cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Group Analysis of Evaporation and Liquid Combustion of Jet-A and Its Surrogate Fuel Based On Quantitative FT-IR Measurements

This paper reports the evaporation and combustion experiments of small amounts of pool liquid fuel and the preliminary quantification of functional groups including: CH2, CH3, t-butyl, iso-propyl and mono-substituted aromatics using light absorbance in the wave number range of 400-4000 cm -1 . The goal was to develop a method that formulates evaporation characteristics for a complex real fuel and use the results to establish a surrogate’s evaporation rate associated with real fuel’s functional group evaporation rates. Jet-A (POSF-4658) was selected as the real fuel target in this study and a simple mixture of n-decane/iso-octane/toluene was selected to be the surrogate. The experiments included boiling and a pool fire test of 10 mL liquid fuel samples in a Petri dish. The fuel sample liquid mass was recorded before and after each experiment and the liquid fuel samples were collected using a needle at the end of each experiment. The attenueated total reflection (ATR) module of a Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer was used to facilitate a large number of liquid measurements. The correlation between concentration and transmittance of each functional group was provided by simple mixtures with known compositions. Results show that the evaporation characteristics of Jet-A and the surrogate mixture are extremely different in terms of time evolution of functional group concentrations and total time. Therefore it suggests the evaporation feature of the surrogate mixture itself is less useful to modeling the evaporation of Jet-A. Moreover, the analyses show that the functional group evolutions during evaporation and pool fire experiments of Jet-A were very similar suggesting the functional group consumptions from liquid combustion may be represented by evaporation.
Evaluation of the BCG vaccination effects on five hundred infants in Xuancheng

Objective To evaluate the effects of BCG vaccination in Xuancheng,and exploce measures to improve the quality of BCG vaccination.Method Five hundred of healthy infants aged below 1 year from 10 inoculation sites were randomly selected in Xuancheng in 2007,2009 and 2011.After 12 weeks of the infants accepting BCG vaccination,we measured BCG scar diameter and carried out BCG-PPD test.Results The rate of cards scar was 97.40%,PPD positive rate was 87.80%.There was significant sex and area difference in PPD positive rate(P 0.05).There was no significant difference in PPD positive rate between infants aged different months(χ2 = 0.55,P = 0.76).The PPD positive rate of infants whose mark mean diameter≥ 4mm was higher than that of infants whose mark mean diameter 4mm.Conclusion The rate of cards scar and PPD positive rate reached the national immunization program requirements,and the vaccination quality was stable.Neonatal vaccination of infants aged 1-3 months after birth had no influence on vaccination quality.The size of cards scar diameter had a certain reference value for evaluating the vaccination quality.
A friendly rebuttal to Mallick and Sindhu on particle flow for Bayes' rule

In a recent paper by Mallick and Sindhu, they assert three “problems” with our particle flow theory for Bayes’ rule. Our paper explains why all three assertions are wrong.
Is it Lyme disease? How to interpret results of laboratory testing.

PreviewPhysicians are often confronted with anxious patients who suspect that they have Lyme disease or whose earlier evaluation was inconclusive. Although physicians and patients both wish that laboratory testing could definitively diagnose the disease, at present it cannot. Dr Zoschke reviews problems commonly encountered with currently available tests and discusses some practical guidelines for resolving these problems.
Eel Canyon Slump Scar and Associated Fluid Venting

Autonomous underwater vehicles have been used to characterize Eel Slump, a slide scar located south of Eel Canyon, California. The presence of a well developed dendritic network on the headwall with gullies tens of meters deep, thick sediment drape cover on the slide scar sole, and the absence of fresh surfaces on the scarp suggest that the mass failure(s) that produced this feature did not take place in the recent past. Thermogenic oil and gas emanating from a large mound in the sole of the slide scar were sampled with a remotely operated vehicle. Other distinctive morphologies observed from the seafloor of the slide scar indicate fluid seep has occurred at multiple sites within the slide scar sole.
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case of Nasal Mass, Necrotic Lung, and Normal Kidneys

A diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) can be challenging given various clinical manifestations. We report an incident case of GPA presenting with chronic sinusitis and mimicking an early lung abscess without renal involvement. A 51 year-old woman with chronic obstructive sinusitis presented with subacute dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain and fever. Physical examination revealed a right nasal mass without discharge or bleeding. Decreased to absent breath sounds and dullness to percussion were noted at the left lung base. Laboratory findings were significant for leukocytosis but normal renal function. The chest CT demonstrated dense consolidation with hypo-enhancement of the lingula. The sinus CT revealed an enhancing mass in the right nasal cavity and anterior ethmoid sinuses with associated bony destruction. Patient did not improve with empiric antibiotics for lung abscess. Aspiration of the lingular fluid showed purulent material, however, microbes did not grow in culture. A positive C-ANCA screen was confirmed. A right nasal biopsy was performed which revealed granulomatous inflammation with focal necrosis and vasculitis. The final diagnosis was GPA. Given various clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of GPA can be difficult to distinguish from infectious etiologies. This can delay the treatment, which may be life-saving and organ sparing. We emphasize that an initial screening ANCA serology test is recommended in patients with suggestive clinical findings of GPA. Biopsy of an affected organ is paramount for the definitive diagnosis.
The Rule-of-Law Factor

Nationwide surveys in 1996, 1998, and 2000 revealed strong, albeit abstract, support among citizens of the Russian Federation for rule-of-law principles at levels roughly comparable to those found in Western Europe.1 But, when Russians were asked to apply those ideals to their own circumstances, a 2004 nationwide survey found that ‘an overwhelming majority of Russians do not think that they live under a rule-of-law state’.2 A 2007 survey continues to support these earlier findings,3 and recent surveys reveal that few Russians believe this will change during President Medvedev’s tenure.4
Tailoring a Graduate Course to Support a Broader Range of Academic Disciplines

Having taught the graduate introductory course by distance for the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution for the past 5 years, we decided to redesign the course specifically for graduate students across the spectrum of disciplines. The course is an ideal elective course for several graduate programs that have a need and interest in resolving conflicts in their specific discipline. In the Course Redesign Academy, I focused on revisions that would be useful for anybody taking the course. I retained the important theories and models in our field, while adding a block designed to identify the specific needs of individual students, leading to the ability for each student to select tools and schema with specific applications to their discipline and future practice.
Full stress tensor measurement using fluorescence spectroscopy

Photoluminescent spectral peak positions are known to shift as a function of mechanical stress state. This has been demonstrated at macroscales to determine mean stress and mesoscales to determine mean stress and a quantity related to shear stress. Here, we propose a method to utilize traction-free surface conditions and knowledge of material orientation to solve for two in-plane displacement fields given two measured spectral peak positions measured at a grid of points. It is then possible to calculate the full stress tensor at each measurement point. This is a significant advancement over the previous ability to measure one or two stress quantities. We validate the proposed method using a simple, two-grain geometry and show that it produces the same mean stress and shear stress measure as the existing direct method. We also demonstrate determination of the full stress field in a polycrystalline alumina specimen.
Thermoelectric Properties of Some Cobalt Phosphide-Arsenide Compounds

Samples of CoP3, CoAs3 and CoP1.5As1.5 have been synthesized and their thermoelectric properties measured. All three samples show semiconducting behavior. The Seebeck coefficients of CoP3 and CoAs3 are weakly dependent on temperature and are relatively small with maximum values of about 40 and 50 µV/K, respectively. The Seebeck coefficient of the solid solution gradually decreases with increasing temperature and the values are larger than those of CoP 3 and CoAs3 in the temperature range investigated, with a maximum value of about 89 µV/K near room temperature. The thermal conductivity of CoP3 and CoAs3 are higher than that of CoSb 3, as can be expected from the effect of anionic size on lattice vibration. A substantial reduction in thermal conductivity was observed for the solid solution compared to the constituent binary compounds due to additional phonon scattering from lattice disorder and other possible point defects such as vacancies. Other compositions in the CoP 3-xAsx system have also been synthesized and their thermoelectric properties are currently being investigated to provide essential information about lattice thermal conductivity reduction by point defect scattering and to further develop strategies for optimizing the thermoelectric properties of skutterudite materials.
Local structure of Sn/Si(001) surface phases

Abstract The surface structures of the (6 × 2), c(8 × 4) and (5 × 1) phases of Sn Si (001) were studied using the X-ray standing wave technique. Using the (004) and (022) Bragg reflections, we find that the (6 × 2) and c(8 × 4) phases are composed of highly buckled SnSn ad-dimers located 1.58 A above the bulk-like Si(004) surface atomic plane. The Sn atoms occupy two distinct sites with a vertical separation of 0.68 A, resulting in a dimer buckling angle of approximately 14°. Occupation of second-layer sites by Sn in the (5 × 1) phase, and even in the high-coverage region of the c(8 × 4) phase, changes the Sn spatial distribution normal to the surface, which we attribute to unbuckling and/or breaking of the dimers in the first layer.
Thoracic Anesthesia for Morbidly Obese Patients and Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Body mass index (BMI) (BMI = Weightkilograms/(Height) meters 2 ) is a measure of obesity. A patient with a BMI >30 kg/m2 is obese, and >40 kg/m2 morbidly obese (MO). Morbid obesity is associated with medical conditions including hypertension, type II diabetes, cardiac disease, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Moderate to severe OSA is present in more than 50% of MO patients, and is often unrecognized. Definitive diagnosis is made by polysomnography (PSG). In the absence of PSG documentation, all MO patients should be managed as if they have OSA. The ASA Practice Guidelines for the Perioperative Management of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea should be used for all MO patients, whether or not they have had a PSG diagnosis of OSA. The best preoperative predictors of potential problems with tracheal intubation in MO patients are high Mallampati (III or IV) score and increased neck circumference (>48 cm men, >40 cm women). Many MO are difficult to ventilate by face mask, but the majority have no difficulty undergoing direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Never allow a supine MO patient to breathe without assistance. A MO patient should be positioned in the head-elevated laryngoscopy position (HELP) prior to anesthetic induction. In this position, the patient’s head and upper body are ramped or “stacked” so that an imaginary horizontal line can be drawn from the sternum to the ear. If the patient is hemodynamically stable, the operating room table should also be in a reverse-Trendelenburg position (RTP) to maximize “safe apnea time.” MO patients tolerate one-lung ventilation (OLV) in the lateral position. Although there are no clinical studies of OLV in supine MO patients, in theory a MO patient would not be expected to tolerate OLV this position. A MO OSA patient using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device preoperatively should bring their equipment to the hospital for use during their postoperative recovery. Depressant medications can decrease ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxemia and hypercarbia in all MO patients, and can also cause airway collapse in OSA patients. Avoid sedative premedication and long-lasting opioids since both increase the risk of postoperative ventilatory problems. Use regional techniques when possible. For postoperative analgesia, use multimodal analgesic therapy (local anesthetics for epidural, spinal and paravertebral analgesia, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and alpha-2 agonists (clonidine, dexmedetomidine)) to reduce the need for opioids. Following any long-duration operation check the patient’s serum for creatinine phosphokinase (CPK). A CPK level >1,000 IU/L is diagnostic for rhabdomyolysis (RML). The initial symptoms of RML (numbness, pain, weakness) can be masked, especially if epidural analgesia is being used.
Perceived Quality of Life of Children and Youth

Interest in child and adolescent perceptions of the quality of their lives has grown over the last several decades. The purposes of this chapter are thus threefold. First, we summarize the developing body of research on the nature, measurement and correlates of children’s perceptions of the quality of their lives. Second, we offer recommendations for needed future research. Finally, we suggest implications for policies related to the promotion of children’s quality of life.
Increased Conductivity and Reduced Settling Time of Carbon-Based Electrodes By Addition of Sea Salt for Wearable Application

A carbon-based dry electrode is designed to measure bio-potential from skin surface without hydrogel. Consequently, unlike Ag/AgCl electrodes, the carbon-based electrodes require some settling time before a high-fidelity signal is obtained due to the process for impedance matching among skin surface, electrode and amplifiers in biometric system. Besides, especially, when electrocardiogram (ECG) is measured at some distance away from the chest using carbon-based electrodes for wearable application, the settling time could be a critical concern for immediate data collection due to the smaller bio-potential and bigger motion artifact noises. The settling time was defined as the time it takes for the carbon-based electrodes to have the same impedance as that of Ag/AgCl electrodes at a particular frequency ( 50 minutes) when compared to SCB/PDMS electrodes. In summary, when carbon-based electrodes are used to measure bio-signals from skin surface for wearable application, its settling time can be partially offset by adding sea salt to CB/PDMS electrode and by making it thinner.
Identification of targets for improving access to care in persons with long term physical disabilities

Abstract Background People with long-term physical disability (LTPD) continue to experience difficulties in accessing health care despite the focus of highlighting disparities in the last two decades. Objectives To describe health care utilization, accommodations and barriers experienced while accessing health care, and reasons why individuals delay or skip health care among people with LTPD. Methods The current study was a part of a larger longitudinal survey administered to individuals with physical disability associated with one of four long-term conditions (MS; SCI; PPS; MD). Measures included demographics, health care utilization, barriers to health care, and reasons for delaying or skipping medical care from the sixth wave of data from 2015 to 2016. Results Roughly 90% of all participants (N = 1159) saw at least one medical provider within 12 months. The most encountered barrier participants reported experiencing within that time was an office that did not have a safe transfer device to move them to an exam table (69%). Participants’ physical function, quality of life, status of living with a spouse, diagnostic condition, and sex (male) were significantly associated with endorsing a barrier in accessing health care. The inability to afford out of pocket expenses was the highest reported reason for delaying health care. Conclusions People with LTPD access a variety of health care, including rehabilitation services, and continue to experience barriers when doing so. While understanding barriers individuals experience when accessing health care is important, it is equally important to document the type of care they delay or skip due to barriers.
Geometric processing in macdonald dettwiler’s meridian-gics system

Algorithms for the geometric correction of satellite imagery have been developed by MacDonald Dettwiler for a wide variety of satellites and sensors. A key design goal was to achieve the maximum ac...
Cell-to-cell influence on growth in large populations.

Recent studies have revealed the importance of outlier cells in complex cellular systems. Quantifying heterogeneity in such systems may lead to a better understanding of organ engineering, microtumor growth, and disease models, as well as more precise drug design. We used the ability of quantitative phase imaging to perform long-term imaging of cell growth to estimate the “influence” of cellular clusters on their neighbors. We validated our approach by analyzing epithelial and fibroblast cultures imaged over the course of several days. Interestingly, we found that there is a significant number of cells characterized by a medium correlation between their growth rate and distance (modulus of the Pearson coefficient between 0.25-.5). Furthermore, we found a small percentage of cells exhibiting strong such correlations, which we label as “influencer” cellular clusters. Our approach might find important applications in studying dynamic phenomena, such as organogenesis and metastasis.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cardiac Blood Flow: An In Vitro Study

This study presents the potentials and limitations of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) applied to flow visualization and flow quantitation in large blood vessels. A Phase Velocity Encoding (PVE) technique was preferred to projective methods such as time-of-flight and Magnetic Resonance Angiography.
Management of Calcinosis Associated with Dermatomyositis

Calcinosis cutis, or dystrophic soft-tissue calcification, is a common and debilitating complication of adult and juvenile dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis-associated calcinosis is difficult to treat and is associated with significant morbidity. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of treatment modalities for calcinosis in dermatomyositis based on published studies. Specific guidelines are lacking for calcinosis cutis management. Based on previous case reports, case series, cohort studies, and limited controlled studies, medications including diltiazem, bisphosphonates, sodium thiosulfate, aluminum hydroxide, warfarin, probenecid, colchicine, minocycline, and intravenous immunoglobulins have been used to control calcinosis progression in dermatomyositis, but no treatment has convincingly prevented or reduced calcinosis. Surgical excision of large or symptomatic calcium deposits remains the mainstay of treatment. Biologic therapies including infliximab, abatacept, rituximab, anakinra, and the oral JAK inhibitor tofacitinib have been used to control dermatomyositis-associated calcinosis in case reports and series. Pharmacological treatment aimed to reduce calcinosis is challenging given that no therapies have consistently been found to be effective and few studies have a high level of evidence. Randomized controlled trials using novel outcome measures are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of proposed and emerging therapies. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT03639779 and NCT03267277
Identification of input random field samples causing extreme responses

Abstract Consider a physical system modeled by a differential equation that depends on a coefficient random field. The objective of this work is to identify samples of this random field which yield extreme response as a means to: study the law of the input conditioned on rare events and predict if a random field sample causes such an event. This differs from reliability engineering which focuses on computation of failure probabilities. We investigate two classification schemes that identify these samples of interest: physics-based indicators which are functionals of the input random field and surrogate models which approximate the response. As an alternative to these approaches, we propose a general framework consisting of two stages that combines the use of a physics-based surrogate model and a machine learning classifier. In the first stage, a multifidelity surrogate that requires infrequent evaluations of the full model is designed. This surrogate is then used to generate a sufficient number of samples of random fields that yield extreme events to train a machine learning classifier in the second stage. We study the analytical properties required of the surrogate model and demonstrate through numerical examples the synergy of the proposed approach.
The Review Process

After settling on a topic and preparing your application, it will be reviewed for scientific and technical merit within a peer review panel at the NIH. The majority of the applications are reviewed at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), which has several Scientific Review Groups (SRG) (also called Initial Review Groups and Study Sections) that focus on research in the behavioral and social sciences. The NIH review system is based on two tiers: the first tier is a review by the Scientific Review Group (SRG) which does not take into account the funding priorities of a particular NIH Institute. Following the SRG evaluation, a second tier of review is performed by the Institute Advisory Council that takes into account relevance to the Institute mission and the overall research portfolio. Figure 7.1 describes the sequence of events that begins with preparation of the application by the individual at the computer and hopefully ends with the investigator receiving an award. Note that you must apply through an applicant organization and that all essential functions and communications must be countersigned by the Authorizing Organizational Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO).
Impact of Time as an Independent in Tree Based Forecasting

This paper analyzes the impact of including and excluding time when there is a regime change in the explanatory power of a two independent Bernoulli factors driving an observable process Y in order to provide a counterexample illustrating the importance of time as an independent in a tree based forecast.
New diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in neuromuscular disorders in children.

Pediatric neuromuscular disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect how muscle and nerve function. They involve the motor neurons, nerves, neuromuscular junction and muscles. Pathology of any of these regions leads to the inability to perform voluntary movements. Over time, the natural progression of most of these disorders is followed by significant disability, and at the most extreme, almost complete paralysis and death secondary to complications. Diagnostic measures for pediatric neuromuscular disorders, like that of most medical conditions, relies heavily on clinical presentation, history and a detailed physical examination. Primary additional diagnostic measures have included serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS) and muscle or nerve biopsies, which has historically been the gold standard. In the last several decades less invasive testing has become more common such as muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic testing. The advances of molecular genetics, such as next generation sequencing (NGS) which includes whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), enable clinicians to pinpoint more accurately exact gene mutations. The advent of genetic testing enhances personalized medicine. The field of pediatric neuromuscular disorders is also undergoing a remarkable evolution in therapeutic modalities including novel targeted therapies such as exon skipping/inclusion and gene replacement therapies. This is a review of the initial approach to suspected neuromuscular disorders in children as well as up to date diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for the most common pediatric neuromuscular disorders. As the world enters the new decade, there are encouraging therapeutic results. However, there remain key challenges to these modalities including limitations in its applicability, optimization for delivery of gene replacement therapies and in its effectiveness.
Transport of biodeposits and benthic footprint around an oyster farm, Damariscotta Estuary, Maine

The benthic impact of aquaculture waste depends on the area and extent of waste accumulation on the sediment surface below and around the farm. In this study we investigated the effect of flow on biodeposit transport and initial deposition by calculating a rough aquaculture "footprint" around an oyster aquaculture farm in the Damariscotta River, ME. We also compared a site under the farm to a downstream "away" site calculated to be within the footprint of the farm. We found similar sediment biogeochemical fluxes, geochemical properties and macrofaunal communities at the site under the farm and the away site, as well as low organic enrichment at both sites, indicating that biodeposition in this environment likely does not have a major influence on the benthos. To predict accumulation of biodeposits, we measured sediment erodibility under a range of shear stresses and found slightly higher erosion rates at the farm than at the away site. A microalgal mat was observed at the sediment surface in many sediment cores. Partial failure of the microalgal mat was observed at high shear velocity, suggesting that the mat may fail and surface sediment erode at shear velocities comparable to or greater than those calculated fromin situ flow measurements. However, this study took place during neap tide, and it is likely that peak bottom velocities during spring tides are high enough to periodically "clear" under-farm sediment of recent deposits.
Classification of nonsemicommutative rings

The classes of semicommutative, PS I, 2-primal, weakly-2-primal, NI, NR and Dedekind-finite rings form a strictly increasing chain of classes of rings. Examples have been provided by several authors to show most of the inclusions are strict. In this paper it is shown that every inclusion is strict. Furthermore, in most instances examples with the additional properties of being reflexive and/or abelian are constructed. In particular, an abelian nonreflexive NI non-weakly-2-primal ring is given, which shows that the classes of NI and weakly-2-primal rings differ; a fact that has been previously claimed without proof.
The nonstress test: The value of a single acceleration in evaluating the fetus at risk

Utilization of the nonstress test in the high-risk pregnancy as the sole test for the assessment of fetal welfare is reported. A total of 1,005 tests were performed on 367 patients. A single acceleration in response to fetal movement was deemed sufficient to classify a fetus as reactive, and when present was associated with a corrected perinatal loss of zero. A nonreactive pattern predicted the four stillbirths in the series.
MR Safety Guide

This unit provides safety information for performing imaging sequences. Included are a checklist of common rules to abide by when performing MR imaging and an outline of the proper orientations required to be taken by staff members. In addition a guide thoroughly discussing important safety information is also provided. Keywords: safety procedures for patients and staff; precautions for pregnant patients and staff; equipment maintenance; consent forms
The incidence of painful crisis in homozygous sickle cell disease: correlation with red cell deformability.

To determine whether the vasoocclusive severity of homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease is influenced by cellular dehydration, we correlated the incidence of painful crisis with steady-state measurements of red cell hydration. Sixteen children with SS disease were followed for 3.3 to 8 years (mean, 6.8 years), and a single crisis rate was calculated for each patient. At the time of well visits, cellular hydration was assessed by measuring cell deformability, the percentage of red cells with a density greater than or equal to 1.1056 g/mL, and the percentage of irreversibly sickled cells (ISC). The incidence of painful crisis showed a strong positive correlation with Omax, a deformability measurement reflecting cellular hydration (r = .84, P less than .002), and with hemoglobin concentration (r = .59, P = .04). That is, higher crisis rates were observed in patients with less dehydrated, more deformable red cells and also in patients with higher hemoglobin concentrations. Furthermore, cell deformability and hemoglobin concentration were independent predictors of the incidence of painful crisis, which is consistent with separate effects of these two red cells parameters on vasoocclusive severity.
Pathological T2 sub-divisions as a prognostic factor in the biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To determine the adequacy of T2 prostate cancer (PCa) sub-staging as an independent Predictor of biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS) after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Duke Prostate Center database was queried for patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1988 and 2007 and had pT2 PCa, identifying 1990 cases. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence was defined as a single value ≥0.2 ng/mL. Kaplan–Meier curves compared differences in bDFS between T2 sub-divisions. Multivariate analysis was performed, adjusting for age, pathological Gleason sum, surgical margin status, preoperative PSA, race, total tumour percentage and prostate weight on biochemical recurrence. RESULTS The mean age at surgery was 62 years, and 16% of patients were African-American. Median prostate weight was 40 g [interquartile range (IQR) 31–52] and median preoperative PSA was 5.6 (IQR 4.2–7.8). Pathological Gleason score was ≤6 in 57%, 7 in 38%, and ≥8 in 5%; pathological T stage distribution was 18% T2a, 6% T2b, and 76% T2c; and percentage tumour involvement was ≤5% in 43%, between 5.1 and 10% in 24%, between 10.1 and 15% in 10%, and >15% in 19%. 366 (18.4%) patients had a biochemical recurrence after a median of 4.6 years (IQR 2.1–8.2) follow-up. bDFS was significantly (P= 0.006) higher for pT2a disease than for pT2b and pT2c, which were comparable. Adjusting for demographic and other pathological variables, T2 sub-divisions lost statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Pathological T2a prostate cancer has significantly higher bDFS than the pT2b or pT2c sub-groups in univariate but not multivariate analyses. Different pathological features should be explored to create more meaningfully predictive pathological T2 sub-divisions.
The presence of professional phagocytes dictates the number of host cells targeted for Yop translocation during infection

Type III secretion systems deliver effector proteins from Gram-negative bacterial pathogens into host cells, where they disarm host defences, allowing the pathogens to establish infection. Although Yersinia pseudotuberculosis delivers its effector proteins, called Yops, into numerous cell types grown in culture, we show that during infection Y. pseudotuberculosis selectively targets Yops to professional phagocytes in Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, although it colocalizes with B and T cells as well as professional phagocytes. Strikingly, in the absence of neutrophils, the number of cells with translocated Yops was significantly reduced although the bacterial loads were similar, indicating that Y. pseudotuberculosis did not arbitrarily deliver Yops to the available cells. Using isolated splenocytes, selective binding and selective targeting to professional phagocytes when bacteria were limiting was also observed, indicating that tissue architecture was not required for the tropism for professional phagocytes. In isolated splenocytes, YadA and Invasin increased the number of all cells types with translocated Yops, but professional phagocytes were still preferentially translocated with Yops in the absence of these adhesins. Together these results indicate that Y. pseudotuberculosis discriminates among cells it encounters during infection and selectively delivers Yops to phagocytes while refraining from translocation to other cell types.
Development of Ceramic Waste Forms for an Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle

A series of ceramic waste forms were developed and characterized for the immobilization of a Cesium/Lanthanide (CS/LN) waste stream anticipated to result from nuclear fuel reprocessing. Simple raw materials, including Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2} were combined with simulated waste components to produce multiphase ceramics containing hollandite-type phases, perovskites (particularly BaTiO{sub 3}), pyrochlores and other minor metal titanate phases. Three fabrication methodologies were used, including melting and crystallizing, pressing and sintering, and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), with the intent of studying phase evolution under various sintering conditions. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) results showed that the partitioning of the waste elements in the sintered materials was very similar, despite varying stoichiometry of the phases formed. Identification of excess Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} via XRD and SEM/EDS in the first series of compositions led to a Phase II study, with significantly reduced Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} concentrations and increased waste loadings. The Phase II compositions generally contained a reduced amount of unreacted Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} as identified by XRD. Chemical composition measurements showed no significant issues with meeting the target compositions. However, volatilization of Cs and Mo was identified, particularly during melting, since sinteringmore » of the pressed pellets and SPS were performed at lower temperatures. Partitioning of some of the waste components was difficult to determine via XRD. SEM/EDS mapping showed that those elements, which were generally present in small concentrations, were well distributed throughout the waste forms.« less
Automatic Optical Design

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the optical system. An optical system consists of pieces of transmitting or reflecting elements arranged in such a way that the image-forming process takes place. The individual reflecting elements are called “mirrors” and the individual refracting elements are called “lenses.” The chapter presents a description of ray tracing, which is conceptually very simple, but the computational processes involved are complicated. It describes the requirements that must be met in designing a calculating scheme, particularly for use with a high-speed computer. The chapter describes the classical methods of lens design and the development of the high-speed computer with its application to problems in optical design. The lens at any stage of design is analyzed by ray tracing, providing the designer with the information that is needed to improve it. A method of interpretation of the ray tracing in a realistic manner, known as the “spot diagram” is discussed.
Radar Target Discrimination Using an Integral Equation Resonance Technique

The intent of the research was to investigate the possibility of determining an object's shape and composition given its scattering signature. When an object is interrogated by a short time sequence RF pulse, the frequency and characteristic decay of the resonance signal dictate the complex frequency poles (the frequency yielding us the real part of the pole and the characteristic decay the imaginary part). The research for this project is divided into two areas. First, given an object, what are the complex resonance poles and how can they be efficiently numerically computed? Second, how feasible is the inverse problem; that is, can the shape and composition be inferred easily once the poles are known? The program was tested on a dielectric coated cylinder. Based on the scattering equations for the wedge, the complex poles were calculated using an integral technique coupled with the Mueller algorithm for obtaining complex zeros of a polynomial. The roots were compiled for various thicknesses of the coatin...
Inclined to splash: triggering and inhibiting a splash with tangential velocity

When a liquid drop impacts a smooth, solid, dry surface, the drop forms a radially spreading lamella, which can lead to a splash. Previous studies have focused almost exclusively on impacts perpendicular to a surface; yet it is common for drops to impact on angled or moving surfaces. The asymmetry of such impacts leads to an azimuthal variation of the ejected rim, and under certain conditions only part of the rim breaks up to form droplets. We show that the tangential component of impact can act to enhance or suppress a splash. We develop a new model to predict when this type of splashing will occur. The model accounts for our observations of the effects of tangential velocity and agrees well with previous experimental data.
Interactive Code Annotation for Security Vulnerability Detection

Security vulnerabilities are commonly caused by security bugs introduced by developers during code construction. Static analysis tools can detect such vulnerabilities, yet are often not utilized by developers, leaving them out of the security loop. We are investigating interactive static analysis, to assist developers in detecting and mitigating security vulnerabilities during code construction. We propose interactive code annotation as a technique to gather security-related decisions from developers to aid in vulnerability detection. In this paper, we discuss the lessons we have learned in a technical and user evaluation of our current prototype, and the resulting design of our code annotation interface. The design decisions we present can help to inform the design of other annotation and security tools.
In defense of joy: C. S. Lewis and psychoanalysis.

The imaginative experience of Joy, as he calls it, was central to the career of C. S. Lewis: it informed his work as literary scholar, writer, and religious thinker. Cognizant that psychoanalytic concepts held implications for the meaning of this experience, Lewis offers a critical commentary on these implications and their presuppositions with regard to literary imagery. His commentary suggests possible conflicts between a view of humankind that is psychoanalytically-derived and one which is aesthetically informed.
Skype and the Reality of Remedial Media

Yoni Van Den Eede’s assessment of the concept of remedial media as “implying” that technological shortcomings can be remedied by technology understates the evolution of media, which shows that improvement of technological flaws via new technology is intrinsic, actual, and central to media development, not implied. The use of mobile media and their applications in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti is a current, prime example, and also speaks to the capacity of technology to remedy the natural disasters that strike the world.
Global Transport of Organic Pollutants: Ambient Concentrations in the Remote Marine Atmosphere

Concentrations of organic pollutants in the air and in precipitation have been measured at Enewetak Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. These data from a site removed from industrial and human activity indicate the present concentrations of synthetic organic pollutants in the atmosphere and establish the long-range atmospheric transport of organic pollutants to remote marine areas. Hexachlorobenzene and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers are present in the remote marine atmosphere. Polychlorobiphenyls, total DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, and two phthalate ester plasticizers were also found in the samples. The concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere remote from continental sources are good measures of the minimum concentrations of air pollutants on Earth.
Bio-Inspired Navigation of Chemical Plumes

The ability of many insects, especially moths, to locate either food or a member of the opposite sex is an amazing achievement. There are numerous scenarios where having this ability embedded into ground-based or aerial vehicles would be invaluable. This paper presents results from a 3-D computer simulation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) autonomously tracking a chemical plume to its source. The simulation study includes a simulated dynamic chemical plume, 6-degree of freedom, nonlinear aircraft model, and a bio-inspired navigation algorithm. The emphasis of this paper is the development and analysis of the navigation algorithm. The foundation of this algorithm is a fuzzy controller designed to categorize where in the plume the aircraft is located: coming into the plume, in the plume, exiting the plume, or out of the plume.
Mexicans React to Electoral Fraud and Political Corruption: an Assessment of Public Opinion and Voting Behavior

Abstract Despite various electoral reforms enacted in Mexico between 1988 and 1994, large numbers of Mexicans doubted the honesty of elections and the general integrity of their country's policy making process. Such doubts did not automatically lead, however, to support for opposition parties that called for greater democratization. Rather, voter preferences were largely dependent on judgments about the opposition's viability and competence. Widespread suspicions about fraud and corruption in Mexico did affect electoral outcomes by making it less likely that potential opposition supporters turned out to vote. Data are drawn from seven national public opinion surveys conducted in Mexico in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994 (3 polls), and 1995.
SCIFER‐Cleft region thermal electron distribution functions

Differential directional ionospheric electron measurements at energies from <1 to 60 eV have been obtained in the Earth's geomagnetic cleft ionosphere on NASA's Sounding of the Cleft Region Ion Fountain Energization Region (SCIFER) rocket. We introduce the electron data set, present electron temperature measurements, and show examples of phase space distributions measured near and in the cleft ionosphere. Topside electron temperatures ranged from near 0.15 eV south of the high energy electron trapping boundary to near 1 eV within precipitation regions in the auroral cleft. Field-aligned electron bursts extend down to thermal energies and merge with the core, yielding core heating and anisotropy in the derived electron temperature. One interval is identified where enhanced electron temperature is collocated with a deep density depletion, low frequency electrostatic waves, and transverse ion heating, consistent with operation of the current-driven ion cyclotron instability. On the downleg, in what may be polar cap, the shape of the thermal electron energy distribution was observed to be quite uniform, with temperatures near 0.25 eV.
An Electrodiffusion Model for the Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Charged Molecules

The endothelial surface glycocalyx layer (SGL) and the basement membrane (BM) are two important components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). They provide large resistance to solute transport across the BBB in addition to the tight junctions in the cleft between adjacent endothelial cells. Due to their glycosaminoglycan compositions, they carry negative charge under physiological conditions. To investigate the charge effect of the SGL and BM on the BBB permeability to charged solutes, we developed an electrodiffusion model for the transport of charged molecules across the BBB. In this model, constant charge densities were assumed in the SGL and in the BM. Both electrostatic and steric interaction and exclusion to charged molecules were considered within the SGL and the BM and at their interfaces with noncharged regions of the BBB. On the basis of permeability data for the positively charged ribonuclease (+4, radius =2.01 nm) and negatively charged α-lactalbumin (―10, radius =2.08 nm) measured in intact rat mesenteric and pial microvessels, our model predicted that the charge density in both SGL and BM would be ∼30 mEq/L, which is comparable to that in the SGL of mesenteric microvessels. Interestingly, our model also revealed that due to the largest concentration drop in the BM, there is a region with a higher concentration of negatively charged α-lactalbumin in the uncharged inter-endothelial cleft, although the concentration of α-lactalbumin is always lower than that of positively charged ribonuclease and that of a neutral solute in the charged SGL and BM.
McColl and Minimization

In 1952, Quine showed that the problem of reducing a propositional formula to a simplest normal equivalent can be solved in two steps, viz., (i) express the given formula, Φ, equivalently as the disjunction of all its prime implicants, and (ii) find all non-redundant disjunctions of the latter that are equivalent to Φ (Quine 1952 ). However, it seems not generally known that an ingenious form of the same two-step process was published by Hugh McColl in 1878.
Prediction of nitrogen and phosphorus losses as related to agricultural drainage system design

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of differing degrees of improved agricultural drainage on the long-term efflux of N and P from poorly drained soils common to the North Carolina Coastal Plain. The effect of using controlled drainage on efflux was also investigated. Computer simulations were used to predict the losses from 6 soils for a 20-year period. The simulations indicate that both drainage system design and management can have significant effects upon N and P efflux in drainage water. Drainage systems designed to give good subsurface drainage lost 17–35 kg ha−1 year−1 more NO3-N than systems with poor subsurface drainage. Good subsurface drainage decreased total P lost by 0.2-0.4 kg ha−1 year−1 on the mineral soils studied. The increase in N lost because of installing a good subsurface drainage system can partially be offset by utilizing controlled drainage. Under the conditions simulated in this study, controlled drainage reduced the nitrate efflux by as much as 34%, but the reduction varies with soil and management conditions. Controlled drainage does, however, result in a small increase in P efflux under the conditions simulated.