keto-PGE2 to 15-keto-PGB2 results from two specific processes which are modulated by specific amino acid residues. Specifically, some amino acid residues modulate the rate of step 1, the conversion of 15-keto-PGE2 to 15-keto-PGA2, while other residues modulate the rate of step 2, the conversion of 15-keto-PGA2 to 15-keto-PGB2. Some residues modulate the rate of steps 1 and 2. In total, while our results support the involvement of certain basic amino acid residues in the catabolism of HSA-bound 15-keto-PGE2, our data suggest that metabolism of HSA-bound prostaglandins may be a more complex and specific process than previously thought.
Collaborative, individualized assessment.

Collaborative, individualized assessment is an approach to psychological assessment in which the assessor and the client work together to develop productive understandings. Collaboration is a means of individualizing the assessment-its process, resulting suggestions, and written accounts. In this approach, life events are regarded as primary data. Test scores, categories, and related research are used as bridges into a particular life and as tools for then exploring that life. This article, an invited Master Lecture presented at the 1999 Society for Personality Assessment (SPA) meeting, presents examples of contextualizing, intervening, describing in life-world terms, and writing individualized reports with suggestions. Historical struggles to promote individualized assessment and current openness to its practices, especially within SPA, are mentioned. A hermeneutic approach to impression formation is described.
Properties of octafluorocyclobutane, a dielectric gas

There is a continuing need for improvement in all types of electric equipment. New applications call for higher operating temperatures, better reliability, smaller size, lighter weight, and little, if any, increase in cost. At the present level of design perfection, new materials having better properties are often required for making equipment which can handle higher voltages, or more power per pound or per cubic foot.
Drug-induced liver injury in the elderly.

Historically, the elderly have been considered to be at increased risk for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Animal studies have demonstrated changes in hepatic physiology that affect drug metabolism in the aging liver; however, there is no evidence that this leads to any appreciable deterioration of liver function in healthy older humans. Updated data from international DILI registries give us pause to consider whether the elderly are truly at increased risk to develop hepatic injury. Instead, hepatotoxicity in the elderly appears to be more a function of drug exposure, polypharmacy and drug−drug interactions. Isoniazid and benoxaprofen are the only two agents with a well-studied correlation between increasing age and risk of DILI. Nevertheless, given the increasing proportion of patients over age 65 in the U.S. and abroad, the influence of age on the risk of DILI is the focus of this review.
Adaptation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to growth on cholesterol: Selection of mutants defective in the formation of lanosterol

Summary The ability of cholesterol to support the growth of a heme-deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been examined. Growth was slow for an extended period of time until an “adaptation” occurred resulting in faster growth. This adaptation has proven to be the selection of spontaneous mutants in steps of the sterol biosynthetic pathway just prior to the formation of lanosterol. This observation is consistent with the detrimental effects of lanosterol on membrane properties. Our “adapted” strains grow over a narrower range of pH on cholesterol as compared to ergosterol.
Outlier detection for high dimensional data

The outlier detection problem has important applications in the field of fraud detection, network robustness analysis, and intrusion detection. Most such applications are high dimensional domains in which the data can contain hundreds of dimensions. Many recent algorithms use concepts of proximity in order to find outliers based on their relationship to the rest of the data. However, in high dimensional space, the data is sparse and the notion of proximity fails to retain its meaningfulness. In fact, the sparsity of high dimensional data implies that every point is an almost equally good outlier from the perspective of proximity-based definitions. Consequently, for high dimensional data, the notion of finding meaningful outliers becomes substantially more complex and non-obvious. In this paper, we discuss new techniques for outlier detection which find the outliers by studying the behavior of projections from the data set.
R&d and marketing managers in high-tech companies: Are they different?

Although R and D marketing integration is essential for innovation success, their interactions are often difficult and conflict ridden. It has been suggested that sociocultural differences between them in terms of their orientation towards time, types of projects they prefer to work on, their tolerance for ambiguity, and their professional and bureaucratic orientations can significantly contribute to the quality of the vital interface. The findings of this study of R and D and marketing managers in high-tech companies contradict the generally held beliefs that these managers are socioculturally different and that their orientations affect the integration process. In fact, more similarities than differences were found. It is therefore proposed that the R and D marketing integration problem may not be simple `people' problem. Its solution may depend as much on organization design variables.
Near-real-time measurement of trace volatile organic compounds from combustion processes using an on-line gas chromatograph

Abstract The US EPA's current regulatory approach for combustion and incineration sources considers the use of real-time continuous emission monitors (CEMs) for particulate, metals, and organic compounds to monitor source emissions. Currently, the CEM technologies to support this approach have not been thoroughly developed and/or demonstrated. The EPA's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division has developed a near-real-time volatile organic compound (VOC) CEM, using an on-line gas chromatograph (OLGC), capable of measuring over 20 VOCs at concentrations typically present in well-operated combustion systems. The OLGC system consists of a sample delivery system, a sample concentrator, and a GC equipped with both flame ionization and electron capture detectors. Application of the OLGC system was initially demonstrated through participation in the 1995 US EPA/DOE CEM demonstration program. Additional work has improved system performance, including increased automation and improved calibration technique. During pilot-scale incineration testing, measurement performance was examined in detail through comparisons to various CEM performance criteria. Specifically, calibration error, calibration drift error, and system bias were examined as a function of full scale (absolute error) and gas concentration (relative error). Although OLGC measurement performance was not able to meet standard EPA CEM measurement performance criteria, measurement performance was encouraging. The system demonstrated the ability to perform hourly trace level VOC measurements (0–100 ppbv) for as many as 23 different VOCs with boiling points ranging from −23.7 to 180.5 °C at a known level of measurement performance. This system is a suitable alternative to VOC reference method measurements which may be performed only intermittently.
Lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin in Hodgkin's disease

The in vitro response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was correlated with various clinical features in seventy-eight patients with Hodgkin's disease. PHA response was normal among patients in remission, except in a few instances in which depression could be attributed to antecedent radiation or chemotherapy. PHA response varied greatly among patients with active Hodgkin's disease and appeared to be affected by a variety of factors related to the disease and to treatment. Radiation therapy induces a profound but temporary depression of lymphocyte response to PHA. Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease also depresses lymphocyte responsiveness to this agent, but less markedly and less consistently than radiation. We conclude that measurement of lymphocyte response to PHA does not provide a dependable assessment of a patient's immunologic competence or clinical status and that further investigation is needed to define the clinical significance of this laboratory test of lymphocyte behavior.
Subethnic differences in the menopausal symptom experience of Asian American midlife women.

Purpose: To compare the menopausal symptom experiences of subethnic groups of Asian American midlife women. Design: A cross-sectional study among 91 Asian American women online. Questions about background characteristics, ethnic identity, and health and menopausal status, and the Midlife Women’s Symptom Index were used. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The most frequently reported and the most severe symptoms differed by subethnicity. The total number of symptoms differed by subethnicity, as did total severity scores for the symptoms. Discussion, Conclusion, and Implications for Practice: Researchers and clinicians should be aware of subethnic differences.
The class of tenable zero-balanced Pólya urns with an initially dominant subset of colors

Abstract In Kholfi and Mahmoud (2011) the class of tenable irreducible nondegenerate zero-balanced Polya urn schemes is introduced and its asymptotic behavior in various phases is studied. In the absence of an initially dominant subset of colors, the counts of balls of all the colors satisfy multivariate central limit theorems. It is reported there that the case of an initially dominant subset of colors poses challenges requiring finer asymptotic analysis. In the present investigation we follow up on this. Indeed, we characterize noncritical cases with an initially dominant subset of colors in which not all ball counts satisfy one multivariate central limit theorem, but rather a subset of the ball counts satisfies a singular multivariate central limit theorem. The rest of the cases are critical, in which all the ball counts satisfy a multivariate central limit theorem, but under a different scaling. However, for these critical cases the Gaussian phases are delayed considerably.
Unfalsified Adaptive Control: Multi-objective cost-detectable cost functions

The notions of Pareto optimality for vector-valued cost functions reflecting multiple objectives of a control system are examined within the framework of Unfalsified Adaptive Control. The set of conditions under which vector-valued cost functions are cost-detectable is discussed. A sampled data/discrete-time Level-Set controller switching algorithm is investigated which allows for the relaxation of the assumption that the controller cost function be monotonically nondecreasing in time. This opens up the possibility of the use of fading memory cost functions which are nonmonotone. When an active controller is falsified at the current threshold cost level, the Level-Set switching algorithm solves the multi-objective cost minimization problem and replaces the active controller by another as yet unfalsified Pareto optimal controller. Theoretical results for convergence and stability of the adaptive system are given. Simulation results validate the use of cost-detectable multi-objective cost functions. An example of a cost-detectable cost function which uses fading memory norm of the fictitious tracking error as a performance measure is shown. This allows for computation of performance of nonactive controllers with respect to a reference model.
Gastric rupture after inadvertent esophageal intubation with a jet ventilation catheter.

JET ventilation is a common method used during laryngeal or tracheobronchial surgery. Local tissue injury can result, however, from the high-pressure gas exiting the jet catheter, particularly if the tip of the catheter is misdirected from the laryngeal opening. Unfortunately, confirmation of proper catheter placement is somewhat inexact. This case report presents a complication of translaryngeal jet ventilation - acute gastric rupture-after inadvertent placement or migration of a metal tube catheter into the esophagus.
Depriving neonatal rats of milk from early lactation has long-term consequences on mammotrope development.

The sudden appearance of prolactin-releasing cells during the early postnatal period of the rat is initiated by a small milk-borne peptide. Depriving newborn rats of this early milk factor severely retards mammotrope differentiation during the neonatal period. In the present work, we extend our study of early milk deprivation to the adult. To this end, newborn litters were crossfostered onto mothers that had given birth the same day or one week earlier in order to deprive pups in the latter group of early milk. At 5, 15, and 30 d of age, rats deprived of such milk had decreased percentages of mammotropes (as measured by reverse hemolytic plaque assay, RHPA) when compared to nondeprived animals (P 0.1) and this persisted through d 60. Subsequently, we assessed the secretory capacity of mammotropes from 60-d old rats to secretagogues and found that early milk deprivation had no effect on basal prolactin release (P>0.1), but that it augmented hormone secretion evoked by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 100 nM; P 0.1). Taken together, these results demonstrate that factors in milk from early lactation are required for normal mammotrope differentiation, and that the delay induced by early milk deprivation leads to altered secretory function of mammotropes in adult animals.
Risk and Protective Factors Associated With Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents With First-Episode Mania

Objective Adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) are more likely to develop substance use disorders (SUDs) than adolescents without psychiatric disorders; however, to our knowledge, specific risk factors underlying this relationship have not been prospectively examined. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of developing SUDs after a first manic episode. Method Participants aged 12 to 20 years and hospitalized with their first manic episode associated with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) were recruited as part of the University of Cincinnati First-Episode Mania Study and prospectively evaluated for patterns of substance use. Follow-up ranged between 17 and 283 weeks (mean = 113 weeks, SD = 71.9 weeks). Demographic and clinical variables were compared between adolescents with and without SUDs. Results Of the 103 adolescents with BD, 49 (48%) either had a SUD at baseline or developed one during follow-up. Of the 71 participants who did not have a SUD at study entry, 17 (24%) developed one during follow-up (median = 40 weeks). Later onset of BD, manic (versus mixed) mood episode, and comorbid disruptive behavior disorders were associated with an increased risk of developing a SUD in univariate analyses. Adolescents treated with psychostimulant treatment before their first manic episode were significantly less likely to develop a SUD independent of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. Comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychotic symptoms were the strongest predictors of SUD development. Conclusion Our results confirm high rates of SUD in adolescents with BD. In addition, our findings identify potential risk factors associated with SUDs in adolescents with BD. These data are preliminary in nature and should be explored further in future studies.
A new implementation of the element free Galerkin method

Abstract Element free Galerkin methods (EFG) are methods for solving partial differential equations with moving least squares interpolants. EFG methods require only nodal data; no element connectivity is needed. In a previous implementation of the EFG method, Lagrange multipliers were used to enforce the essential boundary condition. However, the use of Lagrange multipliers increases the cost of solving the linear algebraic equations. A new implementation is developed based on a modified variational principle in which the Lagrange multipliers are replaced at the outset by their physical meaning so that the discrete equations are banded. In addition, weighted orthogonal basis functions are constructed so the need for solving equations at each quadrature point is eliminated. Numerical examples show that the present implementation effectively computes stress concentrations and stress intensity factors at cracks with very irregular arrangements of nodes; the latter makes it very advantageous for modelling progressive cracking.
Compensatory cellular hypertrophy: the other strategy for tissue homeostasis

Metazoan tissues have the ability to maintain tissue size and morphology while eliminating aberrant or damaged cells. In the tissue homeostasis system, cell division is the primary strategy cells use not only to increase tissue size during development but also to compensate for cell loss in tissue repair. Recent studies in Drosophila, however, have shown that cells in postmitotic tissues undergo hypertrophic growth without division, contributing to tissue repair as well as organ development. Indeed, similar compensatory cellular hypertrophy (CCH) can be observed in different contexts such as mammalian hepatocytes or corneal endothelial cells. Here we highlight these findings and discuss the underlying mechanisms of CCH, which is likely an evolutionarily conserved strategy for homeostatic tissue growth in metazoans.
Efficient approaches to improving performance of VLSI SOVA-based turbo decoders

In this paper, we propose two VLSI applicable approaches to improving performance of soft-output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA)-based turbo decoders. In the first approach, a pseudo-median filter is employed to modify the soft outputs of each SOVA-based constituent decoder. Compared with conventional SOVA-based turbo decoders, an extra coding gain of 0.2 dB can be achieved for a wide range of target bit-error-rate (BER). In the second approach, an easily obtainable variable and a simple mapping function are used to avoid the complex computation of the scaling factor for extrinsic information in SOVA-based turbo decoders. An extra coding gain of 0.3 to 0.5 dB can be obtained in general. This approach does not require signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) related information while the original method does. The hardware overhead and the extra latency for both approaches are negligible.
Direct sequence CDMA design for mobile cellular systems

Code division multiple access (CDMA) technology using direct sequence has been investigated as a worthy candidate for future digital cellular telephone and personal communication network (PCN) applications. In this paper the authors have studied and investigated the performance of code division multiple access mobile radio communication systems. Specifically, the investigation was focused on systems using direct sequence spreading codes, phase-shifted-keyed data, and subject to the mobile radio environment. >
Microstructure-Resistivity Correlations in Controlled Waspaloy Microstructures

Nickel-base superalloys are an important class of metallic ‘nanocomposite’ structural materials known for their good strength retention abilities at high homologous temperatures for long service times. Literature on electrical resistivity studies of age-hardening superalloys is limited. The current work is focused on developing microstructure-electrical resistivity correlations in controlled Waspaloy microstructures. The microstructures are ‘controlled’ as the size distribution of g¢ precipitates is varied systematically. The microstructures are produced upon aging the initial homogenized alloy at nominal temperatures of 700°C, 800°C and 875°C for times up to 100 hrs. Resistivity measurements did not reveal a g¢ nucleation regime for the sampled aging intervals. The primary microstructural evolution mechanism contributing to the observed changes in resistivity was g¢ coarsening. Interestingly, the microstructures resulting from progressive aging at 700°C showed a slow transformation of etch-pits from perfect polygonal shapes to more irregular shapes.
An outcomes evaluation of a leadership development initiative

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the impact of a leadership development initiative in eight organizations and to demonstrate the use of promising evaluation methods. Design/methodology/approach – This study used multiple methods including surveys with quantitative and qualitative data from participants and their supervisors. Findings – Program participants and their supervisors reported improved on-the-job performance of participants. There were statistically significant increases in participant self-efficacy over time. Research limitations/implications – In this time series design, some changes may be due to factors besides the program. Limitations in self-report data, common in studies such as this, were partially mediated by the use of supervisor ratings. Future research could include more objective measures of performance. Practical implications – Because this evaluation reported on-the-job performance improvements for participants in a leadership development program, other organizatio...
State Control in the Substance‐Exposed: Fetus I. The Fetal Neurobehavioral Profile: An Assessment of Fetal State, Arousal, and Regulation Competency

Behavioral states are stable structures of behaviors that become more definable and coordinated with increasing age. With ultrasound we can see the fetus move, breathe, and react to changes in its environment. Ultrasound used in conjunction with Doppler fetal heart rate recording provides behavioral and neurophysiologic data useful in state determination. The Fetal Neurobehavioral Profile (FNP) was developed by our group as an assessment of fetal behaviors reflecting CNS integrity in the drug-exposed fetus. The FNP was designed to parallel methods of examining the newborn infant, especially in state-related behaviors. The FNP measures: fetal responsiveness and arousal after environmental perturbation with vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS); habituation to VAS; state recovery; and self-regulation post-VAS. From the behavioral and physiologic recordings, the constructs of state differentiation, organization, and regulation as well as fetal arousal and regulation competency can be measured. Previous work using the FNP showed that those fetuses with abnormal or suspect fetal state regulation demonstrated impaired performance on the NBAS (Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 161: 685, 1989). To expand these observations, three populations are currently being studied: prenatal nicotine-exposed, prenatal cocaine-exposed, and controls. Data are from 97 women/fetus dyads and a total of 236 FNP at ages 28-30 weeks gestational age, 31-34 weeks gestational age, and > 36 weeks gestational age. Although there are no group differences in the ability to achieve state by 36 weeks, interesting trends emerge: fetuses prenatally cocaine-exposed spend less time in 1F, more time in 4F and have fewer transitions. At FNP, fewer cocaine-exposed fetuses had an initial reaction to VAS, whereas fewer nicotine-exposed fetuses habituated. Although the ability to habituate to VAS did not discriminate the cocaine group from the control or nicotine groups, the number of stimuli required for habituation differed between groups: 7 for the cocaine-exposed, 3 for the nicotine, and 5 for the control groups. Thus latency, a measure of arousal, differs among the groups Preliminary data also suggest a correlation of prenatal data with postnatal outcome.
Temporal Patterns of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), c-fos, and Galanin Gene Expression in GnRH Neurons Relative to the Luteinizing Hormone Surge in the Rat

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons increase their expression of Fos and galanin coincident with the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in the female rat. To define the temporal relationships between the expression of these genes and the GnRH gene itself and to gain insight about the possible functional interactions of these processes, we compared levels of c-fos, galanin, and GnRH mRNA in GnRH neurons and plasma levels of LH in the rat, beginning 6 hr before and continuing for 24 hr after a sex steroid-induced LH surge. LH levels were increased significantly by 1600 hr. They increased twofold further by 1800 hr and then returned to baseline by 2400 hr. Using in situ hybridization, we determined that levels of c-fos mRNA in GnRH neurons were elevated significantly at 1600 hr only, whereas levels of galanin mRNA in GnRH neurons first increased twofold by 1800 hr, increased an additional twofold by 2400 hr, and remained elevated at all time points sampled thereafter. There were no significant changes in cellular levels of GnRH mRNA over the time points sampled. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the induction of c-fos gene expression in GnRH neurons leads to an increase in galanin gene expression, and that the sustained increase in galanin mRNA levels in GnRH neurons reflects either the need to replenish galanin stores that are depleted at the time of the LH surge or the involvement of galanin with physiological events that occur on the day of estrus.
Simultaneous verses successive learning in neural networks

Neural networks were inspired by the human brain, with great hopes that neural networks would capture the vast potential of its biological counterpart. This paper explores the link between neural networks and the human brain in the context of simultaneous vs. successive learning. Learning experiments conducted on human subjects were modeled and repeated using neural networks as test subjects. Neural networks confirmed the conclusion from human subject experiments that simultaneous learning was faster than successive learning. Loess and Duncan [1] further extended their hypothesis without formal experimental evidence that simultaneous would outperform successive as complexity increased beyond the scope of their human experiments. Interestingly, neural networks contradict their hypothesis. The results from neural networks demonstrate an existence of a threshold, after which the effects of simultaneous and successive learning become negligible. Intuitively, when humans are presented with complicated tasks, the type of learning is immaterial, since the complexity of the problem would overwhelm any advantages one method has over the other. Confirmation of this intuition can only be confirmed through future human experiments. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates that neural networks can be used as a rough model and give valuable insight into a problem, before the costly human subject experiments are conducted.
Autoreactive Preplasma Cells Break Tolerance in the Absence of Regulation by Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

The ability to induce Ab responses to pathogens while maintaining the quiescence of autoreactive cells is an important aspect of immune tolerance. During activation of TLR4, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (MFs) repress autoantibody production through their secretion of IL-6 and soluble CD40L (sCD40L). These soluble mediators selectively repress B cells chronically exposed to Ag, but not naive cells, suggesting a means to maintain tolerance during TLR4 stimulation, yet allow immunity. In this study, we identify TNF-α as a third repressive factor, which together with IL-6 and CD40L account for nearly all the repression conferred by DCs and MFs. Similar to IL-6 and sCD40L, TNF-α did not alter B cell proliferation or survival. Instead, it reduced the number of Ab-secreting cells. To address whether the soluble mediators secreted by DCs and MFs functioned in vivo, we generated mice lacking IL-6, CD40L, and TNF-α. Compared to wild-type mice, these mice showed prolonged anti-nuclear Ab responses following TLR4 stimulation. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of autoreactive B cells into chimeric IL-6−/− × CD40L−/− × TNF-α−/− mice showed that preplasma cells secreted autoantibodies independent of germinal center formation or extrafollicular foci. These data indicate that in the absence of genetic predisposition to autoimmunity, loss of endogenous IL-6, CD40L, and TNF-α promotes autoantibody secretion during TLR4 stimulation.
The relationship of alcohol use and physical activity from an ecologic perspective

Purpose To determine the predictors of alcohol use (AU) and their relationship to physical activity (PA) among adolescents and to examine differences among groups using an ecologic model. Design and Methods Cross sectional secondary analysis of 11,432 adolescents (51% 8th and 49% 10th graders). Results Attitude, perception of risk, and academic performance were the strongest predictors of AU. PA did not moderate, but it had a positive influence on AU in 10th graders. Differences were observed among groups. Practice Implications Nurses can address individual and school factors in an effort to decrease AU and guide nurses in creating an individualized plan.
Earthquake source characterization by the isochrone back projection method using near-source ground motions

SUMMARY Rapid and accurate assessment of source characteristics of moderate to large earthquakes is extremely useful for hazard assessment and to guide response of emergency services. Using the back projection method (BPM) it is possible to obtain an image of the source rupture process rapidly. The potential of the method in identifying the rupture propagation and its slip distribution has been shown in previous studies. However, most of the earlier back projection implementations obtain only slip intensities not slip amplitude. Here, we propose a method that is capable of providing quick estimates of the slip amplitude in addition to its distribution across the fault plane, using high frequency near-source records. First, we explore the advantages and limitations of the proposed BPM through a series of synthetic examples. We demonstrate the utility of the method to identify slip asperities and their associated intensities, with a limited number of stations (<5) distributed azimuthally around the source in the ideal case. As expected, the accuracy of asperity locations and amplitudes are improved as the number of stations increases and an appropriate station-weighting scheme is introduced. To test the BPM, we apply the method to the 2004 M w 6.0 Parkfield earthquake using available nearsource seismic data. The method identifies similar locations and amplitudes of slip using either P -o rS-wave displacement records. And, for real earthquakes, we find that a significant number of observations are needed around the source to reduce the influence of local propagation and site effects.
Familial and non-familial smoking: Effects on smoking and nicotine dependence

Background This study examined the relative impact of familial and non-familial smoking on participant smoking and nicotine dependence.
The Selection of Antiepileptic Drugs for the Treatment of Epilepsy in Children and Adults

In the past 2 decades, 12 new antiepileptic drugs (AED) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy, making the selection process more complex. When choosing an AED several factors are considered including its relative efficacy, tolerability, serious toxicity, ease of use (determined by the pharmacokinetic profile and the drug-drug interaction potential), the presence of comorbid conditions, and cost. Age and gender are also important considerations. The tradition of recognizing a first-choice drug for a certain seizure type or epilepsy syndrome is no longer a practical concept. With so many AED available, depending on several factors, different patients with a similar type of epilepsy may be prescribed entirely different AED. The newer AED have shown no better efficacy than the classic drugs, but they are easier to use, with much better pharmacokinetic profiles and fewer drug interactions. The list of broad-spectrum drugs has greatly expanded, a major benefit for patients with generalized epilepsies. The long list of available AED has also benefited patients with epilepsy and comorbidities, often allowing for the use of drugs with positive or at least no negative effects on those conditions. Some practical recommendations on the selection of AED are provided in this article.
The Cognitive Consequences of Emotion Regulation: An ERP Investigation

Increasing evidence suggests that emotion regulation (ER) strategies modulate encoding of information presented during regulation; however, no studies have assessed the impact of cognitive reappraisal ER strategies on the processing of stimuli presented after the ER period. Participants in the present study regulated emotions to unpleasant pictures and then judged whether a word was negative or neutral. Electromyographic measures (corrugator supercilli) confirmed that individuals increased and decreased negative affect according to ER condition. Event-related potential analyses revealed smallest N400 amplitudes to negative and neutral words presented after decreasing unpleasant emotions and smallest P300 amplitudes to words presented after increasing unpleasant emotions whereas reaction time data failed to show ER modulations. Results are discussed in the context of the developing ER literature, as well as theories of emotional incongruity (N400) and resource allocation (P300).
Embedded SDR system design case study: An implementation perspective

Cognitive Radios (CRs) and Software Defined Radios (SDRs) have ubiquitous applications ranging from handheld to base station devices. In order to meet the computational requirements of such radios, computing heterogeneity, the mixed usage of General Purpose Processors (GPPs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), and Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), is attractive. Developing SDR and CR applications already requires a diverse set of skills, and computing heterogeneity further complicates the process. This paper presents a developmental workflow used successfully by the authors for SDR and CR application running on a platform combining DSP and GPP based processors. The paper discusses tools used to set up the platform, create compilation environment, develop code for GPP/DSP communication, integrate the DSP into GNU Radio, and use the environment to develop SDR/CR applications. It presents a case study showing how computing heterogeneity can be used to address diverse application needs.
Rupture rate of large abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients refusing or unfit for elective repair

ContextAmong patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who have high operative risk, repair is usually deferred until the AAA reaches a diameter at which rupture risk is thought to outweigh operative risk, but few data exist on rupture risk of large AAA.ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of rupture in patients with large AAA.Design and SettingProspective cohort study in 47 Veterans Affairs medical centers.PatientsVeterans (n = 198) with AAA of at least 5.5 cm for whom elective AAA repair was not planned because of medical contraindication or patient refusal. Patients were enrolled between April 1995 and April 2000 and followed up through July 2000 (mean, 1.52 years).Main Outcome MeasureIncidence of AAA rupture by strata of initial and attained diameter.ResultsOutcome ascertainment was complete for all patients. There were 112 deaths (57%) and the autopsy rate was 46%. Forty-five patients had probable AAA rupture. The 1-year incidence of probable rupture by initial AAA diameter was 9.4% for AAA of 5.5 to 5.9 cm, 10.2% for AAA of 6.0 to 6.9 cm (19.1% for the subgroup of 6.5-6.9 cm), and 32.5% for AAA of 7.0 cm or more. Much of the increased risk of rupture associated with initial AAA diameters of 6.5-7.9 cm was related to the likelihood that the AAA diameter would reach 8.0 cm during follow-up, after which 25.7% ruptured within 6 months.ConclusionThe rupture rate is substantial in high-operative-risk patients with AAA of at least 5.5 cm in diameter and increases with larger diameter.
The State of Title I: Developing the Capability to Support Instructional Improvement

Title I has a mixed legacy. It helped cultivate and sustain the political salience of improving the education of children who live in poverty. It helped sweep schools, regardless of their student population's poverty levels, into the broader national standards-accountability reform effort. It has been a vehicle for liberal, conservative, bipartisan, public, and private reform agendas. It developed durable constituencies and appetites for federal funds. While Title I helped expand governments’ administrative capabilities, it did much less to remedy the unevenness in instructional capability on which Title I built. The combination of Title I funds and standards based reform has enabled some interventions, such as Success for All and America's Choice, to demonstrate instructional improvement. Yet the potential for interventions like these to reduce the achievement gap remains profoundly constrained by the persistently unequal allocation of educational resources, rising income inequality, and the lack of assi...