cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Random Excitation to Develop Pod Based Reduced Order Models for Nonlinear Structural Dynamics

This paper considers use of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), also known as the Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) method, to obtain reduced order dynamic models of nonlinear structural systems. The study applies POD to simulated time series data to extract dominant “modes” that describe the system behavior. The “POD modes” are used to formulate reduced order differential equation models (ROM’s) of the structure in which the dependent variables are the POD modal coordinates. Two example systems are considered: 1) a clamped beam whose tip is placed between attracting magnets; POD analysis of this system was done by Feeny and Kerschen [1] using harmonic excitation to excite chaotic motions, which were analyzed to develop the POD modes for reduced order modeling, and 2) a chain of oscillators having an isolated nonlinear Duffing element. Our approach is to generate the POD modes for model reduction by using strong, band limited random excitation to excite vibratory motions. The richness of this type of excitation is intended to provide responses whose POD-based reduced models can be used with reasonable accuracy for system parameters that differ from those used to generate the reduced order model (this is the central issue in using POD to generate reduced order nonlinear models of structures). Our results indicate that, due to the spectral richness of the random excitation, this type of excitation can be used with reasonable accuracy for conditions that differ from those used to generate the reduced order model. The method works well for the chain of oscillator system, but less well for the magnetic beam system, due to the presence of multiple stable equilibria in this system. A useful result of this work is the finding that the number of POD modes required to achieve accurate reduced order differential equation models may be considerably larger than the number of POD modes needed to accurately project the full model responses onto a subspace defined by dominant POD modes. Also, it is shown that for the clamped beam problem with multiple equilibria, we require more modes to develop a reduced order model than we require for a chain of oscillators.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The pivot shift phenomenon: Results and description of a modified clinical test for anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency

Clinical evaluation of knee instability is often difficult to reproduce, and several different physical tests have become popular. In an attempt to elucidate reasons for variations in the degree of pivot shift phenomenon seen with the use of the various tests, we have prospectively evaluated a group of 37 patients with surgically docu mented ACL injuries, noting the effects of hip position and tibial rotation. The patients were examined under anesthesia, and the pivot shift was graded as 0 (absent, or negative), 0.5+ (trace), 1 +, 2+, or 3+ (with locking). All knees were tested in hip abduction, neutral, and hip adduction, and with the tibia in external and internal rotation, so that six positions were evaluated.Hip position strongly correlated with the degree of pivot shift regardless of tibial rotation. Overall, abduc tion produced the greatest degree of pivot shift, fol lowed by neutral and finally adduction. External tibial rotation increased the pivot shift score in abduction and neutral, but not in ...
Concurrent chemoradiation strategies in the management of unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract Locally advanced or unresectable stage III non—small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with combined- modality therapy with chemotherapy plus thoracic radiation have improved survival compared to those treated with radiotherapy alone. Furthermore, recent studies in good performance status, stage III patients have shown that concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves survival compared to sequential chemoradiotherapy. However, the optimal chemoradiation approach continues to evolve and is the subject of this review. Since the majority of patients completing chemoradiotherapy will succumb to distant metastatic disease, active systemic agents targeting this tumor compartment are required. Recent data suggest that full-dose chemotherapy designed to eradicate distant micrometastases given either as induction or consolidation has the potential to yield improved patient outcomes. Many of these chemotherapeutic agents are also potent radiosensitizers, hence providing enhanced local control. The integration of these chemotherapeutic agents into chemoradiotherapy programs in stage III NSCLC is the focus of current trials. Ongoing research with novel therapeutic agents with activity against distant micrometastases, refined radiation techniques, and enhanced imaging methodologies to aid in accurate staging are being pursued and should lead to improved survival and toxicity outcomes in this disease.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PUPA OF THE PALES WEEVIL, HYLOBIUS PALES , AND A METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING ITS SEX

The pupal stage of the pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst), is described with notes on distinguishing it from the pupa of Pachylobius picivorus Germar, together with a means for sexing pales weevil pupae.
DEPRESSION, BIOLOGY, MARRIAGE AND MARITAL THERAPY

Marital therapists have an, as yet, unrecognized contribution to make to the treatment of depression. It is incumbent upon them to keep abreast of the growing literatures concerning both biological and interpersonal aspects of depression, and to inform other mental health professionals, policy makers, and depressed persons and their families as to what marital therapy has to offer. Consistent with this goal, this article provides an introductory overview of recent findings concerning the biology of depression, the relative merits of medication versus psychotherapy, and the complex relationships between marriage and depression. While there is considerable evidence that many depressions have a biological component and that medication is an efficacious way of providing symptomatic relief, this in no way contradicts findings concerning the efficacy of psychotherapy and the importance of the marital relationship in the outcome of a depressive episode.
Predatory feeding behavior of the marine cyclopoid copepod Corycaeus anglicus

Feeding rates, patterns of prey selection, and starvation tolerance were investigated for adult males and females of the cyclopoid copepod Corycaeus anglicus collected from the waters of Friday Harbor, Washington, USA. Selection by C. anglicus was determined largely by prey body-size, but was also affected by species and developmental stage. Small developmental stages of all prey species were fed upon at relatively low rates. The small calanoid species Acartia clausii was increasingly vulnerable to predation by C. anglicus as it progressed through successive developmental stages. Larger prey species, Pseudocalanus sp. and Calanus pacificus, were more vulnerable in intermediate stages, the C3 and N6 stages, respectively. Larger and smaller prey were characteristically attacked at different sites on their bodies; however, attack sites fell within a similar range of body widths, 130 to 170 μm. Males of Corycaeus anglicus killed a maximum of 1.4 prey d-1 when feeding on the optimally-sized adult females of Acartia clausii, which are approximately equivalent to its own body length. Males fed at approximately double the rates of females. Despite its small size and apparent lack of metabolic stores, this cyclopoid is highly tolerant of starvation conditions. Median survival time without food is at least 2 wk for both males and females. In its predatory behavior, C. anglicus employs an ambush-type strategy and seems to be adapted for infrequent encounters with relatively large prey.
THE PRESENCE OF AN ENDOGENOUS RESPIRATION IN THE AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA.

It is shown that there exists in the autotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus thiooxidans a measurable oxygen uptake in the absence of the specific nutrient (sulfur). This respiration is shown to be due to the utilization of organic materials which must have been previously synthesized by the chemosynthetic process, providing evidence that autotrophic bacteria contain a dissimilatory process which involves the breakdown of organic materials and furnishes energy for the maintenance of the cell during periods in which the specific nutrient is absent. This is entirely in accord with the work of Bomeke (1939), who provided similar types of proof for Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. One may conclude, therefore, that autotrophic bacteria possess an endogenous respiration which involves the utilization of previously synthesized organic materials.
Behavior of tadpoles of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, in response to sublethal lead exposure

Abstract Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana , tadpoles were exposed to 0 (control), 500, 625, 750 or 1 000 μg Pb·1 −1 (as lead nitrate) for six days (144 h). Preference/avoidance responses to plumes of Pb-contaminated water and spontaneous locomotor activity were assessed for non-exposed and Pb-exposed tadpoles. No significant differences were seen in preference/avoidance responses to Pb by either non-exposed or Pb-exposed animals, nor were there significant effects of Pb on spontaneous locomotor activity. There was, however, significantly greater variability in activity of bullfrog tadpoles ( P F -test) exposed to 500, 625, 750 or 1 000 μg Pb·1 −1 , as compared to control animals.
Relevant issues in high-level connectivity synthesis

This paper addresses relevant issues in connectivity synthesis particularly with respect to other design concerns in high-level behavioral synthesis. A restricted model is used to run a series of design experiments to provide insight into the relationship between scheduling, connectivity, and placement & routing. Contrary to the common approach of counting multiplexers, multiplexer inputs, and busses, this approach looks at more germane issues, namely: I) How to decide how much a "bus" is really going to cost, 2) How much does "load balanced" scheduling help, especially in the case of resource constrained scheduling, and 3) Should the number of multiplexer inputs really be the main criterion for judging the connectivity quality of the designs?
Utilization of Intravenously Administered β-Cellobiose and Maltose by Young Pigs

Intravenous solutions of glucose oligosaccharides are potential sources of carbohydrate-derived energy for patients requiring intravenous feeding. Relatively little is known about utilization of glucose oligosaccharides linked by beta-glucosidic bonds. We compared the utilization of maltose (alpha-D-glucosyl-1,4-D-glucose) and beta-cellobiose (beta-D-glucosyl-1,4-D-glucose) when administered intravenously (19 g per day) to young pigs for a 5-day period. Animals infused with maltose excreted 15% of the infused disaccharide over the 5-day infusion period. No evidence of maltose accumulation was noted in plasma, and kidney morphology was normal. Animals infused with beta-cellobiose excreted 95% of the infused disaccharide in the urine. The mean (+/- SD) plasma total glucose concentration increased significantly over base-line values of 114 +/- 39 mg/dl to a value of 180 +/- 28 mg/dl during cellobiose infusion, indicating accumulation of cellobiose in body water. Kidney morphology in cellobiose-infused animals was normal. Intravenously infused beta-cellobiose is poorly utilized by the pig when compared with the utilization of its alpha-1,4 linked isomer, maltose.
Hyperspectral discrimination of tropical rain forest tree species at leaf to crown scales

Abstract We investigated the utility of high spectral and spatial resolution imagery for the automated species-level classification of individual tree crowns (ITCs) in a tropical rain forest (TRF). Laboratory spectrometer and airborne reflectance spectra (161 bands, 437–2434 nm) were acquired from seven species of emergent trees. Analyses focused on leaf-, pixel- and crown-scale spectra. We first described the spectral regions and factors that most influence spectral separability among species. Next, spectral-based species classification was performed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), maximum likelihood (ML) and spectral angle mapper (SAM) classifiers applied to combinations of bands from a stepwise-selection procedure. Optimal regions of the spectrum for species discrimination varied with scale. However, near-infrared (700–1327 nm) bands were consistently important regions across all scales. Bands in the visible region (437–700 nm) and shortwave infrared (1994–2435 nm) were more important at pixel and crown scales. Overall classification accuracy decreased from leaf scales measured in the laboratory to pixel and crown scales measured from the airborne sensor. Leaf-scale classification using LDA and 40 bands had 100% overall accuracy. Pixel-scale spectra from sunlit regions of crowns were classified with 88% overall accuracy using a ML classifier and 60 bands. The highest crown-scale (ITC) accuracy was 92% with LDA and 30 bands. Producer's accuracies ranged from 70% to 100% and User's accuracies ranged from 81% to 100%. The SAM classifier performed poorly at all scales and spectral regions of analysis. ITCs were also classified using an object-based approach in which crown species labels were assigned according to the majority class of classified pixels within a crown. An overall accuracy of 86% was achieved with an object-based LDA classifier applied to 30 bands of data. Object-based and crown-scale ITC classifications were significantly more accurate with 10 narrow-bands relative to accuracies achieved with simulated multispectral, broadband data. We concluded that high spectral and spatial resolution imagery acquired over TRF canopy has substantial potential for automated ITC species discrimination.
Synthesis of drowning‐out crystallization‐based separations

A method is presented to synthesize drowning-out crystallization-based separation schemes for binary mixtures. The method tracks how the composition of each process stream changes from unit to unit on a phase diagram by assuming that the system is at equilibrium. Features of phase behavior favorable to drowning-out processes are identified. Two types of systems are highlighted. In the first, the drowning-out agent causes the solute to become sparingly soluble. Several process alternatives to separate the feed into pure components are proposed. Dominant costs of each configuration are identified. In the second, the solute is extracted into a phase rich with respect to the drowning-out agent. The extraction can be performed in a decanter, countercurrent extractor, or fractional countercurrent extractor. Guidelines are given to select an extractor type and to choose between crystallizer-extractor and extractor-crystallizer equipment trains.
Greater Than 20-dB Supermode Noise Suppression and Timing Jitter Reduction Via CW Injection of a Harmonically Mode-Locked Laser

Characterization of the timing and amplitude (AM) noise have shown a greater than 20-dB reduction of the supermode noise spurs from a harmonically mode-locked laser by continuous-wave optical injection. A reduction of the timing jitter and AM noise from 127 to 25 fs and 0.85% to 0.12% (10 Hz-100 MHz), respectively, is demonstrated. A reduction of the optical linewidth, implied by the reduction in the close-in phase noise, is also shown.
High-frequency AC power distribution in Space Station

A utility-type, 20-kHz, AC power distribution system for the space station employing resonant power-conversion techniques is presented. The system converts raw DC voltage from photovoltaic cells or three-phase, low-frequency AC voltage from a solar dynamic generator into a regulated, 20-G kHz AC voltage for distribution among various loads. Operations of the components of the system such as driver inverter, DC receiver, bidirectional receiver, and three-phase AC receiver are discussed. EASY5 computer modeling and simulations were performed to study the local and global performance of the system. Simulation results show that the system has fast response and good transient behavior. The AC bus voltage is effectively regulated using the phase-control scheme, which is demonstrated with both line and load variations. The feasibility of paralleling the outputs of driver modules is illustrated with the driver modules synchronized and sharing a common feedback loop. A high-frequency, sinusoidal AC voltage is generated in the three-phase, AC input case, when the driver modules are phased 120 degrees away from one another and their outputs are connected in series. >
Analytical model for RF power performance of deeply scaled CMOS devices

This paper presents a first order model for RF power of deeply scaled CMOS. The model highlights the role of device on-resistance in determining the maximum RF power. We show excellent agreement between the model and the measured data on 45 nm CMOS devices across a wide range of device widths, under both maximum output power and maximum PAE conditions. The model allows circuit designers to quickly estimate the power and efficiency of a device layout without need for complicated compact models or simulations.
Spermiogenesis in Lumbricus herculeus; an electron microscope study.

Small pieces of the sperm sacs of Lumbricus herculeus were fixed for 4 hours in chrome-osmium, embedded in methacrylate, sectioned with a Porter-Blum microtome, and studied with a R.C.A. EMU-2C electron microscope. Each spermatid of a group developing synchronously is attached by a cytoplasmic strand to a common nutrient protoplasmic mass. This mass contains mitochondria and yolk bodies but is anucleate. The proximal centriole, that is, the centriole nearer the nucleus, is at first associated with a small peg which becomes firmly attached to the nuclear membrane. Later these two bodies become separated during the development of the middle-piece which is differentiated in the usual manner from a nebenkern formed by the fusion of 6 or 7 mitochondria. The acrosome develops in relation to the dictyosome (Golgi body), itself composed of 8 or more individual flattened sacs and situated in the cytoplasm opposite the point of attachment of the spermatid to the nutrient mass. Soon after its formation, the acrosome becomes incorporated into a cytoplasmic appendage or acrosome carrier. The carrier moves from its original position, along the lateral border of the elongating nucleus, to the distal margin of the nucleus where the acrosome is deposited. No evidence was found of a centriole located at the point of junction between nucleus and acrosome as suggested by earlier workers.
Transient thermal response due to periodic heating on a convectively cooled substrate

The increasing use of highly integrated circuits in portable electronics, which may operate for relatively short periods of time, has opened the possibility of utilizing heat storage to maintain device temperatures below reliability limits. The present study considers a strategy in which the power dissipation of a device is periodically reduced and increased in order to decrease its peak temperature. A two-dimensional, axisymmetric, chip-on-substrate geometry is assumed with convective cooling on the bottom side. Exact solutions for the steady-periodic and complete transient responses are presented. Peak temperature rise is shown to depend on several geometric, thermal, and electrical parameters. The results indicate that thermal resistance can be minimized with an appropriate choice of substrate thickness. Also, cycle periods of tens of seconds can be achieved for typical electronic packages while retaining the benefits of periodic heating.
Culturally Different Students in Special Education: Looking Backward to Move Forward

As the “land of opportunity” and arguably the greatest country in the world, the United States continues to change—culturally, racially, and linguistically. Reports abound regarding the changing demographics of the country and its schools. Over a 2-decade span (1989–2009), the percentage of “minority” students in public schools (referring to Hispanic American, African American, Asian American, and Native American students) increased from 32% to 45%. This trend is expected to continue, with these 4 groups soon becoming the numerical majority nationally, as is the case already in many school districts. With these changes come growing pains. Special education often receives attention, including debates and litigation, regarding disproportionality or overrepresentation, particularly among African American students (especially males). This albatross has plagued the field for decades. This article presents an overview of demographics in schools and special education, discusses overrepresentation, and provides s...
An Approach Towards an Architecture for Solving Combinatorial Problems in a Ubiquitous Environment

Combinatorial Problems have been a classic problem for the man. The objective of global optimality versus cost that this implies is an unresolved issue by researchers. In this sense, problems such as travel salesman problem (TSP) or vehicle routing problem (VRP) relate to combinatorial optimization problems arising everyday for a group of people would like to have the solution to such problems as close as possible. Thus, the idea that such problems purely operational, would be solved by heuristics in devices for normal use for sellers or drivers of the car's makes sense. This paper proposes an architecture that supports the resolution of problems in complex combinatorial mobile devices across heuristics or metaheuristics embedded in the devices themselves and working from a set of data from a central server.
PolyBrick: Variegated Additive Ceramic Component Manufacturing (ACCM)

Abstract This article showcases the next steps in the integration of complex phenomena towards the design, production, and digital fabrication of ceramic form in the design arts and architecture. This work includes advances in digital technology, three-dimensional (3D) printing, advanced geometry, and material practices in arts, crafts, and design disciplines. PolyBrick: Variegated Additive Ceramic Component Manufacturing (ACCM) documents the use of algorithmic design techniques for the digital fabrication and production of nonstandard ceramic brick components for the mortarless assembly and installation of the first fully 3D-printed and fired ceramic brick wall. Techniques in parametric and associative environments are incorporated with feedback derived from material constraints as well as performance assessments. Using customized digital tools, low-cost printing materials, and component-based aggregations, our research utilizes readily available 3D printing technology to develop large-scale forms throug...
Anthropometric Procedures for Protective Equipment Sizing and Design

OBJECTIVES: This article presented four anthropometric theories (univariate, bivariate/probability distribution, multivariate, and shape-based methods) for protective equipment design decisions. BACKGROUND: While the significance of anthropometric information for product design is well recognized, designers continue to face challenges in selecting efficient anthropometric data processing methods and translating the acquired information into effective product designs. METHODS: For this study, 100 farm tractor operators, 3,718 respirator users, 951 firefighters, and 816 civilian workers participated in four studies on the design of tractor roll-over protective structures (ROPS), respirator test panels, fire truck cabs, and fall-arrest harnesses, respectively. Their anthropometry and participant-equipment interfaces were evaluated. RESULTS: Study I showed a need to extend the 90-cm vertical clearance for tractor ROPS in the current industrial standards to 98.3 to 101.3 cm. Study 2 indicated that current respirator test panel would have excluded 10% of the male firefighter population; a systematic adjustment to the boundaries of test panel cells was suggested. Study 3 provided 24 principal component analysis-based firefighter body models to facilitate fire truck cab design. Study 4 developed an improved gender-based fall-arrest harness sizing scheme to supplant the current unisex system. CONCLUSIONS: This article presented four anthropometric approaches and a six-step design paradigm for ROPS, respirator test panel, fire truck cab, and fall-arrest harness applications, which demonstrated anthropometric theories and practices for defining protective equipment fit and sizing schemes. APPLICATIONS: The study provided a basis for equipment designers, standards writers, and industry manufacturers to advance anthropometric applications for product design and improve product efficacy. Language: en
Evaluation of the roles of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in occlusion of the spinal neurocoel during rapid brain enlargement in the chick embryo

The spinal neurocoel normally occludes during the second day of chick embryogenesis as the lateral walls of the spinal cord become apposed closely in the midline. Concomitantly, the brain initiates its rapid and substantial enlargement. Occlusion, although short-lived, might play a major role in brain enlargement. As a result of occlusion, the brain ventricles are sealed off from the external milieu prior to closure of the posterior neuropore, establishing a closed fluid-filled system. The present study focuses on the mechanisms of occlusion of the spinal neurocoel. We tested two postulated intrinsic factors (microtubule-mediated neuroepithelial cell elongation and microfilament-mediated apical neuroepithelial cell constriction) and five extrinsic factors (three mediad pushing forces generated by the somites, perineural extracellular matrix and expanding surface ectoderm; and two stretching forces generated either vertically by pulling of the elongated notochord or longitudinally by elongation of the embryo) in maintaining occlusion. Our results suggest that occlusion is maintained by other, untested intrinsic factors and/or by forces generated within a perineural collar, composed of cellular and extracellular materials, intimately associated with the basal aspects of the spinal cord. Cytoskeletal-mediated changes in cell shapes, pushing forces and vertical and longitudinal tensions are not involved. Further studies are needed to examine the intrinsic properties of the neuroepithelium and the factors initiating occlusion and reopening.
Thermal convection with large viscosity variations

The influence of large variations of viscosity on convection in a layer of fluid heated from below has been investigated. Solutions for the flow and temperature fields were obtained numerically assuming infinite Prandtl number, free-surface boundary conditions, and two-dimensional motion of fixed horizontal wavelength. The effects of a temperature-dependent and a depth-dependent viscosity were each studied; calculations were also carried out using a temperature- and depth-dependent viscosity model appropriate to the earth's mantle.
Determination of cross regulation in multioutput resonant converters

This paper presents the analysis and the technique of determining the cross regulation characteristics in multioutput resonant converters. The steady state cross regulation characteristics are derived using the state-plane technique, illustrated by the example of a two-output clamped series resonant converter (SRC) operating in the discontinuous conduction mode below resonance. The cross regulation characteristics in conjunction with the control curves can be used to determine the converter operation for optimum performance. The theoretical prediction of converter operation and cross regulation characteristics in a two-output power supply is verified experimentally. This technique can be applied to most converters with more than two outputs.
Flow banding in obsidian: A record of evolving textural heterogeneity during magma deformation

We perform a quantitative textural analysis of banding in obsidian from Big Glass Mountain (BGM), Medicine Lake Volcano, California and from Mayor Island (MI), New Zealand. The samples are compositionally homogeneous, with banding defined by variable microlite content (BGM) or vesicularity (MI). The spatial distribution of alternating light and dark bands has a 1/wavenumber power-spectral density, as well as multifractal characteristics. Through the use of simple mathematical models, we demonstrate that formation of the observed banding structure is consistent with a continuous deformational reworking of magma. Our results indicate that changes in crystallinity (vesicularity) were concurrent with magma deformation and are random multiples of the total amount of crystallinity (vesicularity) that was already present at any given time. Banded obsidian from BGM and MI can be found in close spatial proximity to brittle deformational textures. We therefore propose that a key element of banding formation in our samples may be magma brecciation or fragmentation. Fragmentation can result in variable rates of degassing of fragments, which in turn can lead to nonuniform crystal (vesicle) nucleation and growth rates. Repeated fragmentation, welding and subsequent viscous deformation can thus lead to banding formation.
Genetic allgorithm for dynamic task scheduling

A genetic dynamic scheduling algorithm (GDSA) is applied to the problem of dynamically scheduling multiple tasks. These independent, non- identical tasks must be distributed in a multiprocessor, shared memory system. This problem is known to be NP-complete. The use of a genetic algorithm for dynamic task scheduling offers several advantages to alternative algorithms. A genetic algorithm fids a solution immediately, at initialization. All processing time is devoted to improvement of the solution. This makes them well suited for dynamic applications, where the amount of processing time is likely to vary. Genetic algorithms tend to make the greatest improvements during initial generations. They move quickly to a good solution, although later improvements will become increasingly less fresuent and less dramatic. Schedule makespans using the GDSA are compared to makespans when a first-come, fxst-serve dynamic scheduling approach is used. This opportunistic scheduling algorithm places arriving tasks in a FIFO queue, and pmessors remove tasks from the queue as they become available. Tests were run to schedule 30 and 200 tasks. When 30 tasks were scheduled, the GDSA caused small, but consistent schedule improvements. The GDSA was most effective if the execution times of the tasks were uniformly distributed. However, schedule improvements were also noted with normally and exponentially distributed task execution times. When 200 tasks were scheduled, the GDSA was most effective if the execution times of the tasks were exponentially distributed.
Perspectives on health among adult users of illicit stimulant drugs in rural Ohio.

CONTEXT: Although the nonmedical use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is increasingly common in many rural areas of the United States, little is known about the health beliefs of people who use these drugs. PURPOSE: This research describes illicit stimulant drug users' views on health and health-related concepts that may affect their utilization of health care services. METHODS: A respondent-driven sampling plan was used to recruit 249 not-in-treatment, nonmedical stimulant drug users who were residing in 3 rural counties in west central Ohio. A structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers was used to collect information on a range of topics, including current drug use, self-reported health status, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and beliefs about health and health services. FINDINGS: Participants reported using a wide variety of drugs nonmedically, some by injection. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs in the 30 days prior to the interview. Powder cocaine was used by 72.3% of the sample, crack by 68.3%, and methamphetamine by 29.7%. Fair or poor health status was reported by 41.3% of the participants. Only 20.9% of the sample felt they needed drug abuse treatment. Less than one third of the sample reported that they would feel comfortable talking to a physician about their drug use, and 65.1% said they preferred taking care of their problems without getting professional help. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant drug users in rural Ohio are involved with a range of substances and hold health beliefs that may impede health services utilization. Language: en
Classification of Weakly-Labeled Data with Partial Equivalence Relations

In many vision problems, instead of having fully labeled training data it is easier to obtain the input in small groups, where the data in each group is constrained to be from the same class but the actual class label is not known. Such constraints give rise to partial equivalence relations. The absence of class labels prevents the use of standard discriminative methods in this scenario. On the other hand, the state-of-the-art techniques that use partial equivalence relations, e.g., relevant component analysis, learn projections that are optimal for data representation, but not discrimination. We show that this leads to poor performance in several real-world applications, especially those with high-dimensional data. In this paper, we present a novel discriminative technique for the classification of weakly-labeled data which exploits the null-space of data scatter matrices to achieve good classification accuracy. We demonstrate the superior performance of both linear and nonlinear versions of our approach on face recognition, clustering, and image retrieval tasks. Results are reported on standard datasets as well as real-world images and videos from the Web.
Adenosine attenuates phorbol ester-induced negative inotropic and vasoconstrictive effects in rat hearts

Phorbol esters reduce cardiac contractility and produce coronary vasoconstriction presumably by stimulating protein kinase C (PKC). We tested whether adenosine altered the response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in isolated rat hearts. Hearts, perfused at constant flow and constant heart rate, were exposed to PMA (10 nM) for 30 min and then allowed 30 min of recovery. PMA reduced left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) from 81 +/- 2 to 49 +/- 3 and 40 +/- 2 mmHg (51 +/- 3% of baseline LVDP) after 30 min infusion and 30 min recovery, respectively. PMA also increased coronary perfusion pressure to 224 +/- 13% of baseline after 60 min. The PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (0.5 microM) blocked the PMA-induced negative inotropy and vasoconstriction. Adenosine (100 microM) and the A1-agonist 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA, 0.1 microM) significantly attenuated the negative inotropic effect of PMA as LVDP was maintained at 81 +/- 4% and 99 +/- 7% of baseline, whereas CGS-21680, an A2-agonist, had no beneficial effect on function (54 +/- 4% of baseline). Adenosine and CGS-21680 (0.1 microM), but not CCPA, significantly attenuated PMA-induced coronary vasoconstriction. These results suggest that adenosine receptor activation may modulate myocardial PKC activity or attenuate the effects of increased PKC activity.
Noguchi and Gorky: American Outsiders

The despair that drove Gorky to suicide arose from a host of mental and physical problems beginning in January 1946, when a disastrous fire, like an omen of the tragedies that would follow, destroyed Gorky's studio in Sherman, Connecticut, and all of his paintings and drawings stored inside. Within two months of the fire, Gorky was diagnosed with an advanced case of cancer of the rectum. In the operation that immediately followed the diagnosis, his rectum was removed. As a result of his devastating illness and colostomy, Gorky's once powerful body became weak and devitalized; sapped of energy, his work suffered and he fell into periods of depression for the rest of the year. In 1947, he recovered sufficiently to create a large body of major works which solidified his growing reputation. But the feverish pace of his painting left him physically and mentally exhausted. By 1948, Gorky showed evidence of a breakdown which would put a strain on his marriage and his family life. He began to talk about suicide.
Two Color, Phase Compensating Interferometer Based on Prism Pair Compressors

We present an interferometer based on prism pair compressors which offers simultaneous control over the delay between and dispersion for pulses in two collinear beams with different central frequencies. A microbiological application is discussed.
Characterizing the Maternal Adaptations of Pregnancy and Recovery Following Vaginal Delivery in the Rodent Model

Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence are common conditions in women that significantly diminish quality of life. Vaginal delivery and maternal birth injury are the number one risk factors for the development of pelvic floor disorders. The goal of this study was to characterize maternal adaptations throughout pregnancy and recovery after vaginal delivery in terms of the passive quasi-static mechanical properties of the vagina using a rodent model.Virgin (n = 8), mid-pregnant (n = 7, day 15–16), late-pregnant (n = 7, day 20–21), immediate postpartum (n = 8, <2 hours post delivery), and 4 week postpartum (n = 6) Long-Evans female rats were utilized in this study. The mechanical properties (tangent modulus, tensile strength, ultimate strain, and strain energy density) were quantified by testing longitudinal sections of vaginal tissue to failure.The tangent modulus of virgin animals (25.1±5.1 MPa) was significantly higher compared to mid-pregnant (11.7±7.7 MPa, p = 0.003), late-pregnant (7.9±4.0 MPa, p<0.001), and immediate postpartum (8.5±4.7 MPa, p = 0.001) animals. A similar trend was also observed in the tensile strength, whereas the ultimate strain increased throughout pregnancy until the time of vaginal delivery. Recovery was observed four weeks postpartum as no significant difference was found from virgin animals for any of the parameters.This study has shown a significant decrease in the tangent modulus and tensile strength along with an increase in the ultimate strain of longitudinal sections of vaginal tissue throughout pregnancy. These maternal adaptations are likely to increase the overall distensibility of the vagina and allow for vagina delivery with minimal injury. This process appears to be effective in the rodent model as the properties recovered to virgin levels by 4 weeks. In the future, we hope to alter these adaptations or exceed them in order to study the risk and impact of birth injury in this model.© 2010 ASME
Language and thinking: The interaction of amount of pretraining and relevance in the effect of naming on problem solving

Ss solved a “mental jigsaw puzzle” following 0,2, 8, or 16 trials of pretraining either with names that were relevant to the problem, with irrelevant names, with nonselective names, or without names. Problem solving performance was an increasing monotonic function of amount of pretraining with relevant names, but first increased and then decreased with irrelevant names. Pretraining with nonselective names or without names had no reliable effects.
8-OHDPAT effects upon cocaine unconditioned and conditioned behaviors: A role for drug stimulus effects

The effects of the 5-HT1A agonist, (±)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OHDPAT) upon the unconditioned and conditioned behavior induced by cocaine were assessed in rats. Separate groups (n=7) received saline, cocaine (10 mg/kg), 8-OHDPAT (0.2 mg/kg), or 8-OHDPAT (0.2 mg/kg) plus cocaine (10 mg/kg) for eight treatment sessions (two per week) in which the rats were tested for 20 min in an open-field. On the eighth treatment session, cocaine enhanced locomotion and rearing but decreased grooming. 8-OHDPAT also decreased grooming and, when given in combination with cocaine, enhanced locomotion but attenuated cocaine-induced rearing. The two 8-OHDPAT groups differed substantially from each other and from the cocaine group in terms of locomotion during the drug treatment phase. Subsequently, all groups received a series of conditioning tests in which they received saline, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg/kg 8-OHDPAT prior to testing. Groups which had received either 8-OHDPAT or cocaine prior to the conditioning tests exhibited equivalent conditioned effects on the saline conditioning test. When conditioning tests were conducted with 8-OHDPAT, however, only the group which had previously received the combined 0.2 mg/kg 8-OHDPAT plus cocaine treatment exhibited a conditioned response and this effect only occurred at the 0.2 8-OHDPAT dose level. These observations indicate the important influence of the stimulus properties of drugs for the study of drug conditioning and for understanding drug interactions with cocaine.
Merging C–H Bond Functionalization with Amide Alcoholysis: En Route to 2-Aminopyridines

A new route for the synthesis of 2-aminopyridines has been developed that merges C–H functionalization with amide alcoholysis. The key component of this method is the ability of a quinazolinone to template the chemo- and regioselective construction of a latent pyridine ring via site-selective olefinic C–H bond functionalization under Ru(II) catalysis. Thus, highly substituted 2-aminopyridines were prepared in good yield. Mechanistic studies provide insight into the mechanism of the key oxidative C–H activation/annulation process.
Fontan Conversion and Arrhythmia Surgery

We introduced the Fontan conversion in 1994 for patients with failing Fontan physiology and atrial arrhythmias. The operation entailed conversion to extracardiac vena cava to pulmonary artery connections, arrhythmia surgery, and pacemaker placement. We found that patients did best when there was preservation of ventricular function and absence of protein-losing enteropathy. The long-term effects of this operation were to improve functional status, treat debilitating arrhythmias, repair pathway obstructions, repair valves, and delay cardiac transplantation. For the most part, this operation has been successful, and many impediments have been resolved intraoperatively. These techniques are noted in this chapter.
Effect of iron-deprivation on apoptosis and cell cycle of K562 cell

Aim: To observe the apoptosis of K562 cell induced by iron-deprivation and its effect on cell cycle. Methods:K562 cells treated with desferrioxamine (DFO) at different concentration (25 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L) were collected at different time point(16 h,24 h,32 h,48 h,72 h) and labelled with Annexin V/PI. K562 cells treated with DFO and FeCl_3 were used as control. The morphological change of apoptotic cell was observed under the fluoromicroscope,and the characteristic of cell cycle and the rate of apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: With the prolonged time and increased dosage, the rate of apoptosis increased (P0.05). Compared with control group, the number of cells in G_0/G_1 phase increased while the number of cells in S phase and PI decreased (P0.05).Conclusion: Iron-deprivation might inhibit the growth of K562 cell, which may be carried out by deleting intracellular iron and blocking the entrance of cells into S phase.
An Examination of Physician-, Caregiver-, and Disease-Related Factors Associated With Readmission From a Pediatric Hospital Medicine Service

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and reasons for pediatric hospital medicine readmissions. We also aimed to describe characteristics of potentially preventable cases and the reliability of classification. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study from December 2008 through June 2010 in a large academic tertiary care children’s hospital in Houston, Texas. Children were included if they were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge from the pediatric hospital medicine service. Reasons for readmission were grouped into three categories: physician-related, caretaker-related, and disease-related. Readmissions with physician- or caretaker-related reasons were considered potentially preventable. RESULTS: The overall readmission rate was 3.1%, and a total of 204 subjects were included in the analysis. Lymphadenitis and failure to thrive had the highest readmission rates with 21%, and 13%, respectively. Twenty percent (n = 41/204) of readmissions were preventable with 24% (n = 10/41) being physician-related, 12% (n = 5/41) caregiver-related, and 63% (n = 26/41) for mixed reasons. When comparing classification of readmissions into preventable status, there was moderate agreement between 2 reviewers (K = 0.44, 95% confidence interval: 0.28–0.60). Among patients with preventable readmission, the probability of having had a readmission by 7 days and 15 days was 73% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reliable identification of preventable pediatric readmissions using individual reviewers remains a challenge. Additional studies are needed to develop a reliable approach to identify preventable readmissions and underlying modifiable factors. A focused review of 7-day readmissions and diagnoses with high readmission rates may allow use of fewer resources.
Juxtapositioning with ℓ

We examine one of the many ways in which subdivisions can be combined in order to form larger ones; this method will be referred to as juxtapositioning.
A Struggle for the Soul: Reversing the Odd Alchemy of Science Schooling

ABSTRACTNeoliberal approaches to science education are premised on the illusion of a cosmopolitan “well-ordered whole.” This is sustained through value assigned to propositional knowledge, which produces what it means to know, learn, and live and whose knowledge matters. Juxtaposing the purportedly inclusive institutional language in the Next Generation Science Standards of “science for all citizens” with field stories reflecting the transnational reality of the U.S. Mexican population for whom the terms of legal- and rights-based citizenship may not apply, this article argues the need to replace the idea of a well-ordered cosmos with a focus on performative knowledge and possibility.
Theoretical analysis of the gas-phase hydration of common atmospheric pre-nucleation (HSO4-)(H2O)n and (H3O+)(H2SO4)(H2O)n cluster ions

Abstract Small atmospheric ions are always hydrated. The hydration affects their mobility, stability, and lifetime, which are critically important for the determination of nucleation rates. The gas-phase hydration of anions and cations of the atmospheric nucleation precursor H 2 SO 4 has been studied using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). We found that the interaction between the common atmospheric ions and polar water molecules lead to the formation of the strongly hydrogen bonded hydrate complexes, whose thermodynamic stability is much higher than that of neutral atmospheric hydrates (H 2 SO 4 )(H 2 O) n . Both negatively and positively charged hydrates are much more stable than the aforementioned neutral form; however, the hydration of cations is much stronger than that of anions. The difference in hydration free energies is very large (∼10 kcal mol −1 ); however, it decreases quickly when the cluster is growing. The observed positive hydration sign preference is consistent with previous studies for pure water.