cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AN ADDITIVE INDEX THEOREM FOR CERTAIN WILDLY EMBEDDED ARCS AND CURVES

Publisher Summary This chapter prersents an additive index theorem for certain wildly embedded arcs and curves. The notion of penetration index of an embedded arc or curve was introduced several years ago by Alford and Ball, Harrold and others. If p is an interior point of an arc J, the penetration index P(p, J) is defined to be the inf cardinal S(p, ∩) ∩ over all topological spheres of diameter less than ∩ containing p in its interior. Such a number may be defined for any embedded graph or even any embedded regular curve in the sense of Urysohn–Menger. Also, if p is an endpoint of an arc, such a number may be defined.
Use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction for Typing Gc Variants

We have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for typing group specific component (Gc). Our Gc DNA typing system has several advantages: 1. The 2, 1F and 1S Gc alleles can be typed unambiguously. 2. An individual’s Gc type can be obtained from any biological sample from which DNA can be isolated and amplified (e.g. blood, hair, semen, saliva, bone). 3. The Gc typing can be combined with other genetic marker systems typed by DNA analysis (e.g. HLA DQα) to give a very high power of discrimination.
Age, geographic, and temporal distribution of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in cow-calf herds.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum from California cow-calf herds with respect to age, geographic region, temporal effects, and association with watery feces. ANIMALS Cows and calves from 38 beef cow-calf operations. PROCEDURE Fecal specimens were collected and examined for C parvum oocysts, using immunofluorescent microscopy. Associations between age, geographic region, month of collection, watery feces, and likelihood of shedding C parvum were evaluated. RESULTS 3.9% of cattle were shedding C parvum oocysts. Prevalence of shedding among calves ranged from 0 to 13%, and was 0.6% among cattle > or = 12 months old. The odds of shedding C parvum among 2-month-old calves were 41 times greater than among cattle > 4 months old. The odds of shedding C parvum among cattle tested in May were 8.7 times greater than among cattle tested during June, July, or August. The odds of infected individuals having watery feces were 3 to 4 times greater than for noninfected individuals, but the etiologic fraction was only 8 to 9%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Substantial fecal shedding of C parvum by cow-calf herds was limited to calves 1 to 4 months old, with low prevalence detected in older animals. Risk of contamination of watersheds with C parvum was limited to those periods when young calves were in the herd. Although the odds of having watery feces were greater for animals infected with C parvum than for noninfected animals, the low etiologic fraction suggests that most calves with watery feces were not infected with C parvum.
Alternative Designations of Absolute Partial Cross Sections

The spectral distribution of the absolute total photoionization cross section of an atom or molecule can be partitioned into absolute partial cross sections in a variety of ways. Here, the partition is made largely in terms of ionization from Hartree-Fock-like orbitals following Koopmans' theorem, primarily because of the availability of such experimental data over a broad energy range, made possible by the increased spectral output of modern synchrotrons, and the more sophisticated detection methods, including photoelectron, photoion (separately and in coincidence). Partial cross sections for atoms may involve multiple ionization, and for molecules, fragment ions. Deviations from independent particle behavior, especially by ionization from inner-valence orbitals, are recognized. Each of the foregoing methods is discussed in detail in the chapters that follow.
Implementation of Augmented Teleoperation System Based on Robot Operating System (ROS)

Deployment of robotics and remote systems for tasks in unstructured nuclear environment has been impeded by the severe task requirements such as high radiation and dexterous and complex manipulation of heavy materials, which cannot be addressed by the current telerobotics technology. To address such practical challenges, this paper presents an enhanced teleoperator interface incorporating multi-modal augmented reality, and new method of telerobotic operation based on perceptual overlay - ‘virtual fixtures’. Rather than trying to devise complex robotic systems, innovation is directed to enhancement of teleoperator interface so as to draw more performance and intuition from the human operator. Particular enhancements were made over the current technology basis in 3D sensing and reconstruction, virtual fixture generation, and operator interface. The telerobotic system was developed using ROS (Robot Operating System) to streamline system integration and resource sharing. The presented innovation is expected to allow deployment of simple and rugged robots to perform dexterous manipulation of heavy objects.
Developing an Eating Disorder Peer Advocate Program on Campus: A Report on the Eating Disorder Awareness and Advocacy Program (EDAAP).

This article describes the development and implementation of a peer advocate program for eating disorders and body image outreach on a college campus. Empirical and conceptual literature on the use...
Non-transitive Better than Relations and Rational Choice

This paper argues that decision problems and money-pump arguments should not be a deciding factor against accepting non-transitive better than relations. If the reasons to accept normative standpoints that entail a non-transitive better than relation are compelling enough, we ought to revise our decision method rather than the normative standpoints. The paper introduces the most common argument in favor of non-transitive better than relations. It then illustrates that there are different ways to reconceptualize rational choice so that rational choice is possible also when the relevant better than relation is non-transitive.
Monitoring MHC-II Endocytosis and Recycling Using Cell-Surface Protein Biotinylation-Based Assays

Most, if not all, plasma membrane proteins continuously undergo endocytosis and many rapidly recycle from endosomes back to the cell surface to maintain "stable" surface expression. We now describe a biochemical assay that is suited to follow the internalization and recycling kinetics of plasma membrane proteins. This assay involves biotinylation of plasma membrane proteins using sulfo-NHS-SS-biotin, a water-soluble, NHS-ester biotinylation reagent that contains a cleavable disulfide bond that allows for reversible labeling of proteins. Biotinylation is rapid and stable, and does not transfer from cell to cell, and the small size of the biotin probe does not affect cell function.
Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Explore Health Care Perceptions of a Select Group of Arab Americans:

Introduction: As the Arab American population grows in the United States, relatively little has been published about the health status of this population. The purpose of the research was to (1) discover health care perceptions of Arab Americans and (2) identify strategies to ensure the provision of culturally congruent health care. Method: Community-based participatory research methodology was used for this descriptive study. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with Arab Americans residing in northeast Pennsylvania. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) perceptions of health resulting in delays in seeking health care, (2) cultural values and practices resulting in need for culturally congruent provision of care, and (3) mistrust of the U.S. health care system resulting in underutilization of services. Discussion: Results indicate the need for nurses to implement culturally congruent community-based strategies and interventions for meeting health care needs of Arab Americans. By understanding the community's perceptions and attitudes, nurses will be better positioned to ultimately move toward the goal of reducing health disparities in this underserved population.
Extremely tough cyclic peptide nanopolymers

We present a new class of bioinspired nanomaterials that are stabilized by a combination of covalent and hydrogen bonds. Prior work by others has shown that cyclic peptides can self-assemble to form supramolecular assemblies through backbone-backbone hydrogen bonding. To improve upon this molecular architecture, we develop a synthesis route to polymerize cyclic peptides and form a linear polymer chain that can transition between a rigid nanorod and an unfolded conformation. For a cyclic peptide polymer containing amine-terminated side chains on each ring, we demonstrate self-assembly can be triggered in aqueous solutions by varying the pH. We measure the elastic modulus of the rigid nanorods to be ca. 50 GPa, which is comparable to our molecular dynamics (MD) prediction (ca. 64 GPa). Our results highlight the uniqueness of our molecular architecture, namely their exemplary toughness (up to 3 GJ m−3), in comparison to other cyclic peptide-based assemblies. Finally, we demonstrate amphiphilic cyclic β-peptides are capable of inhibiting the growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
Models to predict sunlight-induced photodegradation rates of contaminants in wastewater stabilisation ponds and clarifiers

Abstract Two kinetic models were established for conservative estimates of photodegradation rates of contaminants under sunlight irradiation, in particular for wastewater stabilisation ponds and clarifiers in conventional wastewater treatment plants. These two models were designated for (1) contaminants with high photolytic rates or high photolytic quantum yields, whose photodegradation is unlikely to be enhanced by aquatic photosensitisers; and (2) contaminants withstanding direct photolysis in sunlit waters but subjected to indirect photolysis. The effortlessly intelligible prediction procedure involves sampling and analysis of real water samples, simulated solar experiments in the laboratory, and transfer of the laboratory results to realise water treatment using the prediction models. Although similar models have been widely used for laboratory studies, this paper provides a preliminary example of translating laboratory results to the photochemical fate of contaminants in real waters.
Recycled Analog and Mixed Signal Chip Detection at Zero Cost Using LDO Degradation

Counterfeit electronics impact the global economy and pose life-threatening risks to critical systems and infrastructure. Analog/mixed-signal (AMS) chips are the most widely reported counterfeit chip type, but existing countermeasures are impractical for detecting them. In this paper, we propose a method to detect recycled AMS counterfeits that exploits degradation of power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) in low drop out (LDO) regulators. Our zero cost approach does not require information about the component's design. Moreover, due to the ubiquity of LDOs, it may apply to active and legacy AMS system on chips (SoCs). To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of our method, we use an automated test setup to collect PSRR data from commercial off-the-shelf LDOs before and after aging. Machine learning algorithms ranging from unsupervised to supervised are applied to differentiate between aged (i.e., synthetically recycled) and new LDOs. Silicon results confirm that semi-supervised and supervised algorithms are effective even with LDOs used less than 10 days (for 65nm technology node).
Development of an innovative program to improve provision of palliative and hospice care to children and families in the community: the story of QoLA Kids

Background: Approximately 500,000 children in the United States suffer from serious illnesses each year and 50,000 die annually. Hospice and palliative care services are known to be beneficial for many children with serious illnesses and their families; however, hospice services only reach about 10% of eligible children who die in the United States, with the majority of pediatric patients receiving care through adult hospice organizations. Program Design: The Quality of Life for All (QoLA) Kids program, established in August 2012, is an outpatient, community-based pediatric palliative …
Medial Plating of Pauwels Type III Femoral Neck Fractures Decreases Shear and Angular Displacement Compared with a Derotational Screw.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this mechanical study was to compare 2 methods of augmented stabilization of Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures. METHODS Ten matched pairs of young cadaveric femurs were cut 22 cm distal to the lesser trochanter. All specimens received a 70-degree osteotomy, which was stabilized with a 135-degree sliding hip screw. One of each pair received augmented fixation with a 6.5 mm fully threaded cannulated screw. The other specimen in the matched pair had additional fixation with a 3.5 mm 5-hole tubular plate placed at the inferior-medial femoral neck. Each specimen was tested under cyclic axial loading conditions (5000 cycles between 200 and 1400 N at 2 cycles/sec) and subsequently loaded to failure. The angular displacement (varus), interfragmentary (shear) displacement, and failure loads were calculated. RESULTS In the augmented plate group, 7 specimens failed by angular displacement and 3 failed by shear displacement. In the augmented screw group, 8 specimens failed by angular displacement and 2 by shear displacement. The plate group was found to have significantly less angular displacement, regardless of completed cycles, than the augmented screw group (0.75 ± 0.35 degrees vs. 2.15 ± 1.99 degrees averaged across completed cycles, P < 0.01). Similarly, the plate group was found to have significantly less shear displacement, regardless of completed cycles, than the augmented screw group (0.77 ± 0.70 mm vs. 1.22 ± 0.92 mm averaged across completed cycles, P = 0.01). The average failure load of the plate group (4930 ± 1578 N) was also larger but not significantly different from the screw group (3824 ± 2140 N), P = 0.12. CONCLUSIONS Augmenting sliding hip screw stabilization of a Pauwels type III fracture with a medial plate applied to the femoral neck significantly decreases angular displacement and shear displacement compared with augmentation with a derotational screw.
Religiosity from Age 12 to 20: Stability, Change, and Bidirectional Effects of Attendance, Prayer, and Salience

Religiosity is a protective factor for adolescents, though research has indicated religiosity declines across adolescence. However, little research has examined how various dimensions of religiosit...
Implementing Health Care Quality Measures in Electronic Health Records: A Conceptual Model

Background/objectives There is significant literature on the development and validation of quality measures, but comparably less on their implementation into learning health systems. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have made vast amounts of data available for quality improvement purposes. In this paper we describe a conceptual model for EHR implementation of quality measures. Design The model involves five steps: (1) select a measure; (2) define measure criteria; (3) validate criteria and measurement process; (4) improve recording of measure-related activity; and (5) engage quality improvement processes. The model was used to develop and implement a quality measure in the Home-Based Medical Care (HBMC) setting. Setting Harris Health House Call Program (HHHC) provides primary medical and palliative care for homebound patients in Houston. Participants Four-hundred twenty-four primary care patients followed in the HHHC. Measurement Completion rate of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) within the Electronic Health Record of newly enrolled HHHC patients. Results Use of the conceptual model to guide implementation of a quality measure of depression screening in a HMBC practice was successful. Additional components of early leadership and clinician buy-in were required, as well as strong relationships with IT to ease implementation and limit disruptions in clinicians' work-flow. Conclusion This conceptual model was feasible for guiding implementation of a quality measure for depression care of HBMC patients, and it can guide broader implementation of EHR-based quality measures in the future.
Artery of Percheron occlusion with first-pass recanalisation of the first segment of posterior cerebral artery.

This is an elderly patient who was found unconscious at home. CT of the head without contrast was unremarkable, while CT angiography of the head and neck revealed a subocclusive thrombus on the precommunicating (P1) segment of the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA). MRI brain revealed bilateral regions of diffusion restriction in the paramedian thalami and bilateral medial mesencephalon. Initial angiography confirmed the presence of a subocclusive thrombus in the P1 segment of the left PCA. Thrombectomy was performed achieving recanalisation of the left PCA and reperfusion of bilateral thalami via a visualised artery of Percheron. Postoperatively, the patient was kept on a daily dose of 325 mg of aspirin. The patient did not improve neurologically. A follow-up MRI brain showed diffusion restriction in the left occipital lobe and petechial haemorrhages in the bilateral thalami. The family eventually opted for palliative measures, and the patient expired on day 14 of admission due to acute respiratory failure from palliative extubating.
Quartic Nonlinear Discrete Systems

In this Chapter, the stability and bifurcation of the quartic nonlinear discrete systems will be presented
Clinical profiles of college student patients in a psychiatric hospital

College students represent a significant portion of patients in a psychiatric hospital. However, limited previous research has examined the clinical profiles of this unique population, especially across both inpatient and outpatient settings. To better understand college student mental health, the current study explored the potentially heterogeneous groups of students admitted to inpatient or treated in outpatient units in a large psychiatric hospital. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify latent clusters based on mental health-related struggles, measured by the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-34, a measure specifically designed to assess college students. LPA results identified five underlying clusters: 1) negative affect (NA); 2) NA/alcohol struggles; 3) NA/eating concerns; 4) general distress; and 5) low clinical scores. Students who reported comorbid alcohol-related struggles or eating concerns with negative affect showed the greatest overall distress. The NA/alcohol struggles group was more likely to be inpatient than outpatient. Notably, the NA/eating concerns group, one of the most distressed groups, did not significantly predict higher levels of care, indicating that outpatient students may struggle as greatly as inpatient students. The current study provides new insights into the clinical profiles of the important, yet traditionally understudied, population of college students in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric hospital settings. Future research on college student patients is imperative to better understand college student mental health from both hospital and university perspectives.
Design Requirements for Scientific Clinical Implant Studies

Summary What is known currently is but a fraction of the real potential that exists for the field of endosseous dental implants. Dramatic increases in the number of reports on the results from clinical studies in this area have occurred in recent years. Some, however, fail to meet the standards associated with scientific clinical studies, thereby introducing flawed data into the clinical knowledge base. Dentists should be familiar with the basic features of an ideal clinical study design to enable them to assess the degree of validity of published and oral reports.
The Impact of Specialized Accreditation on Program Quality: Aviation Students’ Perspectives

Quality assurance of academic programs has traditionally been through accreditation. Specialized accreditation is a means for specific academic fields to ensure quality. In the field of aviation, the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is the sole accrediting agency for collegiate aviation programs. Currently 25 percent of the institutions that offer four year non-engineering aviation degrees have one or more of their programs accredited by AABI. The purpose of this study was to examine if students’ perceptions of quality differ between accredited and non-accredited programs using the quality dimensions of curriculum, faculty, environment, facilities and equipment, student outcomes and overall satisfaction. Students currently enrolled in four year aviation degree programs from 22 institutions participated in the study. The findings indicated that significant differences in students’ perceptions of quality exist in favor of accredited programs for curriculum, and facilities and equipment, as well as for several measures of faculty quality. Additionally, students in accredited programs perceived that their degree was preparing them well for their intended career to a significantly greater extent than students in non-accredited programs. Results of this study have implications for administrators and faculty seeking to improve the quality of their programs.
L-canavanine incorporation into vitellogenin and macromolecular conformation.

Abstract L-Canavanine is a potentially deleterious arginine antimetabolite whose toxicity is expressed in canavanine-sensitive organisms ranging from viruses to humans. Canavanine, a substrate for arginyl-tRNA synthetase, is incorporated into nascent polypeptide chains in place of arginine. This substitution results in the production of structurally aberrant, canavanyl proteins. Chemical, physical, and immunological studies of native and canavanine-containing vitellogenin obtained from female migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria migratorioides (Orthoptera] provide the first experimental evidence that canavanine can disrupt the tertiary and/or quaternary structure that yields the three-dimensional conformation unique to the protein. These findings enhance our understanding of the biochemical basis for canavanine's antimetabolic and potent insecticidal properties.
Positional Specificities of Acyl Coenzyme A:Glycerophosphate and Acyl Coenzyme A:Monoacylglycerophosphate Acyltransferases in Escherichia coli

Abstract A particulate preparation isolated from Escherichia coli B catalyzes the acylation of 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (1-acyl-GP) with both oleoyl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA. The optimum conditions were determined for the acyl-CoA: 1-acyl-GP acyltransferase. The acyltransferase is specific for the 1-acyl-GP and does not acylate 2-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (2-acyl-GP) under the conditions used. The particulate preparation also catalyses the acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (glycerophosphate) with both palmitoyl-CoA and oleoyl-CoA. When palmitoyl-CoA is the substrate, both monoacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (monoacyl-GP) and diacyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (diacyl-GP) are produced. The two products show a typical precursor-product relationship. When oleoyl-CoA is used, the major product is diacyl-GP; monoacyl-GP is formed, but the amount reaches a very low steady state level within 2 min of incubation. Structural analyses of the monoacyl-GP formed after short time incubations of glycerophosphate with unsaturated or saturated acyl-CoAs showed the major isomer to be 1-acyl-GP. The amounts of 2-acyl-GP formed are relatively small. The lack of accumulation of 2-acyl-GP during the acylation of glycerophosphate is not due to the isomerization of 2-acyl-GP to the 1-acyl-GP isomer. During the acylation of radioactive glycerophosphate with unsaturated acyl-CoA, radioactive monoacyl-GP is trapped effectively by the addition of nonlabeled 1-acyl-GP but ineffectively by adding nonlabeled 2-acyl-GP. The monoacyl-GP trapped in the presence of either 1-acyl-GP or 2-acyl-GP is mostly the 1-acyl-GP isomer. Thus, the pathway of diacyl-GP synthesis from glycerophosphate in E. coli is primarily via the 1-acyl-GP as intermediate regardless of whether the substrate is saturated or unsaturated acyl-CoA.
Hypercube FrameWork for ACO applied to timetabling

We present a resolution technique of the University course Timetabling problem (UCTP), this technique is based in the implementation of Hypercube framework using the Max-Min Ant System. We presented the structure of the problem and the design of resolution using this framework.
Videos in Public Libraries

In an attempt to find the original reasons for changing fees for the circulation of videos in public libraries, four factors were isolated: the cost of the videos, the people who used the videos, imitations of commercial video rental outlets, and failure to apply the same standards to videos as to books. The cost of a video has since decreased to about the same cost as a book. Video borrowers have become indistinguishable from book borrowers, and in fact are often the same people. It was a mistake to believe that libraries could offer the same service as rental outlets for a lower fee. Library video collections now resemble book collections more closely than they resemble commercial video outlets.
Sylvia Plath's Fiction: A Critical Study

List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction Short Stories Novels 1. Literary Contexts Virginia Woolf The New Yorker Women's Magazine Fiction Women's Madness Narratives Ted Hughes 2. Plath's Poetry and Fiction Smith, 1954-55 Cambridge, 1956-57 Falcon Yard, 1957-58 Boston and Yaddo, 1958-59 The Bell Jar, 1961 Double Exposure, 1962-63 3. The Politics of Plath's Fiction Political Development Race Stories Cold War Stories Crazy About the Rosenbergs 'I Could Love a Russian Boy' Strange Love Growing Up in World War II 4. Gender and Society in The Bell Jar Sex Medicine Psychiatry Beauty Marriage 'Femininity' 5. Gender and Society in Plath's Short Stories Plath's Women's Magazine Fiction Home Is Where the Heart Is Feminine Identities Violence and Patriarchy Notes Bibliography Index.
Dynamic Fracture Mechanics: Plasticity and rate effects during crack growth

Introduction In this chapter, the role of material inelasticity is considered, in the form of irreversible plastic flow, dependence of the material response on the rate of deformation, or microcracking. The study of issues in dynamic fracture mechanics concerned with these effects is at an early stage. Consequently, the sections are not integrated to any significant degree. Instead, each section is intended to give an impression of the present stage of development of analytical modeling in the areas covered. Viscoelastic crack growth The study of crack growth in a linear viscoelastic material has been motivated primarily by interest in modeling the fracture process in relatively brittle polymeric materials, although other materials may be idealized as linear viscoelastic under some circumstances. There are numerous specific linear viscoelastic models available for stress analysis, but only some general properties are considered here for crack growth analysis. Time-dependent material response, of the kind on which the theory of viscoelasticity is based, may be of interest in the analysis of fracture phenomena at two different levels. On the one hand, the bulk properties of the body in which the crack is propagating are important in determining the way in which the effect of applied loads is transferred to the crack tip region or the way in which stress is redistributed due to crack growth.
Dynamic Classification And Feature Extraction Via Regression Updating

A new algorithm based on the regression updating theory for fitting linearly parameterizable curves without prior clas- sification of edge data is presented. Fitting and classifying are carried out concomitantly such that only the most qualified data are employed in the fitting. This strategy optimizes the performance of the fitting by dynamically classifying the edge points, and provides a means to exclude the noise data. The new algorithm displays a novel way to reconstruct curves from noisy edge data, and provides a powerful technique for a data-driven intermediate levelvision module to extract parametric features. Because of the mathematical relationship between plane curves and three dimensional surfaces, the proposed algorithm can be readily extends to reconstruct surfaces from range data.
Supply chain management: detecting structural changes

The new forces of globalization, the World Wide Web, the appearance of new methodologies/tools to integrate engineering and business functions, the development of electronic commerce and their complex interrelationships are shaping the competitive landscape of business. Business organizations are looking for strategies to meet these new challenges and take advantage of these new opportunities. One of these strategies is supply chain management. This paper introduces the modeling and optimization of the supply chain but taking into consideration the dynamic nature of it. The modeling considers how to take advantage of the changes in structure during the evolution of a supply chain and means to detect the shifting of constraints. Two scenarios are discussed to outline the ideas.
Aggressive Behavior and Peer Social Status of Elementary School Children

The relation between aggression and peer social status was investigated in a group of 238 third-through fifth-grade children. Peer social status refers to the degree to which a child is accepted by his or her peer group. By asking children to nominate peers they “like most” and “like least,” one can identify children who are popular, rejected, neglected, or viewed as average within their peer group. Results indicated low to moderate correlations between peer-nominated aggression and global indices of social acceptance. More specifically, it was found that aggressive children largely comprised the rejected and average social status groups, but not the popular or neglected groups. Furthermore, analyses indicated that according to both peers and teachers, aggressive/rejected children showed academic and social-skill deficits, whereas aggressive children of average peer status exhibited adequate adjustment similar to that of nonaggressive/average-status children. These results suggest the importance of considering peer social status when identifying aggressive children in need of intervention and in determining which skill deficits to address. In addition, knowledge of an aggressive child's peer status might be useful in enhancing the predictability of adult adjustment.
Amplification and damping of deterministic noise in coupled cellular arrays

Abstract Large scale spatiotemporal organization and enhanced periodicity are seen when a population of chaotic Rossler attractors is coupled through one or more of the variables. The resulting periodicity has been analyzed by means of return maps and by the projection of these maps as state variable dispersion histograms. Self-mapping of cells in the array, within dispersion criteria, yielded evidence of reverse bifurcation sequences, F ...8,4,2,1 , expressed in the behavior of most of the 900 to 25 600 individual cells. Self-mapping is seen in spiral and periodic banded fields, but not in turbulent fields or in synchronous chaos. Coupling of arrays of periodic attractors leads to dispersion in self-mapping similar to that seen in the coupled chaotic arrays. Fixed patterns representing the bifurcation sequences that occur in these arrays were overlaid on the spiral field portraits.
Fine needle aspiration of three cases of steatocystoma multiplex

Steatocystoma multiplex is a rare condition characterized by multiple subcutaneous nodules classically located on the anterior chest. Diagnosis usually is made clinically or by biopsy. The lesions may be numerous, and surgical treatment may not be practical or the results may be unsatisfactory. Three patients with multiple subcutaneous nodules underwent fine needle aspiration, which produced smears with acellular debris. A diagnosis was possible in the first patient because of close collaboration with a dermatologist. The lesions in the other patients were recognized clinically and were confirmed cytologically by fine needle aspiration. A syringe holder allows the use of thin needles (22-gauge) to aspirate very small lesions (4 to 5 mm). Fine needle aspiration may provide a useful alternative to surgical methods in the treatment of these lesions because it is inexpensive, well-tolerated by the patients, and has no associated morbidity.
Low-Level Radiation Effects in Extrinsic Infrared Detectors

Experimental data are presented on the effect of gamma irradiation at low dose levels of 10 Rads or less on the responsivity of arsenic-doped extrinsic IR detectors under operating conditions at 4.3 to 12°K. The observed large changes in responsivity under irradiation, and the subsequent transient behavior during a period of less than 1 minute immediately after the radiation is turned off, are strongly dependent on temperature, bias voltage, and IR flux level. The net effect following irradiation is always a responsivity increase; however, under some conditions, the increase can be preceded by a decrease. The responsivity change relaxes slowly, requiring more than one day for complete recovery of the detector to its pre-irradiation condition. The effects anneal rapidly at temperatures over 20°K. The observed phenomena can be explained by radiation-induced changes in the charge state of the levels associated with the majority IR-active dopant and the compensating impurities. The complex dependence of the responsivity changes on the operating conditions is explained in terms of competing processes involved in capture, recombination, and sweepout of radiation-generated electrons and holes. The physical mechanisms and a qualitative model offering a possible explanation of the effect of temperature, bias, and IR flux level are discussed.
Quantifying cortical surface harmonic deformation with stereovision during open cranial neurosurgery

Cortical surface harmonic motion during open cranial neurosurgery is well observed in image-guided neurosurgery. Recently, we quantified cortical surface deformation noninvasively with synchronized blood pressure pulsation (BPP) from a sequence of stereo image pairs using optical flow motion tracking. With three subjects, we found the average cortical surface displacement can reach more than 1 mm and in-plane principal strains of up to 7% relative to the first image pair. In addition, the temporal changes in deformation and strain were in concert with BPP and patient respiration [1]. However, because deformation was essentially computed relative to an arbitrary reference, comparing cortical surface deformation at different times was not possible. In this study, we extend the technique developed earlier by establishing a more reliable reference profile of the cortical surface for each sequence of stereo image acquisitions. Specifically, fast Fourier transform (FFT) was applied to the dynamic cortical surface deformation, and the fundamental frequencies corresponding to patient respiration and BPP were identified, which were used to determine the number of image acquisitions for use in averaging cortical surface images. This technique is important because it potentially allows in vivo characterization of soft tissue biomechanical properties using intraoperative stereovision and motion tracking.
The pathophysiology of brain edema in acute liver failure

Brain edema leading to intracranial hypertension is a cause of death in acute liver failure (ALF). The pathogenesis of this unique complication has been investigated in man, in experimental models and in isolated cell systems. From this experience, an integrated view has emerged, pointing at several mechanisms that contribute to cerebral swelling; an osmotic derangement in astrocytes, changes in cellular metabolism as well as alterations of cerebral blood flow. The ability of mild hypothermia to counteract each of these changes in experimental systems has supported the organization of a clinical trial of mild cooling in this disease. Such an advance can be viewed as the clinical translation of 20 years of research in this area.
The Relief of Pulmonary Stenosis by a Transatrial versus a Transventricular Approach to the Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract The ratio of peak pressure in the right ventricle to that in the left ventricle (P RV/LV ) in the operating room thirty minutes after repair of tetralogy of Fallot by an atrial approach, with or without a concomitant transatrial approach, was 0.58 ± 0.217. It was 0.52 ± 0.158 when repair was through a right ventricular approach ( p for difference=0.16). This ratio 18 to 24 hours postoperatively was 0.49 ± 0.148 and 0.45 ± 0.121 for the right atrial and right ventricular approaches, respectively. The reduction in P RV/LV between the two observations was −0.09 ± 0.147 for the right atrial and −0.07 ± 0.110 for the right ventricular approach ( p for difference=0.4). Therefore, the predictive rules for placing a transannular patch, rules derived from patients in whom the right ventricular approach was used and depending in part on the fall in P RV/LV during the first 24 hours after operation, are also applicable to patients in whom an atrial approach, with or without a transpulmonary approach, is used.
Cooperative Multi-Agent Systems in Mobile AD HOC Networks

Two important enabling but evolving technologies supporting future DoD network-centric systems at the tactical edge are, mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS). Despite their value in enabling more autonomous network system operation scenarios, open research and engineering questions remain regarding robust interoperation, standardization, and design of these two technologies. We describe recent research and development that is helping to better understand crosslayer design issues within both MAS and MANET. We describe the problem area and the open software components developed to support our research. We summarize recent modeling and simulation advances in a mixed MAS and MANET scenario environment. MANET multicast approaches for interagent communications are discussed and described. Some early analysis of MAS performance is presented using a variety of interagent MANET communication models. The behavior of MAS autonomous cooperative teamwork and role allocation within disruptive and dynamic MANET environments is examined. We conclude by outlining open issues and areas of further work.
Studies of the degradation of acrylonitrile/acrylamide copolymers as a function of composition and temperature

Abstract The degradation of acrylonitrile/acrylamide copolymers as a function of composition at 160 and 200°C under reduced pressure has been studied by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. The results are somewhat surprising and indicate that above a certain threshold of comonomer concentration the fraction of available nitrile groups that undergo reaction is limited and falls within a remarkably narrow range. From a consideration of the copolymer and stereochemical sequence distribution, the stereochemistry of ring formation and intermolecular crosslinking. we have concluded that a “step-ladder” model for the degraded product is applicable. Additionally, we have concluded that the distribution of tactic placements in the copolymer chains is a factor limiting the degree of cyclization of the available nitrile groups. A computer program has been developed for calculating the extent of reaction of the acrylonitrile units based upon the above model and the results are in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Cultural competence among hospice nurses

The purpose of this study was to examine variables associated with cultural competence among hospice nurses. In a cross-sectional descriptive design, a convenience sample of 107 hospice nurses from five different hospice agencies completed a survey that included the Cultural Competence Assessment in
Modeling Macromolecular Bodies using 3D Medial Axis Transforms and Normal Mode Analysis

Many large protein or protein/DNA machines are difficult to simulate on time scales long enough for complete turnover cycles. One way to overcome this general problem is to treat the protein at a (much) lower level of detail. In the approach described here, the protein complex is modeled as a collection of interacting flexible bodies, with low levels of detail over most of the protein surface (and interior), and high levels of detail only where necessary. The bulk shapes of all protein components are described with a low-resolution, purely repulsive potential, together with local high-resolution sites of interaction. The low-resolution potential function is built using the three-dimensional analog of the Medial Axis Transform (MAT) to generate an efficient set of basis functions that can represent the protein's repulsive isopotential surface.In addition to the general theory, a model for small DNA polymerases (specifically, the HIV Reverse Transcriptase) interacting with a coarse-grained DNA will be presented. As above, the polymerase model treats the protein as a single continuum body decorated with interaction sites. The system energy has several components: a) the repulsive body potential based on the MAT; b) a set of low order protein normal modes (from all-atom MD runs) whose amplitudes act as coordinates for the deformation energy function; c) an elastic energy function that includes both harmonic and non-harmonic terms, and accounts for stress/strain energy as the polymerase undergoes conformatioinal changes; d) a set of interaction sites (roughly corresponding to key individual amino acids) that give local (usually attractive) interactions with DNA, with nucleotides, and between sites on the polymerase body.
Direct septo-hypothalamic projections in the rat.

Abstract Axonal projections from neurons located in the medial and lateral septal nuclei (MSN and LSN) were traced autoradiographically. The MSN projected bilaterally via a midline route to the diagonal band of Broca (DBB), the preoptic area (POA), the suprachiasmatic (SCN), paraventricular (PVN), ventromedial (VHM) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei including the median eminence (fiberous zone). Lateral coursing fibers traveled with the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) to the supraoptic (SON) and pre- and supra-mammillary nuclei. The majority of LSN axons projected to, and terminated in, the MSN. Fibers projected ipsilaterally through the POA, SON, SCN, ARC, ME and MMN with axonal projections observed throughout the MFB. In summary, the neurons of the MSN project to the medial hypothalamic nuclei via a midline route while LSN axons projected strongly to the MSN with the remaining ribers coursing along the ipsilateral MFB to terminate in several hypothalamic nuclei. These data indicate that a direct septo-hypothalamic pathway exists in the rat.
Identification and characterization of a gene encoding a gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor expressed during growth arrest.

A cDNA clone, named gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF), was isolated from an NIH 3T3 library using a probe encoding the zinc finger region of the immediate-early transcription factor zif/268. The deduced GKLF amino acid sequence contains three tandem zinc fingers that are related to members of the Kruppel family of transcription factors. By indirect immunofluorescence, GKLF is localized to the cell nucleus. In cultured fibroblasts, GKLF mRNA is found in high levels in growth-arrested cells and is nearly undetectable in cells that are in the exponential phase of proliferation. The growth-arresting nature of GKLF is demonstrated by an inhibition of DNA synthesis in cells transfected with a GKLF-expressing plasmid construct. In the mouse, GKLF mRNA is present in select tissues and is most abundant in the colon, followed by the testis, lung, and small intestine. In situ hybridization experiments indicate that GKLF mRNA is enriched in epithelial cells located in the middle to upper crypt region of the colonic mucosa. Taken together, these results suggest that GKLF is potentially a negative regulator of cell growth in tissues such as the gut mucosa, where cell proliferation is intimately coupled to growth arrest and differentiation.
Disaggregating Noncompliance Abstention versus Predation in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Why do states make disingenuous treaty commitments? Under what conditions will countries refrain from entering cooperative agreements with which they do not expect to comply? This article addresses...
Self-assembled semiconductor quantum dot infrared photodetector operating at room temperature and focal plane array

Self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots have attracted much attention because of their novel properties and thus possible practical applications including the lasers, detectors and modulators. Especially the photodetectors which have quantum dots in their active region have been developed and show promising performances such as high operation temperature due to three dimensional confinement of the carriers and normal incidence in contrast to the case of quantum well detectors which require special optical coupling schemes. Here we report our recent results for mid-wavelength infrared quantum dot infrared photodetector grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The material system we have investigated consists of 25 period self-assembled InAs quantum dot layers on InA1As barriers, which are lattice-matched to InP substrates, covered with InGaAs quantum well layers and InA1As barriers. This active region was sandwiched by highly doped InP contact layers. The device operates at 4.1 μm with a peak detectivity of 2.8×1011 cmHz1/2/W at 120 K and a quantum efficiency of 35 %. The photoresponse can be observed even at room temperature resulting in a peak detectivity of 6×107 cmHz1/2/W. A 320×256 focal plane array has been fabricated in this kind of device. Its performance will also be discussed here.
Comparison of freeze-blowing and funnel-freezing of rat brain for the measurement of cerebral glucose concentration in vivo.

The efficacy of funnel-freezing of rat brain to inactivate metabolic processes and preserve in vivo tissue glucose concentration was validated by comparing the results obtained by funnel-freezing with those obtained with freeze-blowing of brain. The arterial plasma glucose level was clamped at 9 mM in halothane-anesthetized rats to produce identical glucose levels in brain tissue prior to freeze fixation. In funnel-frozen and freeze-blown brains, tissue glucose concentrations were 2.47 +/- 0.05 and 2.47 +/- 0.06 mumol/g (means +/- SEM), respectively. Lactate levels in funnel-frozen brains were slightly but significantly higher than those in freeze-blown brains, i.e., 1.56 +/- 0.05 mumol/g versus 1.30 +/- 0.05 mumol/g (means +/- SEM; p less than 0.05). Regional analysis in funnel-frozen brains revealed that glucose concentrations in superficial and basal brain areas remained approximately equal at 2.30 +/- 0.1 mumol/g and 2.31 +/- 0.09 mumol/g (means +/- SEM), respectively. Our findings indicate that in the anesthetized rat, funnel-freezing of brain is suitable for the measurement of regional in vivo glucose concentrations.
Thermal decomposition of metal nitrates and their hydrates

Abstract A study is reported of the controlled decompositions of various metal nitrates and their common hydrates, carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer, a differential scanning calorimeter, and a differential thermal analyzer. Various sample sizes and heating rates were used to demonstrate their influence on the results. Results are given on intermediate compounds, on the temperature range of decomposition for each compound, and on reaction kinetics.