cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic pain in adolescents

The prevalence of chronic pain among adolescents exceeds 30%, and persistent pain has been associated with significant impairments in functioning [1,2]. Although innovative cognitive behavioral-based interventions have been shown to improve functioning and reduce pain among adolescents [3], the effects of adjunct approaches, including interoceptive exposure, have not been widely studied in this population of patients with chronic pain. In this issue of Pain Medicine , Hechler et al. [4], using a case-controlled design, report the 3-month treatment outcomes of a graded exposure intervention adapted for adolescents admitted to a cognitive behavioral-based inpatient pain treatment program. However, the preliminary findings should be carefully interpreted in light of the potential for selection bias, lack of immediate treatment outcomes, and the possible risk of treatment …
Advanced sonar technologies for autonomous mine countermeasures

The U.S. Office of Naval Research is developing synthetic aperture sonars for the detection, localization, and classification of mines, for protection of sea lines of communication and Naval operating areas, and for support of amphibious operations. This paper reviews several evolving mine countermeasures sonars deployed on autonomous undersea vehicles that operate stand-alone and in coordination with complementary sensors, including the Small Synthetic Aperture Minehunter (SSAM), the Autonomous Topographic & Large Area Survey (ATLAS) sonar, and the Buried Object Scanning Sonar (BOSS).
Designing for Windborne Missiles in Urban Areas

Guidance for the designer of cladding on urban buildings is contained in referenced material and in design criteria. Test data reflecting resistance of window glass (several thicknesses and temper levels) to small missile (roof gravel) impact are included. These data are incorporated into glass design charts. Definitions of three zones for design are advanced. Requirements for design of cladding suggest the use of protective screens on lower floors, tempered glass on middle floors, and conventionally designed glass on upper floors. Examples of failures and examples of successful protective designs are included. Data, design curves, and references contained in the paper should assist the designer who recognizes unusual environments when designing cladding.
RELATIONS BETWEEN ALTERED STREAMFLOW VARIABILITY AND FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN EASTERN USA STREAMS

Although altered streamflow has been implicated as a major factor affecting fish assemblages, understanding the extent of streamflow alteration has required quantifying attributes of the natural flow regime. We used predictive models to quantify deviation from expected natural streamflow variability for streams in the eastern USA. Sites with >25% change in mean daily streamflow variability compared with what would be expected in a minimally disturbed environment were defined as having altered streamflow variability, based on the 10th and 90th percentiles of the distribution of streamflow variability at 1279 hydrological reference sites. We also used predictive models to assess fish assemblage condition and native species loss based on the proportion of expected native fish species that were observed. Of the 97 sites, 49 (50.5%) were classified as altered with reduced streamflow variability, whereas no sites had increased streamflow variability. Reduced streamflow variability was related to a 35% loss in native fish species, on average, and a >50% loss of species with a preference for riffle habitats. Conditional probability analysis indicated that the probability of fish assemblage impairment increased as the severity of altered streamflow variability increased. Reservoir storage capacity and wastewater discharges were important predictors of reduced streamflow variability as revealed by random forest analysis. Management and conservation of streams will require careful consideration of natural streamflow variation and potential factors contributing to altered streamflow within the entire watershed to limit the loss of critical stream habitats and fish species uniquely adapted to live in those habitats. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
America's Schizophrenic Immigration Policy: Race, Class, and Reason

The historical purpose of American immigration policy was to provide a haven for those fleeing persecution and those seeking prosperity, as well as to satisfy workforce and frontier-expansion needs. However, a survey of U.S. immigration policy reveals that this historical purpose has been distorted and abandoned, if in fact it ever represented our nation's goal. This essay evaluates and critiques the effect that race and politics have had on immigration policy and enforcement, and on the public opinion that shapes our immigration priorities. This essay specifically questions whether immigration laws are equitably applied, without regard to the race or ethnicity of the
Transient 5-oxoprolinuria: unusually high anion gap acidosis in an infant

Transient 5-oxoprolinuria is a phenomenon that is well recognised in adults. We illustrate an unusual paediatric case of transient 5-oxoprolinuria presenting during an episode of severe sepsis with concomitant paracetamol use. The 15-month-old patient had an extremely high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Adequate resuscitation failed to correct the biochemical disturbance, and high levels of 5-oxoproline were identified. A combination of haemofiltration, replenishment of glutathione stores with N-acetylcysteine and cessation of paracetamol administration resulted in the resolution of the acidosis. Subsequent testing following treatment of the sepsis revealed no ongoing 5-oxoprolinuria.
New microwave background constraints on the cosmic matter budget: trouble for nucleosynthesis?

We compute the joint constraints on ten cosmological parameters from the latest cosmic microwave background measurements. The lack of a significant second acoustic peak in the new BOOMERANG and MAXIMA data favors models with more baryons than big bang nucleosynthesis predicts, almost independently of what prior information is included. The simplest flat inflation models with purely scalar scale-invariant fluctuations prefer a baryon density $0.022l{h}^{2}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{b}l0.040$ and a total nonbaryonic ( $\mathrm{hot}+\mathrm{cold}$) dark matter density $0.14l{h}^{2}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{dm}}l0.32$ at $95%$ confidence and allow reionization no earlier than $z\ensuremath{\sim}30$.
Human Rights and Military Decisions: Counterinsurgency and Trends in the Law of International Armed Conflict

The past several decades have seen a Copernican shift in the paradigm of armed conflict, which the traditional Law of International Armed Conflict (LOIAC) canon has not fully matched. Standing out in stark relief against the backdrop of relative inactivity in LOIAC, is the surfeit of activity in the field of international human rights law, which has become a dramatic new force in the ancient realm of international law. Human rights law, heretofore not formally part of the traditional juridico-military calculus, has gained ever increasing salience in that calculus. Indeed, human rights law has ramified in such a manner that – given the nature of contemporary conflict, it is no longer possible to address one body of law without also dealing with the other. This has been the most dramatic trend for LOIAC in the last decade. It will doubtlessly continue. This article briefly addresses this interesting and important phenomenon in the context of the history of LOIAC and modern warfare, which has changed from large-scale clashes of the military might of sovereign states to conflict characterized by long-term guerilla and asymmetric warfare, concomitant counterinsurgency, and stability operations. The nature of contemporary stability operations and counterinsurgency has broadened the scope of military operations so that commanders must now engage in a range of activities not traditionally considered combat-related. Associated with this expanded range of military responsibility is an expanded range of legal responsibility. Hence, we arrive at the necessity and value of human rights law. We briefly identify the general implications of the legal trend and illuminate some notable aspects of the legal landscape that loom before military commanders and their advisors. The issue of where, when, and how human rights protections apply is essential to understanding their functionality. The treatment of detainees is a prime example of the expanded range of legal responsibility that implicates human rights law. Thus, our discussion of jurisdiction includes analysis of variations among some countries and various regional and international organizations, which differ in their positions on the proper extraterritorial application or jurisdictional scope of their own and international human rights norms. This includes analysis of recent interesting decisions from the British House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights. Finally, we discuss the Copenhagen Process, which began with the first Copenhagen Conference held in October 2007. The Copenhagen Process is an effort to establish a common platform for the handling of detainees which illustrates how intertwined strands of international human rights law and LOIAC have become. It may also represent a way, if not to cut the Gordian knot, then to move past it with a better recognition of how both legal strands will influence future military operations.
Attention Deficit Disorder Without Hyperactivity: A Distinct Behavioral and Neurocognitive Syndrome:

This study examined the issue as to whether or not children carefully diagnosed as having either attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) or without hyperactivity (ADDnoH) could be distinguished on selected cognitive, academic, rapid naming, and behavioral measures. Employing a previously validated multimodal, multi-informant diagnostic process that results in reliable clinical diagnoses, 10 ADDH and 10 ADDnoH children were examined. While no significant differences in cognitive ability were noted between groups, significant underachievement was found in the children diagnosed as ADDnoH, particularly in mathematics achievement. The ADDnoH children were also significantly slower on rapid naming tasks than the ADDH children. Further, 60% of the ADDnoH children had a codiagnosis of a developmental reading or arithmetic disorder while none of the ADDH children received such a codiagnosis. Conversely, 40% of the ADDH children had a codiagnosis of conduct disorder and were rated by their parent as significantly more motorically active, impulsive, and deviant in the demonstration of age-appropriate social skills. These findings are discussed as they relate to the notion that children with attention deficit disorder may suffer from a right hemispheric syndrome.
Enhanced rotor position/speed observer for sensorless control of salient-pole permanent-magnet synchronous machines

Reliable rotor position/speed estimation is one of the key issues in the position/speed sensorless control of permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PMSM). In this paper, a quasi-sliding-mode observer (QSMO) with an online observer parameter adaption scheme is employed to estimate the extended electromotive force of a salient-pole PMSM. Due to machine parameter variations, inverter nonlinearities and digital delays, a pulsating position estimation error or even instability might be observed in the closed-loop sensorless control during extreme loading conditions. This work proposes an enhanced speed/position estimator, which utilizes a phase-locked loop (PLL)-type observer with a proportional-integral plus integral structure. To further mitigate the pulsating position estimation error and improve the transient stability, an online phase compensator using the γ-axis (i.e., the estimated d-axis) current tracking error is proposed to compensate the rotor position estimation error of the PLL-type observer. Experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed rotor position/speed estimator and the sensorless control system for a salient-pole PMSM.
Teaching “Real Utopias” through Experiential Learning:

In this article, we describe a way to encourage students to envision "real utopias" through the Global Village experience at the Heifer Ranch in Arkansas. The Global Village experience introduces participants to issues associated with global hunger, poverty, environmental sustainability, and resource consumption and provides opportunities to experience simulated poverty and resource inequality. Using student journals recorded during the experience and participant observation, we demonstrate how students’ learning is enhanced by temporarily living outside their typical comfort zones and closer to the global averages of consumption. We find that the Global Village experience is an effective and unique tool for engaging students in global and transnational issues and for encouraging students to imagine other possible worlds.
The evolution of the placenta drives a shift in sexual selection in livebearing fish

The evolution of the placenta from a non-placental ancestor causes a shift of maternal investment from pre- to post-fertilization, creating a venue for parent-offspring conflicts during pregnancy. Theory predicts that the rise of these conflicts should drive a shift from a reliance on pre-copulatory female mate choice to polyandry in conjunction with post-zygotic mechanisms of sexual selection. This hypothesis has not yet been empirically tested. Here we apply comparative methods to test a key prediction of this hypothesis, which is that the evolution of placentation is associated with reduced pre-copulatory female mate choice. We exploit a unique quality of the livebearing fish family Poeciliidae: placentas have repeatedly evolved or been lost, creating diversity among closely related lineages in the presence or absence of placentation. We show that post-zygotic maternal provisioning by means of a placenta is associated with the absence of bright coloration, courtship behaviour and exaggerated ornamental display traits in males. Furthermore, we found that males of placental species have smaller bodies and longer genitalia, which facilitate sneak or coercive mating and, hence, circumvents female choice. Moreover, we demonstrate that post-zygotic maternal provisioning correlates with superfetation, a female reproductive adaptation that may result in polyandry through the formation of temporally overlapping, mixed-paternity litters. Our results suggest that the emergence of prenatal conflict during the evolution of the placenta correlates with a suite of phenotypic and behavioural male traits that is associated with a reduced reliance on pre-copulatory female mate choice.
Transient ontogenetic expression of hermaphroditic gonad morphology within the Gobiosoma group of the Neotropical seven-spined gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

The Neotropical seven-spined gobies (tribe Gobiosomatini), including the Gobiosoma and Microgobius groups, constitute a speciose, monophyletic gobiid taxon. In particular, member species of the Gobiosoma group exhibit a combination of behavioral diversification and microhabitat specialization that may have played a major role in their collective rapid evolution and high rate of speciation. Functional hermaphroditism, which is common among gobiids, can promote exploitation of patchily distributed micro-niches by countering potential reductions in reproductive opportunities. However, the possible role of functional hermaphroditism in the exploitation of microhabitats and rapid speciation in the Gobiosoma group is unknown. One member species, Tigrigobius multifasciatus, is a functional hermaphrodite. Two other Gobiosoma group species are functionally gonochoric (i.e., constant-sexed), but exhibit transient hermaphroditic ovarian structure among immatures. In this study, ovarian morphology among immature and adult females of several Gobiosoma group species was examined to see if hermaphroditic gonadal features are present. Although no evidence of functional hermaphroditism in the form of precursive accessory gonadal structures (pAGS) associated with the adult ovary was found among newly examined species, all species exhibited the transient expression of hermaphroditic gonadal features associated with the immature ovary. In contrast, among six species of non-Gobiosomatini genera having no record of hermaphroditism, none exhibited similar transient hermaphroditic features associated with the immature ovary. These findings suggest that hermaphroditism may have been an ancestral trait which has been secondarily lost within some Gobiosoma group species. This study also shows that ontogenetic and morphogenic processes within the gobiid reproductive system may provide new insights into the evolution of life history traits and significantly further our understanding of the extraordinary evolutionary success of this group.
One Size Still Does Not Fit All in Specific Learning Disability Assessment Across Ethnic Groups

The use of IQ scores and discrepancy formulas for identifying specific learning disabilities (SLD) has been widely discredited by prominent researchers for more than a decade. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of state policies still specify the use of discrepancy formulas, including the simple difference method, which is psychometrically inferior to regression-based methods. This study compares the use of a minimum IQ cutoff score and a simple difference method versus a regression-based method for identifying SLD in a sample of African American and European American full-time college students (N = 117). Replicating the findings from previous studies using typically achieving children, typically achieving adults, and school-age children with SLD, this study adds to the chorus of voices criticizing the use of outdated assessment practices that can have deleterious effects for individuals with SLD. The implications for legislative policy are discussed in the context of the historical overrepresentation of African Americans in all special education categories except SLD and the increased access to higher education that students with SLD have gained during the past decade.
High energy nucleon-deuteron elastic scattering and the nucleon-nucleon forces

Abstract The differential cross sections and the polarization are calculated for the 100 MeV and 40 MeV nucleons elastically scattered from deuterons. A kind of impulse approximation is used with the elementary scattering operators corresponding to the phase shifts resulting from Gammel-Thaler and Marshak-Signell potentials. The results for both cases are compared with the existing experimental data.
The effect of interfacial bonding on the toughness of glass filled polymers

Abstract The fracture toughness of glass sphere filled epoxy and polyester resins was studied as a function of interfacial strength and volume fraction of glass. The toughness was determined using a tapered cleavage specime. The interface strength was varied by surface treatments applied to the glass spheres. A mold release treatment (Dow Corning DC-20) was used to represent the extreme condition of zero interfacial strength and silane coupling agents were used to achieve various degrees of interfacial strength. It was found that the fracture toughness, for all surface treatments, increased with the addition of glass spheres to the resin and went through a maximum between 20 to 30 volume percent. Furthermore, the toughness was a maximum for those surface treatments producing poor adhesion between glass and resin. Unnotched Izod impact strengths do not correlate with the above results but do correlate with areas under stress-strain curves. Theories are presented to explain these results based on microscopic investigation of fracture surfaces and assumed fracture mechanisms.
A cross-sectional measurement of medical student empathy.

Empathy is important in the physician–patient relationship. Prior studies have suggested that physician empathy may decline with clinical training. To measure and examine student empathy across medical school years. A cross-sectional study of students at Boston University School of Medicine in 2006. Incoming students plus each class near the end of the academic year were surveyed. The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy–Student Version (JSPE-S), a validated 20-item self-administered questionnaire with a total score ranging from 20 to 140. JSPE-S scores were controlled for potential confounders such as gender, age, anticipated financial debt upon graduation, and future career interest. 658 students participated in the study (81.4% of the school population). The first-year medical student class had the highest empathy scores (118.5), whereas the fourth-year class had the lowest empathy scores (106.6). Measured empathy differed between second- and third-year classes (118.2 vs 112.7, P < .001), corresponding to the first year of clinical training. Empathy appears to increase from the incoming to the first-year class (115.5 vs 118.5, P = .02). Students preferring people-oriented specialties had higher empathy scores than students preferring technology-oriented specialties (114.6 vs 111.4, P = .002). Female students were more likely than male students to choose people-oriented specialties (51.5 vs 26.9%, P < .001). Females had higher JSPE-S scores than males (116.5 vs 112.1, P < .001). Age and debt did not affect empathy scores. Empathy scores of students in the preclinical years were higher than in the clinical years. Efforts are needed to determine whether differences in empathy scores among the classes are cohort effects or represent changes occurring in the course of medical education. Future research is needed to confirm whether clinical training impacts empathy negatively, and, if so, whether interventions can be designed to mitigate this impact.
On possible release of microbe-containing particulates from a Mars lander spacecraft

Due to possible planet contamination, before Earth-departure, Mars landers and/or rovers are subject to strict requirements on the maximum number of attached spores or particles that carry viable microbes. Estimates of the release rates of these particles on Mars are made considering the three mechanisms of wind shear, collision with suspended dust, and collision with saltating sand particles. The first mechanism is found to apply only to particles of size greater than 10μm, the second mechanism has a characteristic particle adhesion half life that is so long as to be of no concern, and the third mechanism is deemed of possible importance, vitally depending on attached particle size and detailed surface characteristics of sand and spacecraft. While not investigated in detail, dust devils are shown to be possible contributors to release of microbe-containing particles.
Favorable effects of the antioxidants sodium and magnesium thiazolidine carboxylate on the vitality and life span of Drosophila and mice.

Abstract We have investigated the effects of two antioxidants, sodium and magnesium L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylate (NaTC, MgTC), on vitality and life span of female mice and male Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies). NaTC or MgTC was added to the food medium of populations of flies (about 170 flies each) at a 0·2% concentration from the 26th day of their adult life, whereas MgTC was given to 39 mice at the concentration of 0·07% in their standard chow, starting at the age of 23 months. The antioxidant treatment resulted in mean life span increases of 8 and 14% in flies treated with NaTC and MgTC, respectively. Apparently, the maximum life span was similarly increased as reflected in the ages of the longest lived individuals, although much larger populations should be studied for statistical evaluation. It seems that mouse aging was also influenced by antioxidant treatment, although to a lesser degree than Drosophila aging. This is suggested by our observation that mice given MgTC had a median life span about 7% longer than the control animals. Vitality of middle aged flies (assessed by measuring their mating capacity) receiving MgTC was increased considerably in comparison with the controls. The mean body weights of groups of treated flies and mice were not different from those of the controls and the food intake was about the same for control and treated mice. Therefore, the favorable effects of the antioxidants MgTC and NaTC on mortality kinetics of flies and mice and on the vitality of flies cannot be explained as the outcome of caloric restriction. In our opinion, the favorable results which are consistently associated with the use of NaTC, MgTC or other sulphur-containing substances are related to their free radical scavenger action. In accordance with this concept, the above substances may be effective in reducing the rate of the aging process.
Investigating Factorial Invariance of Latent Variables Across Populations When Manifest Variables Are Missing Completely.

Difficulties arise in multiple-group evaluations of factorial invariance if particular manifest variables are missing completely in certain groups. Ad hoc analytic alternatives can be used in such situations (e.g., deleting manifest variables), but some common approaches, such as multiple imputation, are not viable. At least 3 solutions to this problem are viable: analyzing differing sets of variables across groups, using pattern mixture approaches, and a new method using random number generation. The latter solution, proposed in this article, is to generate pseudo-random normal deviates for all observations for manifest variables that are missing completely in a given sample and then to specify multiple-group models in a way that respects the random nature of these values. An empirical example is presented in detail comparing the 3 approaches. The proposed solution can enable quantitative comparisons at the latent variable level between groups using programs that require the same number of manifest varia...
The effects of sustained hydrostatic pressure on select bladder smooth muscle cell functions.

Purpose Normal bladder development is believed to depend on the active work of the bladder for storing and expelling urine. When high urinary diversion is performed in infants and the bladder no longer undergoes normal filling, bladder development may be altered, ultimately resulting in bladder dysfunction. To help better understand this relationship of bladder function with growth at the cellular level we developed a novel laboratory method for applying hydrostatic pressure to cell cultures, and we characterized the response of neonatal bladder smooth muscle cells to physiological levels of sustained hydrostatic pressure. Materials and methods Neonatal ovine smooth muscle cells staining positive for desmin and alpha-smooth muscle actin were exposed to pressures of 0.3 (controls), 2, 4, 6 and 8.5 cm. water for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. At the end of the experiments the cells were fixed, stained and counted. Mitogenic activity of the supernatant media from bladder smooth muscle cells exposed to 8.5 cm. water for 5 days (conditioned media) was tested before and after treatments of heating, freezing, passing through a heparin-sepharose affinity chromatography column or after the addition of suramin, a nonspecific growth factor inhibitor. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test with p Results Exposure of bladder smooth muscle cells to sustained hydrostatic pressures of 4, 6 and 8.5 cm. water resulted in increased cell proliferation. Differences became statistically significant (p Conclusions We have demonstrated a proliferative response of neonatal bladder smooth muscle after exposure to physiological levels of sustained hydrostatic pressure. This response is partially due to 1 or more transferable mitogenic factors. These data support the hypothesis that pressure associated with bladder filling is an important stimulus for detrusor development.
OFFICIAL YIELDS PER ACRE IN INDIA, 1886-1947; SOME QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION

A main concern of historical studies of agriculture has been the trend in simple welfare measures like total and per capita production. These welfare measures are of particular importance for interpreting the economic history of India since 1880 because of the dominance of the agricultural sector. Over half the value of total output consisted of agricultural crops; further output per worker in agriculture is often taken as an approximation for trends in output per worker in other sectors, particularly services. Total and per capita production are affected by changes in acreage in all crops, change in acreage from lower to higher yielding crops, and changes in the yield of each crop. In this paper our concern is only with yields per acre in various crops, and not with changes in total acreage or crop composition, even though these latter two factors may be quantitatively more important in affecting agricultural output. However, the effects of acreage increases and changes in cropping patterns are in turn dependent on what yields per acre are assumed for the changed acreage, and cannot be properly assessed without knowledge of yield changes. It is generally accepted that yields per acre as well as total availability of food grains declined under the British during the period 1890-1947. Blyn (1966) has demonstrated that acceptance of official statistics on acreage and output in India means acceptance of a declining per capita availability of foodgrains. Blyn (1966 : 151) found the trend in yields to be -0.18% per year for foodgrains during *The research underlying this paper was done as a fellow of the American Institute of Indian Studies during the year !965-66. The author is indebted to the Record
Catfish: A Monte Carlo simulator for black holes at the LHC

We present a new Fortran Monte Carlo generator to simulate black hole events at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The generator interfaces to the PYTHIA Monte Carlo fragmentation code. The physics of the BH generator includes, but not limited to, inelasticity effects, exact field emissivities, corrections to semiclassical black hole evaporation and gravitational energy loss at formation. These features are essential to realistically reconstruct the detector response and test different models of black hole formation and decay at the LHC.
Compiler-directed cache management in multiprocessors

The necessity of finding alternatives to hardware-based cache coherence strategies for large-scale multiprocessor systems is discussed. Three different software-based strategies sharing the same goals and general approach are presented. They consist of a simple invalidation approach, a fast selective invalidation scheme, and a version control scheme. The strategies are suitable for shared-memory multiprocessor systems with interconnection networks and a large number of processors. Results of trace driven simulations conducted on numerical benchmark routines to compare the performance of the three schemes are presented. >
SIM Lite astrometric observatory for detection of Earth-like planets

The SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory is an optical astrometry mission for detection of Earth-like planets and investigation of dark matter, galaxy assembly, black holes etc. SIM Lite is a minimum system that performs the full NRC recommenced SIM science programs. This paper summarize the latest status and progresse of the SIM Lite space mission.
Risse and Zeckhauser on Racial Profiling: A Reply

This article criticizes Mathias Risse and Richard Zeckhauser's recent utilitarian defense of racial profiling. I use a novel thought-experiment to argue that even if a negative phenomenon could be reduced by profiling members of certain groups who happen to be disproportionately associated with it, the practice can be implausible. Specifically, I explore the possibility that in a given society, platinum blondes have a higher per capita incidence of a serious sexually transmitted disease, D. And I argue that doctors and health officials in the society would not be justified in profiling such blondes, given that there is nothing about being a platinum blonde that causes one to have D.
Risk factors for secondary membrane formation after removal of pediatric cataract.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of secondary membrane formation, factors that lead to its development, and the frequency of procedures to treat these membranes in children after cataract surgery. Setting: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Methods: Clinical records of 152 patients (190 eyes) who had cataract extraction between January 1986 and 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up was 6 years (range 2 to 13 years). Cataract surgery was performed through a limbal incision in all cases. Twenty-eight eyes had a primary posterior capsulectomy, and 120 eyes had posterior capsulectomy combined with an anterior vitrectomy. In 42 eyes, the posterior capsule was left intact. Nineteen eyes received a primary intraocular lens (IOL), 15 eyes received a secondary IOL, and 156 eyes were rehabilitated with spectacles or contact lenses. Results: Seventy-two eyes (37.9%) developed secondary membrane a mean of 8.9 months postoperatively (range 3 weeks to 53 months). Membranes occurred in 78.6% of eyes with an intact posterior capsule, 42.9% with posterior capsulectomy, and 22.5% with combined posterior capsulectomy and anterior vitrectomy. Secondary membrane formation was associated with not performing a posterior capsulectomy with anterior vitrectomy ( P P P Conclusions: The younger the child at cataract surgery, the greater the risk of secondary membrane. Primary posterior capsulectomy combined with an anterior vitrectomy decreased but did not eliminate the incidence of secondary membrane.
Amidines and N -Substituted Amidines

This chapter reviews the transformations used to prepare amidines and N-substituted amidines with particular emphasis on newer methods published since 1993. The first part of the review covers the synthesis of amidines RC(NR1)NR2R3 (where R, R1,R2,R3 are carbon or hydrogen). This section covers the synthesis of formamidines, aliphatic and aromatic amidines and N-acyl and N-heteroacylamidines. The second part of the review covers N-substitued amidines where at least one of the groups (R1, R2, or R3) is an atom other than hydrogen or carbon. This section of the review covers the synthesis of N-haloamidines, N-imidoylhydroxylamines (also known as amidoximes), amidrazones, and amidines with an N-sulfur, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, silicon, or boron bond. The review also covers the synthesis of amidine complexes with transition and actinide metals, group 13 and group 14 metals. The review uses the same structure as the earlier review, COFGT (1995) (chapter 5.19) published by Elsevier in 1995 and covers the period up to 1993 in more detail.
Structural and process factors affecting the implementation of antimicrobial resistance prevention and control strategies in U.S. hospitals.

Background:To address increases in the incidence of infection with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed two sets of strategies to (a) optimize antibiotic use and (b) prevent the spread of antimicrob
A self-consistent calculation of the free energy and electrostatic potential for a cylindrical polyion☆

Abstract The linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is solved for a cylindrical polyion immersed in an ionic solution of specified pH and ionic strength. The boundary condition at the surface of the cylinder is determined self-consistently, so that the only input required is the density of ionizable groups on the cylinder surface and their dissociation characteristics. An expression is also derived for the free energy of the system and it is shown that the degree of dissociation calculated via the self-consistent boundary condition yields the minimum value of the free energy. Calculations are presented for parameters that are relevant to several systems of biological interest and the response of the system to changes in pH and ionic strength is discussed in detail.
Enhancing Junior Faculty Research Productivity Through Multiinstitution Collaboration Participants’ Impressions of the School Psychology Research Collaboration Conference

In addition to teaching and service responsibilities, junior faculty members are required to be productive researchers. Despite the demand on junior faculty to produce published research, studies s...
Dependence of the mechanical properties of sintered hydroxyapatite on the sintering temperature

Abstract This paper discusses the dependence of microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) on the temperature of sintering. Hydroxyapatite powder was prepared by the precipitation method and its purity and crystallinity were evaluated via XRD. A set of specimens was produced from this powder and sintered in conventional furnace at temperatures ranging from 1140 to 1340 °C. Elastic moduli of the specimens have been measured ultrasonically; compression strengths—on the Instron testing machine. Information about the microstructure has been derived from the measured elastic moduli and then verified by analysis of photomicrographs of shatters. It is observed that the average shape of pores transforms from strongly oblate to round at higher sintering temperatures. This transformation leads, in particular, to increased strength of the material since the stress concentration near pores is reduced.
“Some Parents Just Don’t Care”: Decoding the Meanings of Parental Involvement in Urban Schools

This article looks at the way language subtly shapes and constrains the way we perceive reality. It examines one term—parental involvement. This apparently simple and democratic term serves as a portfolio of meanings that separate and divide. It illustrates two of these meanings, which take the form of a conjoined metaphor of “full/empty,” or “lacking/having.” The article shows the way these two metaphors place parents in a binary of those who give and those who receive. Finally, it argues that such understandings are unconscious and persistent, making it imperative for urban educators to carefully examine the language they use if they are not to remain enmeshed in a discourse of deficit.
Resilience of Scoured Wool

The 6 inherent fiber properties, tensile strength, fiber length, fiber thickness, contour (major-minor axis), crimp length to depth ratio, and crimp depth were responsible for 31 % of the variation...
Complementary Chirped-Mirror Pair for Broadband Dispersion-Free Cavities

Chirped mirror pairs with complementary dispersion are proposed for construction of dispersion-free cavities. As an example a mirror pair for a filter cavity with a mirror reflectivity of ~99.2% and 100nm bandwidth (480-580nm) is designed.
Tissue ablation using high-intensity focused ultrasound in the fetal sheep model: potential for fetal treatment.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of fetal tissue in a sheep model. HIFU can deliver large amounts of thermal energy by using ultrasonic waves to induce tissue necrosis, without damaging intervening tissues. In contrast to diagnostic ultrasound where intensity levels are below 0.1 W/cm 2 , HIFU can deliver 1,000 to 10,000 W/cm 2 at the focal spot. Study design A protocol for HIFU-induced tissue coagulation in the fetus was developed in the ovine model. The fetal liver, lung, kidney, muscle, and placenta were targets for ultrasound-guided tissue ablation by a HIFU beam. All lesions were assessed macroscopically and by histologic analysis. Results In all animals, a necrotic lesion, similar in size to the HIFU focus (approximately 1×9 mm), was achieved. The fetal heart rate remained stable immediately after the procedure. Conclusion In conclusion, HIFU ablation seems to be an effective means to coagulate even highly vascularized tissues in the fetus. This procedure shows promise as a transcutaneous, minimally invasive technique to decrease blood flow through fetal tumors or vascular anastomoses. We are currently conducting further studies to refine the HIFU technique and assess safety for fetus and mother.
Thin film transmission matrix approach to fourier transform infrared analysis of HgCdTe multilayer heterostructures

The ability to achieve high-yield focal plane arrays from Hg1−xCdxTe molecular beam epitaxy material depends strongly on postgrowth wafer analysis. Nondestructive analysis that can determine layer thicknesses as well as alloy compositions is critical in providing run-to-run consistency. In this paper, we incorporate the use of a thin film transmission matrix model to analyze Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectra. Our model uses a genetic algorithm along with a multidimensional, nonlinear minimization Nelder-Mead algorithm to determine the composition and thickness of each layer in the measured epitaxial structure. Once a solution has been found, the software is able to predict detector performance such as quantum efficiency and spectral response. We have verified our model by comparing detector spectral data to our predicted spectral data derived from the room-temperature FTIR transmission data. Furthermore, the model can be used to generate design curves for detectors with varying absorber thicknesses and/or different operating temperatures. The consequence of this are reduced cycle times and reduced design variations.
Ductile superconducting Cu-rich alloys containing A-15 filaments

A new approach to a ductile composite of Cu and an A-15 superconducting compound has been reported recently. This new metallurgical process consists of melting the constituent elements and subsequent cold-working and heat treatment. The superconducting materials prepared by this technique are composed of about 90 atomic per cent Cu and a superconducting compound such as Nb 3 Sn or V 3 Ga which is in the form of fine filaments embedded in the Cu matrix. The new alloy is superconducting at a temperature nearly identical to that of the superconducting phase in bulk form. The current density (J c ) is \sim10^{4} to 105A/cm2at 4.2°K and zero magnetic field (J c is calculated by taking the total cross-section of the specimen). An up-to-date account of the experimental situation in this field will be given. The discussion includes (1) the results of varying the alloy composition, the amount of cold-working and the heat treatment; (2) the transition temperature and J c of Sn-coated Cu-(Nb 3 Sn) wires; (3) J c as a function of transverse magnetic field; (4) the phenomenon of J c enhancement as a result of mechanical deformation and (5) the basic mechanisms responsible for the observed superconductivity in these new materials.
Treatment of disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) with the Q‐switched ruby laser

Background: Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is one clinical subtype of porokeratosis, a cutaneous disorder of keratinization. A variety of approaches may be used to treat DSAP. The ruby laser appears to be a promising option for DSAP treatment. Traditionally, the ruby laser is used to treat hair removal and lesions involving hyperpigmentation. Its use may be further applied to treat the hyperpigmented lesions of DSAP. Objective: This study examines the efficacy of the ruby laser in treating a case of DSAP. Methods: A 48‐year‐old female, with a history of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and DSAP, received three Q‐switched ruby laser treatments (694 nm) to over 50 sites on the lower and upper extremities. Clinical outcome and patient satisfaction was followed‐up. Results: Minimal to moderate erythema and appropriate whitening was noted after each treatment. The patient tolerated treatments well and hyperpigmentation and erythema of the majority of the lesions decreased. The patient was very p...
Sol-gel synthesis and properties of unsupported and supported mesoporous ceria membranes

Abstract Unsupported ceria membranes were prepared from three different cerium oxide sols (commercial sol, cerous sol and ceric sol). XRD data show that the ceria membranes derived from all sols after drying at room temperature or calcination at a high temperature exhibit fluorite type structure. The final calcined product from all ceria sols is Ce 4+ oxide compound. Ceria samples derived from commercial sol contain fairly dense particles with a very low surface area, and those derived from cerous and ceric sols give very high surface area with desired pore structure as mesoporous membranes. Cerous sol is however stable at very low concentration and is ineffective to use for making supported ceria membrane. Ceric sol is stable at high concentration (around 1 M) and provides unsupported ceria membranes with desired pore structure. Micron-thick ceria films could be coated on macroporous α-alumina support with the high concentration ceric sol after the support was chemically treated sequentially with a hot acid and base. The supported ceria membranes are crack-free and pinhole-free, and exhibit fluorite type structure. Compared to a similar sol–gel derived mesoporous zirconia membrane, the supported mesoporous ceria membrane has similar pore size (about 3.2 nm), smaller tortuosity factor (2.7) and larger porosity (54%).
Atelinae adaptations: behavioral strategies and ecological constraints.

Comparisons between the four genera that make up the Atelinae reveal two distinct behavioral patterns, one in which energy expenditure is minimized (Alouatta) and one in which energy intake is maximized (Lagothrix, Ateles, and Brachyteles). Among the atelins, Lagothrix and Ateles devote over 75% of their annual feeding time to fruit, while Brachyteles devotes between 50% and 67% of their feeding time to leaves. Pronounced seasonality in the Atlantic coastal forest inhabited by Brachyteles may be responsible for its more folivorous diet. Alouatta falls in the body size range of Lagothrix and is much smaller than Ateles and Brachyteles. Nonetheless, Alouatta is more folivorous than sympatric atelins. The atelins also share a rapid, suspensory mode of locomotion that appears to enable them to minimize travel time between widely dispersed fruit sources. Alouatta, by contrast, employs a slower, but more energetically efficient, quadrupedal locomotion. Ranging patterns among the Atelinae are consistent with both diet and locomotor abilities: Atelins travel daily distances up to 5,000 m; Alouatta ranges are much shorter. Further distinctions are evident in Atelinae grouping patterns. Alouatta remains in small cohesive groups that occupy home ranges less than 60 ha in size. Both Lagothrix and Ateles have large groups that fission to reduce the costs of intragroup feeding competition when preferred fruits occur in small patches within much larger community ranges. While greater reliance on low-energy foods such as leaves may release Brachyteles from similar competitive constraints, their tendency toward fluid grouping associations is consistent with the pursuit of a frugivorous diet. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.