cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viscoelastic Stress Analysis in Two and Three Dimensions

The various approaches to the solution of viscoelastic boundary value problems discussed in the last chapter for bars and beams carry over to the solution of problems in two and three dimensions. In particular, if the solution to a similar problem for an elastic material already exists, the correspondence principle may be invoked and with the use of Laplace or Fourier transforms a solution can be found. Such solutions can be used with confidence but one must be cognizant of the general equations of elasticity and the methods of solutions for elasticity problems in two and three dimensions as well as any assumptions that might often be applied. To provide all of the necessary information and background for multidimensional elasticity theory is beyond the scope of this text but the procedures needed will be outlined in the following sections.
Identification of hotspots of at-risk terrestrial vertebrate species in the south-central Great Plains of North America: A tool to inform and address regional-scale conservation

Abstract Biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, and resources for conservation efforts are limited. This is particularly problematic in the Great Plains of North America, where land-cover conversion for agriculture and energy production has reduced habitat for many species. In the U.S. portion of the Great Plains, a growing human population and a concomitant increasing need for food, fiber, and energy have caused landscape transformations that have resulted in over 700 vertebrate species currently being listed by state and federal conservation agencies as being at-risk in this region. Conservation efforts for such a large number of species will be most efficient when applied to areas with large numbers of these species, but such areas have never before been identified. We overlaid range maps created by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Gap Analysis Program for terrestrial vertebrate species to identify hotspots of high concentrations of U.S. state-defined Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN; species that have identified as being rare or otherwise vulnerable enough to warrant conservation action in a given state) in the short- and mixed-grass prairie ecoregions of the southern and central Great Plains of the United States. We identified hotspots for species currently listed as SGCN as well as those pending designation, and a combined (current and pending) group. We then used data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Protected Areas Database on land ownership and from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service on land use/land cover to quantify the types of land ownership and land use/land cover types in hotspots to give land managers necessary information to address conservation of at-risk species in the Great Plains. Sufficient data were present for examination of 289 at-risk terrestrial vertebrate species. Hotspots of these species were located mostly on state- or federally-managed land in eastern New Mexico, Colorado, and west Texas. The current hottest hotspots were associated with areas with more natural/less anthropogenic forms of land use/land cover; areas with the lowest numbers of SGCNs had proportionately more cropland and less grassland than did hotspots. Identifying regional hotspots of at-risk biodiversity, and describing land use/land cover features associated with such areas, offers an opportunity to take a multi-species approach in more precisely establishing areas of conservation concern in the U.S.
Group PCIT for Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Externalizing Behavior Problems

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of a large-group, time-limited Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) adaptation for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and externalizing behavior problems (EBP). Participants included parents of 37 preschoolers (Mage = 4.80, 87% Male, 73% Hispanic/Latino) with ASD and comorbid EBP. Parents reported on their positive and negative parenting practices and parenting stress at a pre-and-post treatment assessment as well as at a 6-month follow-up assessment. Positive and negative parenting skills were observed and coded during a parent-child interaction. Additionally, parents were objectively assessed on their knowledge of principles learned in treatment at pre-and-post-treatment. The treatment was delivered with a high level of fidelity and was well received and attended by families. At post-treatment, parents reported improved parenting stress and parenting practices. Parents were also rated as engaging in more positive parenting skills and less negative parenting skills during play. Lastly, parents increased their knowledge of principles presented in treatment. Improvements in positive parenting practices were also maintained at a 6-month follow-up assessment. Findings highlight the initial efficacy and transdiagnostic nature of group PCIT for improving outcomes for children with ASD and comorbid EBP.
Redeeming The Human: Black Natural Law, Secularism, And Human Rights

For much of the twentieth century, many serious thinkers assumed that religion was going away. Religion—once so pervasive that it was impossible to disaggregate it from other modes of being—would, ...
Applications of Machine Learning in Building Energy Prediction and Savings

In a constantly advancing world with growing needs, buildings play in important role in the daily functioning of the society. Developing more and more advanced techniques to optimize the working of these buildings is highly important for a constant growth. Modern computational techniques have opened doors to create advanced models that can utilize efficient techniques to produce highly accurate results. This paper introduces a model that utilizes machine learning algorithms to predict energy consumption in buildings. Energy data were used from two actual and two simulated buildings to fine tune the models. The model is also compared to a baseline regression model as well as a model based on Artificial Neural Network. The results show that the proposed model performs much better than the other two compared models. The proposed model can be used for many intelligent applications such as measurement and savings verification, optimization, building-energy assessment and fault detection and diagnosis. The models were tested to predict the savings calculations for a simulated building and the results proved the proposed model to be the closest predictor to actual savings.
A metric-concept map for scoping impact studies of a transportation project on environment and community health

Abstract Transportation, environment and community are related. However, the definition, criteria and indicators of community health are still not well understood by transportation planners, engineers and researchers, so are the relationships between transportation, environment and community health. To assist decision makers to understand what aspects of environment and community health impact studies need to be performed, and the corresponding criteria assessed during the planning stage of a transportation project, this research has developed a tool which consists of a metric and a concept map. The metric has three sub-metrics. Each sub-metric represents one dimension: transportation, environment and community health, respectively. The states of each dimension are evaluated by several criteria, and each criterion has several quantitative or qualitative indicators. The relationships between transportation, environment and community health were identified through linkages between the criteria, and are graphically illustrated via a concept map. Using this metric-concept map, an analyst is able to quickly identify which aspects of the environment and community health that could potentially be impacted by a transportation project. The metric-concept map has been applied to two case studies. The first case study involved capacity expansion of a highway while the second case study concerned with the addition of a transit route. These case studies demonstrated how the metric-concept map may assist an analyst to prescribe the scope of environment and community health impact studies. The applications included the use of relative change in the indicator values before and after a transportation project, and the addition of new indicators deemed important to a project.
Method of Constraints

This chapter discusses the method of constraints. V. S. Mikhalevich and V. L. Volkovich, along with other researchers at the Institute of Cybernetics in Kiev, developed an extremely versatile interactive multi-objective solution technique called the method of constraints. Imposing few conditions on the functional form of either objectives or constraints, this method is applicable to a wide array of problems, including nonlinear, discrete, and hierarchical programming problems. A full appreciation of the innovativeness and versatility of this method can only be obtained through a detailed analysis of its theoretical underpinnings and a careful examination of its application to a range of specific problems. This method gets its name from imposing ever tighter constraints on a transformation of the feasible region in an objective function space. The chapter also presents the method's fundamental components. The basic steps involve translating the problem into relative loss space, defining the search direction, and iterative imposition of constraints.
Contextual Inquiry and Citation in Context

This proposal for an interactive presentation session will focus on two different mechanisms for expanding the role of context in developing undergraduate research projects. The first is to use contextual inquiry as a research method -- this method requires students to investigate a site of use and apply qualitative methods (observation, interview, focus groups) in order to help solve a research problem (the examples I will use include developing recommendation reports for websites for the GMU Writing Center and for Lifting Voices, a DC-based nonprofit that focuses on literacy instruction for under-served communities.). The other mechanism focuses on context analysis as applied to texts -- specifically for improving students' understanding of how to use secondary sources to support the arguments they make in academic writing. The focus on context in this case helps students to see how and why to use citations -- and I have found this reinforcement and focus on context and rhetorical functions also serves as a barrier to inadvertent plagiarism. Both techniques are designed to support undergraduate research/scholarship and both rely upon access to and use of a range of technologies (for recording, interaction between students and clients, and Internet research). Although these techniques are used in composition and professional writing courses, I believe they can be applied to other disciplines as well and will extrapolate possible uses outside of writing courses after presenting the specific examples of use in my classes. Although I could certainly present for the 50 minute session time, I could also do a more focused explanation of either of the two mechanisms individually and share the presentation time with another presenter if that makes more sense for the conference schedule.
Development of a Fast-Framing X-Ray Camera With Wide Dynamic Range for High-Energy Imaging

With upgrades planned at several x-ray light sources, including improvements to beam quality and brilliance at high energies (> 20 keV), corresponding advances in area detector technology are needed. Pixel array detectors (PADs) are one class of detectors that can meet these needs. PADs feature highly customizable CMOS circuitry for signal processing and data streaming, which facilitates high frame rates and the exploration of various dynamic range extension techniques. The custom CMOS readout chip is mated at a pixel level to a sensor layer that may be chosen independently, providing a testbed for exploring sensors beyond silicon. Here, the development of a fast-framing, wide-dynamic-range PAD intended specifically for use at x-ray energies > 20 keV will be described.
Building a Surgical Practice in a County Hospital System

County hospital systems are local public healthcare entities that play a crucial role in modern healthcare. They provide medical and public health services to underserved populations, serve as training centers for physicians, nurses, and others, and offer research opportunities with the potential to elevate medical science as a whole [1]. Our experience at Parkland Health and Hospital System (PHHS) in Dallas, Texas, informs this chapter. We have seen that county systems function in a particular manner and building a surgical practice in this context presents several unique challenges and opportunities. Nevertheless, many of the strategies critical to success in a county system are the same strategies relevant to succeeding in a private or university setting. These universal keys to success include knowing and understanding the setting in which you practice, integrating research with clinical practice, avoiding reinvention of the wheel or major overlap with established programs, and cultivating constructive relationships with administrators and other faculty in order to optimize delivery of care.
Grandparenting Across Cultures

An increasingly important, but underreported, topic in contemporary cross-cultural psychology is the role grandparents play, and the influence they have, in the development of children of all ages. About three-quarters of adults will eventually become grandparents, at ages ranging widely from their thirties to over sixty. Evidence suggests that the effects grandparents have throughout a variety of cultures are important and diverse. Grandparents may influence early affective and cognitive development, provide a support system during parental divorce, and serve as substitute parents. While the majority of research has occurred in Western cultures, studies from non-Western cultures have recently become available. This chapter will describe, explain, and understand both similarities and differences in grandparenting among different cultures, with an emphasis on ecological factors and special attention paid to grandparenting in Japan, China, and the United States.
Muslim refugee women’s perspectives on intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a recognized public health problem, and despite clear practice recommendations from service providers to recognize diverse cultural perspectives when addressing I...
Preventing type 2 diabetes: what have we learned?

The substantial burden of morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes and the high costs associated with the management of diabetic complications highlight the need for the development of strategies for the prevention of diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance is a pre-diabetic state which may present an opportunity for intervention to prevent the onset of clinical diabetes. Four recent clinical trials, the DPP, the FDPS, the STOP-NIDDM and the Da Qing study, have evaluated interventions based on diet and exercise and/or pharmacotherapy in pre-diabetic subjects. In all these trials the intervention strategies significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes. A worldwide epidemic of type 2 diabetes will occur over the coming decades and translating the results of these studies into practical and effective initiatives for diabetes prevention is an urgent clinical priority.Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2003;3(suppl 1):S6—S11
PUMA - a new mathematical model for the rapid calculation of steady-state concentration profiles in mixer-settler extraction, partitioning, and stripping contactors using the Purex process

The mathematical basis for a computer code PUMA (Plutonium-Uranium-Matrix-Algorithm) is described. The code simulates steady-state concentration profiles of solvent extraction contactors used in the Purex process, directly without first generating the transient behavior. The computational times are reduced, with no loss of accuracy, by about tenfold over those required by codes that generate the steady-state profiles via transient state conditions. Previously developed codes that simulate the steady-state conditions directly are not applicable to partitioning contactors, whereas PUMA is applicable to all contactors in the Purex process. Since most difficulties are encountered with partitioning contactors when simulating steady-state profiles via transient state conditions, it is with these contactors that the greatest saving in computer times is achieved.
Repensando la Independencia de Cuba a partir de Biografía de un cimarrón de Miguel Barnet

The testimonial story Biography of a Runaway Slave by Miguel Barnet is one of the pioneers of the narrative genre and has attracted attention of critics from the moment of its publication. The novel-testimony is seen by scholars as a text that allows the reader access to a "genuine" episteme, safeguarded by a witness of historical events. The main objective of this article is to demonstrate that the narrative of the maroon and former mambi Esteban Montejo opens new paths of reading and analyzing historical moments. In particular, the focus will be on his statements on the Cuban War of Independence, and for that purpose, the theory of Subaltern Studies will be used as a methodological tool. The analysis will highlight the denial of the Afro-Cuban agency in the official history of the independence in Cuba and will offer a reading of the events that recognizes the important Afro-descendant contribution.
Mapping Immigration Policy at the Southern Border: An Administrative and Judicial Analysis:

Presidents are increasingly relying on a mode of governing—presidentialism—that produces radical shifts in public policy through the administrative state, rather than through Congress. Most recentl...
Superplasticity and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si alloy doped with eutectic-forming Ni and Fe, and dispersoid-forming Sc and Zr elements

Abstract The development of Al–Mg–Si-based alloys with advanced superplasticity and improved mechanical properties is an important task for further applications of superplastic blow-forming technology in the production of complex-shape parts. The current study focuses on the influence of eutectic forming Ni and Fe and dispersoid forming Sc and Zr alloying elements on the microstructural evolution, superplastic behavior, and tensile properties at room temperature for the Al-1.2%Mg-0.7%Si-1.0%Cu (AA6013-type) alloy. The X-Ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were used for microstructural characterization. The bimodal particle size distribution was observed after the thermomechanical treatment of the alloy studied. The high density of the L12 coherent dispersoids with a mean size of 10 ± 1 nm providing a significant Zener pinning effect was formed during homogenization annealing. The near-equiaxed coarse particles with a size in a range of 0.5–5.0 μm belonged pre-dominantly to the Mg2Si and Al9FeNi phases, which led to an important particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) effect. The alloys studied exhibited a superplastic behavior in temperature and strain rate limits of 440–520 °C and 1 × 10−3 s−1 - 1 × 10−2 s−1, respectively, with an elongation-to-failure range of 350–480%. The age-hardening heat treatment provided a yield strength of 370 ± 4 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 415 ± 2 MPa, and elongation of 6 ± 1%.
An optimization technique for low-loss n/spl times/m microwave switch matrices

An approach to the optimum design of a large-scale blocking switch matrix has been developed. The approach minimizes insertion loss of any n/spl times/m switch matrix by deriving optimum configurations for all cascading states. Each state consists of either switches or junctions. To demonstrate an accuracy of the technique, we have designed an 8/spl times/2 switch matrix operating in the ISM band based on the optimization solution. The results indicate that the predicted insertion loss (2.90 dB) is agreed with the measured one (3.15 dB) at nominal frequency of 2.45 GHz. The agreement between the predicted and the measured insertion loss validates the practical use of the model.
People, Knowledge, and the Internet: Redefining Categories, Concepts, and Models

The 20th century revolution in information and communication technologies has dramatically altered the way people live, work, think, and learn. Its impact has been compared with the impact of the scientific revolution in the 16th century and the industrial revolution in the 17th-19th centuries (Bossert, 1997; Castells, 1997; Denning & Metcalfe, 1997; Tapscott, 1996). Milestones of the progress of technology such as the invention of the steam engine, printing press, radio, television, or the microcomputer are all responsible for profound socio-economic transformations. This is especially true with regard to the roles played by knowledge in contemporary society. The “age of information,” “knowledge age,” “information society,” “knowledge-based society,” “information economy,” “knowledge economy,” and “knowledge era”– are all labels scholars currently use to define technological and societal changes of the present time (Chaffee & Rogers, 1997; Dutton, 1996; Marien, 1996; Tapscott, 1996). I propose that these labels reflect the changing nature of the relationship between people and knowledge. Instead of a single linear association among people (P) and knowledge (K), we now deal with a three
Estimating Probabilities Relevant to Calculating Relative Risk-Corrected Returns of Alternative Portfolios

In making all-or-none choices between alternative securities, Samuelson (1997b) suggested that investors of different risk-aversion should calculate from past samples of those securities their relevant Harmonic Means, or Geometric means, or other associative means representative of their respective degrees of relative-risk-aversion. Here it is shown how this learning procedure can be improved upon when you have prior knowledge that the securities have log-Normal distributions. Classical estimation theory, concerning consistent, efficient, and sufficient statistics, is shown to have a cash value by means of the calculable measure of (ex ante) “risk-corrected certainty equivalents.” Needed qualifications and testings are also presented.
Design Tools for Application Specific Embedded Processors

A variety of factors make it increasingly difficult and expensive to design and manufacture traditional Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Consequently, programmable alternatives are more attractive than ever. The flexibility provided by programmability comes with a performance and power overhead. This can be significantly mitigated by using application specific platforms, also referred to as Application Specific Embedded Processors, or Application Specific Instruction Set Processors (ASIPs).ASIPs and the embedded software applications running on them, require specialized design tools - both during architectural evaluation to provide feedback on the suitability of the architecture for the application; as well as during system implementation to ensure efficient mapping and validation of design constraints. These functions result in requirements different from those of traditional software development environments. The first requirement is retargetability, especially during the early architectural evaluation stage where a rapid examination of design alternatives is essential. The second requirement is for additional metrics such as power consumption, real-time constraints and code size.This paper describes a set of design tools and associated methodology designed to meet the challenges posed by architectural evaluation and software synthesis. This work is part of the MESCAL (Modern Embedded Systems, Compilers, Architectures, and Languages) project.
Enteric pathogens and cellular transformation: bridging the gaps

Cancer patients in general, either due to the nature of their underlying illness or because of being on chemotherapeutic regimens, are at increased risk of infection. Indeed, microbes can exploit the innate plasticity of the epithelial cells to promote their trans-differentiation into a mesenchymal phenotype in a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process as well as the reverse, mesenchymal-epithelial transition, occurs repeatedly during normal embryonic development and is recapitulated during pathologies such as tissue fibrosis or tumor metastasis. Multiple signaling pathways including TGFβ, Wnt and Notch working together with transcription factors such as Slug, Snail, Twist, Zeb1 and 2 suppress E-cadherin, induce EMT and result in loss of cell-cell adhesion, increased tumor progression and migration. In addition, in approximately 20% of all cases, microbial organisms including pathobionts of the commensal microbiota, have been implicated in inflammatory processes that promote tumor growth. Thus, the dynamic process of EMT serves to enhance tumor progression and is also involved in the generation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) across multiple organ systems including colon cancer. Suffice to say, EMT and CSC molecular pathways activated by pathogens, may represent a unique therapeutic alternative to conventional anti-neoplastic strategy to mitigate early stage metastasis and/or frank malignancy.
Detection of Group A Streptococcus in Pharyngeal Swab Specimens by Use of the AmpliVue GAS Isothermal Helicase-Dependent Amplification Assay

We evaluated the clinical performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the AmpliVue group A Streptococcus (GAS) isothermal helicase-dependent amplification assay using 1,192 pharyngeal swab specimens. AmpliVue GAS assay results were compared to the results of routine throat cultures on selective streptococcal blood agar plates. The sensitivity and specificity of the AmpliVue GAS assay were 98.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95 to 100%) and 93.2% (95% CI, 91 to 95%), respectively.
Particulate failures for surface-micromachined MEMS

We investigate the failure modes of a comb-drive surface-micromachined microresonator that are caused by particulate contaminations. The microresonator structure is chosen as our research vehicle because it possesses all the primitive components found in many capacitive-based MEMS sensors and actuators. Process simulation is used to create the full-spectrum of defective structures caused by foreign particles. The generated defective structures are then classified based on their geometrical properties. Finite element analysis is used to understand the impact of these defects on the mechanical frequency response of the microresonator while HSPICE simulations are performed to determine the corresponding electrical misbehaviors within an acceleration measuring application. Simulation results show that particles can cause unwanted anchors, broken beams and welded comb fingers. However, the most interesting defects are broken comb fingers and lateral finger protrusions that only affect sensing capacitance. These defects lead to a very small increase or decrease in the shuttle mass. The mass change is so small that the mechanical frequency response of the resonator is virtually unchanged. However, the HSPICE simulations show that the change in output sensing voltage can be catastrophic.
Book Review: Democracy, Markets and Doomsaying: Is Ethnic Conflict Inevitable?

Amy Chua's World on Fire is a stimulating book that links the 1990s spread of democracy and market reforms with perceptions of increasing ethnic violence. Chua points out that many developing countries have market-dominant minority groups that wield disproportionate economic power. In the presence of such minorities, Chua argues, the simultaneous introduction of markets and democracy can lead to ethnic violence. Market liberalization can exacerbate minority control over the economy, while democratization provides incentives for demagogues to target the minority group. While her model has explanatory power in some contexts, the book pays insufficient attention to social science techniques and evidence. She defines her explanatory variables, democracy and markets, too broadly to facilitate a test of her theory. In discussing incidents of ethnic violence and tension, her approach to evidence is anecdotal, and she does not consider the number and intensity of cases where democratization and markets may have reduced ethnic tension. Recent studies suggest that the number and intensity of ethnic conflicts are in decline around the world, an important finding that should lead to caution in hastily adopting policies based on Chua's analysis. Both democratization and a reduction in ethnic tension, it is argued, can be facilitated by the international community.
Effects of Age Expectations on Oncology Social Workers’ Clinical Judgment:

Objective:This study examined the influence of oncology social workers’ expectations regarding aging (ERA) and ERA with cancer (ERAC) on their clinical judgment.Methods:Oncology social workers (N = 322) were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes describing a patient with lung cancer. The vignettes were identical except for the patent’s age and gender. Structural equation modeling served as the primary tool for testing the study hypotheses.Results:Significant differences were found in clinical judgment based on patient’s age, and social workers’ ERA and ERAC which affected diagnostic and treatment judgment for all patients. Lack of congruence was also found between the diagnosis and treatment phases of care for older patients. Emotional reaction was more often reported for the younger patient.Conclusion:Results suggest a barrier to “whole patient” care for all cancer patients and a need for student and practitioner training to place greater emphasis on the treatment phase of patient care.
Right ventricular Tei index in children: effect of method, age, body surface area, and heart rate.

The right ventricular (RV) Tei index (RVTX) has been used to analyze systolic and diastolic global RV function in various congenital and acquired cardiac abnormalities in children. We conducted a study to determine the effects of the methods of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) versus pulse wave Doppler (PWD) and age, body surface area (BSA), and heart rate on the RVTX in a population of 308 children with normal echocardiogram findings. Participants ranged in age from 1 day to 18 years, with BSA from 0.08 to 2.4 m 2 and heart rate from 46 to 182/min. The RVTX was calculated by both DTI and PWD in each patient during a single echocardiographic examination. RVTX-DTI = 0.37 ± 0.05 (mean ± SD) versus RVTX-PWD = 0.34 ± 0.06 were slightly but statistically different ( P P P
Immunochemical studies on blood groups. XXXVI. the nature of the unsaturated residue in some oligosaccharides produced by the action of sodium hydroxide-sodium borohydride on blood-group a, b, and h substances

Abstract Treatment of blood-group substances with sodium hydroxide-sodium borohydride gives a series of oligosaccharides, many of which are terminated by an unsaturated alditol residue, that of a 3-hexene-1,2,5,6-tetrol(R). cis -Hydroxylation of authentic samples of the trans-erythro and D - threo forms of this alditol with hydrogen peroxide and osmium tetraoxide gave the expected products, namely, DL -glucitol from the former, and D -mannitol and D -iditol from the latter. Three of the unsaturated oligosaccharides from blood-group substances, when hydroxylated under the same conditions and the product then hydrolyzed, gave mixtures of these three hexitols. The hexitols were identified by gas chromatography of their hexaacetates under conditions that permitted the separation of all six possible hexitol hexaacetates. Each oligosaccharides sample, is, therefore, a mixture of two oligosaccharides, one terminated by a trans -3-hexene- D - threo - and the other by a trans -3-hexene- erythro -tetrol residue. Periodate oxidation of the mixture of hexitol-containing disaccharides obtained by hydroxylation of β- D -GNA cp -(1→6)-R showed that the two-acetamido-2-deoxy-hexose residue is linked to C-6 of the hexenetetrol. The structures of the oligosaccharides obtained from the blood-group substances by degradation with sodium hydroxide-sodium borohydride are compared with those from hog submaxillary mucin and with those formed by the hydrolysis of blood-group substances with triethylamine.
Endoscopic duodenal "windsock" diverticulotomy.

A 49-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Her symptoms were severe, and she required total parenteral nutrition for nutrition support. Both CT and barium upper GI series demonstrated a large “windsock” diverticulum that obstructed the duodenal lumen. The patient was referred to undergo a surgical diverticulectomy. After a multidisciplinary discussion, a less invasive endoscopic diverticulotomy was recommended, and the patient agreed. The linked video demonstrates the endoscopic findings and therapeutic technique. Upper endoscopy showed the diverticulum arising from the proximal duodenum. The scope could not traverse the true lumen due to compression by the diverticulum. A guidewire was passed to delineate the true lumen. At that point, the diverticulum spontaneously inverted into a proximal position. The tip of the diverticulum was then clipped to the duodenal wall to increase exposure and to allow a more controlled incision. Clips were placed on the vascular pedicle of the diverticulum to prevent bleeding. An incremental incision was performed using a needle-knife to divide the diverticulum completely. Mild bleeding occurred twice and was managed with clips. A complete diverticulotomy was accomplished, allowing easy passage of the endoscope. The patient had an uneventful postprocedural recovery and was discharged the same day with instructions for dietary advancement. After 2 months, the patient reported complete symptom resolution. She was eating well, had gained weight, and had discontinued total parenteral nutrition. A repeat endoscopy confirmed a patent lumen and no recurrence of the diverticulum. This case demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of endoscopic diverticulotomy performed from a proximally inverted position. This “top-down” approach provided very good exposure for the incision and easy treatment of bleeding complications.
New Directions for Substance-Abuse Prevention.

Across the nation and for a very long time, campuses and students have been plagued by drug and alcohol abuse. And it seems that many of our efforts to address that abuse, while necessary, have bee...
Homeopronematus anconai (Baker) (Acari: Tydeidae) predation on citrus flat mite, Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract The adult and nymphs of H. anconai (Baker) were observed feeding on eggs of Brevipalpus lewisi McGregor in the laboratory.
Effects of illumination and glycollate oxidation in promoting glyoxylate decarboxylation by pea leaf protoplasts.

During glycollate oxidation, glyoxylate was decarboxylated by pea leaf protoplasts. The characteristics of the reaction were similar to those of the reaction in leaf extracts (Walton, 1982, Planta 155, 218–224). Glyoxylate decarboxylation was not promoted by illumination of the protoplasts.
Study of electron-phonon interaction and magneto-optical anomalies in two-dimensionally confined systems

This paper presents a study of the nature of electron-optical phonon coupling in two-dimensionally confined systems (e.g., inversion or accumulation layers in metal-oxide semiconductors, heterojunctions, and superlattices of polar semiconductors) and shows that magneto-optical anomalies in two dimensions provide a powerful tool for their investigation. Several models of electron-optical phonon coupling are studied. These include coupling with (i) three-dimensional optical phonon with fixed ${k}_{z}$, the wave vector normal to the two-dimensional plane of confinement, (ii) three-dimensional optical phonons with arbitrary ${k}_{z}$ due to the loss of wave-vector selection rules in finite structures, (iii) interface optical-phonon modes, and (iv) purely two-dimensional optical-phonon modes. Where appropriate, zone-folding effects are explicitly taken into account. Resonant magneto-optical absorption studies are shown to be a means of unambiguously probing the electron-phonon coupling in these novel materials. Within the framework of the Fr\"ohlich model and including only the resonant self-energy diagram in the theory, it is shown that at resonance the relevant cyclotron peak splits into a doublet. The resonance effect is found to be much sharper in two dimensions compared to the bulk case, a consequence of the lack of ${k}_{z}$ continuum of electronic energy. For a given magnetic field of strength $B$, the resonant splitting is proportional to ${B}^{\frac{3}{4}}$ for two-dimensionally confined carriers, in contrast to the ${B}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ behavior in the bulk. The proportionality factor depends on the specific phonon mechanism considered. The spectral weights of the split peaks are evaluated. Allowing, phenomenologically, finite width of the resonant Landau levels, as well as for the Landau level from which optical transition originates, the expressions for optical absorption and Raman scattering are obtained. The significance of electron-light vertex correction is investigated and shown to be important under certain conditions. The possibility of a resonant splitting in two dimensions in direct intersubband transition without any magnetic field is also investigated.
Using microstructure reconstruction to model mechanical behavior in complex microstructures

A systematic approach to understanding the role of microstructure on the mechanical response of complex multiphase materials is presented based on the "microstructure reconstruction" method of Yeong and Torquato. Low-order statistical correlation functions from an experimental microstructure are used to generate, using a simulated annealing algorithm, a spectrum of statistically similar microstructures that are then tested numerically. To illustrate the method, a ductile iron microstructure is studied. All simulated structures have elastic behavior and average stress-strain behavior nearly identical to that predicted for the experimental microstructure. The structures differ in the strain at which nucleation of localization begins. To identify the characteristic critical "hot spot" driving localization in each specific microstructure, a new variant of the microstructure reconstruction method is proposed in which a potential "hot spot" region from a particularly weak microstructure is embedded into new statistical microstructures, which are then tested. If the selected "hot spot" region is large enough, the new microstructures fail in the same "hot spot" region and at comparable applied stress and strain levels. This method thus shows promise for capturing local failure initiation sites in complex microstructures. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The constancy of the orientation of the visual field

Evidence is presented that the perceived immobility of the environment during tilting of the head from side to side results from a compensating process. This compensating process operates well only when peripheral vision is present. An objectively stationary environment was, for instance, not perceived as immobile during head tilting when vision was confined to the macular region of the retina. The compensating process could be rapidly altered by exposure to environmental tilting during and dependent on head tilting. Such adaptation had the result that some environmental tilting that normally is perceived led to apparent immobility.
An Examination of the Applicability of Computed Tomography for the Measurement of Component Concentrations in Fire-Generated Plumes

Abstract The purpose of this investigation is to examine the feasibility of using computed tomography to evaluate the predictive capabilities of fire models. In this pursuit, we have analyzed data from both laboratory- and computer-generated plumes in order to determine the number of line-of-sight measurements, the detector topology, and the temporal resolution needed to obtain accurate reconstructions of component concentrations in fire atmospheres.
Semiparametric left truncation and right censorship models with missing censoring indicators

We derive the asymptotic distributions of a semiparametric Dikta-type estimator and an inverse probability weighted type estimator of a survival function for a missing censoring indicator left truncated model and provide a theoretical comparison study.
Change in perceptual form attenuates the use of the fluency heuristic in recognition.

Four experiments (totalN = 295) were conducted to determine whether within-modality changes in perceptual form between the study and the test phases of an experiment would moderate the role of the fluency heuristic in recognition memory. Experiment 1 showed that a change from pictures to words reduced the role of fluency in recognition memory. In Experiment 2, the same result was found using counterfeit study lists that supposedly consisted of pictures or words. Experiments 3 and 4 showed that changes in the font used to present the study and test words also attenuated the contribution of fluency to the recognition decision when font change was manipulated between subjects, but not within subjects. Results suggest that the fluency heuristic is subject to metacognitive control, since participants’ attributions of perceptual fluency depend on the perceived usefulness of fluency as a cue to recognition.
Design and isolation of ribozyme-substrate pairs using RNase P-based ribozymes containing altered substrate binding sites

Substrate recognition and cleavage by the bacterial RNase P RNA requires two domains, a specificity domain, or S-domain, and a catalytic domain, or C-domain. The S-domain binds the T stem-loop region in a pre-tRNA substrate to confer specificity for tRNA substrates. In this work, the entire S-domain of the Bacillus subtilis RNase P RNA is replaced with an artificial substrate binding module. New RNA substrates are isolated by in vitro selection using two libraries containing random regions of 60 nt. At the end of the selection, the cleavage rates of the substrate library are approximately 0.7 min(-1)in 10 mM MgCl(2)at 37 degrees C, approximately 4-fold better than the cleavage of a pre-tRNA substrate by the wild-type RNase P RNA under the same conditions. The contribution of the S-domain replacement to the catalytic efficiency is from 6- to 22 000-fold. Chemical and nuclease mapping of two ribozyme-product complexes shows that this contribution correlates with direct interactions between the S-domain replacement and the selected substrate. These results demonstrate the feasibility of design and isolation of RNase P-based, matching ribozyme-substrate pairs without prior knowledge of the sequence or structure of the interactive modules in the ribozyme or substrate.
Wet layup and sintering of metal-containing microfibrous composites for chemical processing opportunities

Abstract A new class of composite materials is prepared using traditional high speed and low cost paper making equipment and techniques. In this process, μm diameter metal fibers in a variety of compositions and alloys are slurried in an aqueous suspension with cellulose fibers and other selected particulates and/or fibers. The resulting mixture is then cast into a preform sheet using a wetlay process and dried to create a sheet or roll of preform material. Subsequent sintering of the preform at elevated temperatures (ca. 1000°C) removes the cellulosic binder/pore former and entraps the selected particulates/fibers within a sinter-locked network of conductive metal fibers. Unique physical properties are obtained in terms of: void volume, thermal/electrical conductivity, porosity, surface area, permeability, particle size, layer thickness, etc. To a first approximation these composites possess averaged physical properties over heretofore unavailable regions located between those of the entrapped component and those of the high void volume sintered metal carrier. For chemical processing applications the high void volume of the metallic binder/carrier (i.e. 20–99%) facilitates intralayer heat and mass transport while the ability to trap very small particulates (using the novel pore size-void volume relationship of microfibrous carriers) greatly reduces intraparticle heat and mass transport. A description of the unique and fundamental structure-property relationships and behaviors of these materials will be presented and contrasted with those of the more traditional engineering approaches and practices using fused particulates and pasted-carriers. Opportunities for significant steady-state volumetric processing improvements result when one must balance the competing demands of chemical kinetics (e.g. at the entrapped particulates) with those of the required transport processes (i.e. via the interparticle and intralayer voidage). Examples of beneficial processing applications and opportunities will be discussed in: (a) heat transfer materials, (b) catalysts and sorbents, (c) electrochemical processing and (d) filtration.
Strain, biochemistry, and cultivation-dependent measurement variability of algal biomass composition

Accurate compositional analysis in biofuel feedstocks is imperative; the yields of individual components can define the economics of an entire process. In the nascent industry of algal biofuels and bioproducts, analytical methods that have been deemed acceptable for decades are suddenly critical for commercialization. We tackled the question of how the strain and biochemical makeup of algal cells affect chemical measurements. We selected a set of six procedures (two each for lipids, protein, and carbohydrates): three rapid fingerprinting methods and three advanced chromatography-based methods. All methods were used to measure the composition of 100 samples from three strains: Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella sp., and Nannochloropsis sp. The data presented point not only to species-specific discrepancies but also to cell biochemistry-related discrepancies. There are cases where two respective methods agree but the differences are often significant with over- or underestimation of up to 90%, likely due to chemical interferences with the rapid spectrophotometric measurements. We provide background on the chemistry of interfering reactions for the fingerprinting methods and conclude that for accurate compositional analysis of algae and process and mass balance closure, emphasis should be placed on unambiguous characterization using methods where individual components are measured independently.
Sharing or Piracy? An Exploration of Downloading Behavior

This exploratory study applies and extends a new model of media attendance to examine factors that determine current levels of sharing files through peer-to-peer networks among college students, and to predict downloaders’ intentions to discontinue the behavior in the future. In a multiple regression analysis, downloading activity was found to be positively related to deficient self-regulation and the expected social outcomes of downloading behavior. Downloading activity was lessened by dissatisfaction with poor quality downloads. Those who are willing to discontinue downloading are motivated by fear of punishment, but skilled and habitual downloaders were unlikely to discontinue. Normative beliefs also affected downloading. The perception that downloading was morally unacceptable was positively related to intentions to discontinue downloading, while beliefs that the behavior was morally acceptable were positively related to current downloading activity.