cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamical evolution of black hole-neutron star binaries in general relativity: Simulations of tidal disruption

We calculate the first dynamical evolutions of merging black hole-neutron star binaries that construct the combined black hole-neutron star spacetime in a general relativistic framework. We treat the metric in the conformal flatness approximation, and assume that the black hole mass is sufficiently large compared to that of the neutron star so that the black hole remains fixed in space. Using a spheroidal spectral methods solver, we solve the resulting field equations for a neutron star orbiting a Schwarzschild black hole. The matter is evolved using a relativistic, Lagrangian, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) treatment. We take as our initial data recent quasiequilibrium models for synchronized neutron star polytropes generated as solutions of the conformal thin-sandwich (CTS) decomposition of the Einstein field equations. We are able to construct from these models relaxed SPH configurations whose profiles show good agreement with CTS solutions. Our adiabatic evolution calculations for neutron stars with low-compactness show that mass transfer, when it begins while the neutron star orbit is still outside the innermost stable circular orbit, is more unstable than is typically predicted by analytical formalisms. This dynamical mass loss is found to be the driving force in determining the subsequent evolution of the binary orbit and the neutron star, which typically disrupts completely within a few orbital periods. The majority of the mass transferred onto the black hole is accreted promptly; a significant fraction ($\ensuremath{\sim}30%$) of the mass is shed outward as well, some of which will become gravitationally unbound and ejected completely from the system. The remaining portion forms an accretion disk around the black hole, and could provide the energy source for short-duration gamma-ray bursts.
Competing conceptions of animal welfare and their ethical implications for the treatment of non-human animals.

Animal welfare has been conceptualized in such a way that the use of animals in science and for food seems justified. I argue that those who have done this have appropriated the concept of animal welfare, claiming to give a scientific account that is more objective than the “sentimental” account given by animal liberationists. This strategy seems to play a major role in supporting merely limited reform in the use of animals and seems to support the assumption that there are conditions under which animals may be raised and slaughtered for food that are ethically acceptable. Reformists do not need to make this assumption, but they tend to conceptualize animal welfare is such a way that death does not count as harmful to the interests of animals, nor prolonged life a benefit. In addition to this prudential value assumption, some members of this community have developed strategies for defending suitably reformed farming practices as ethical even granting that death and some other forms of constraints are harms. One such strategy is the fiction of a domestic contract. However, if one accepts the conceptualization of human welfare give by L. W. Sumner, and applies it to animals in the way that I think is justified, an accurate conceptualization of animal welfare has different implications for which uses of animals should be regarded as ethically acceptable. In this paper I give an historical and philosophical account of animal welfare conceptulization and use this account to argue that animal breeders, as custodians of the animals they breed, have the ethical responsibility to help their animal wards achieve as much autonomy as possible in choosing the form of life made available to them and to provide that life. Attempts to avoid these implications by alluding to a contract model of the relationship between custodians and their wards fail to relieve custodians of their ethical responsibilities of care.
Acculturative Stress, Perceived Discrimination, and Vulnerability to Suicide Attempts Among Emerging Adults

Cultural factors are often neglected in studies of suicidal behavior among emerging adults. The present study examined acculturative stress and perceived discrimination as statistical predictors of a suicide attempt history among an ethnically diverse sample of 969 emerging adults, ages 18–25 (M = 18.8). Females made up 68% of the sample, and the racial/ethnic composition included Asian, Latino, Black, and White (US-born and non-US-born) individuals. There were no statistically significant racial/ethnic differences in endorsement of a suicide attempt history, with an overall rate of 8% in the sample. Asian participants reported higher acculturative stress than all other racial/ethnic groups, while both Asian and Black participants reported having experienced more discrimination in the previous year, compared to other groups. Logistic regression analyses suggested that familial acculturative stress was associated with 2 times higher odds of endorsing a past suicide attempt, overall. More specifically, it was associated with over 2 times higher odds among Asian participants, over 4 times higher odds among Black participants, and over 3 times higher odds among non-US-born White participants, while social acculturative stress was associated with over 3 times higher odds of endorsing a past suicide attempt among Latino participants. Environmental acculturative stress was associated with decreased odds of endorsing a suicide attempt history, overall, but not when examined separately by racial/ethnic group. Perceived discrimination was associated with over 5 times higher odds of a suicide attempt, overall, and specifically was associated with over 3 times higher odds among Latino participants and over 10 times higher odds among White, US-born participants. These findings suggest the importance of addressing culturally-related variables in treatment with emerging adults of racially/ethnically diverse backgrounds to reduce risk for suicidal behavior.
Challenges in the development of an effective HIV vaccine: current approaches and future directions.

Abstract Objective The intent of this review is to investigate and discuss why developing a successful HIV vaccine has been so challenging, first by examining the molecular biology of the virus and how HIV interacts with the immune system, and then reviewing past viral vaccine successes as well as future directions for HIV vaccine research. Background Since HIV appeared in the United States in the early 1980s, an estimated 40 million people worldwide have been infected with the virus. Despite promising advances in the pharmacotherapy of HIV infection, it is apparent that the best, most costeffective strategy for controlling the further spread of the virus is through synthesis of a protective vaccine. Almost 2 decades into the epidemic, there are few prospects for a truly effective vaccine entering the market in the foreseeable future. Methods MEDLINE ® was searched for articles written between 1966 and June 1999. Search terms used were AIDS, HIV vaccine, HIV-1, HIV-2, vaccines , and human immunodeficiency virus . Results Only 2 candidates for an HIV vaccine are currently in phase III clinical trials (1 in the United States and 1 in Thailand). The efficacy of these vaccines when applied to the population as a whole is widely questioned, largely because they induce protection by an antibody response only. Several studies have suggested that this approach will likely be ineffective in providing any real protection from viral infection. It appears that a strong cellular immune response is necessary in addition to a strong antibody response.
Theoretical Study of the Low-Lying Electronically Excited States of Diacetylene

The complete-active-space SCF and CASMP2 methods are used to characterize the low-lying excited singlet and triplet states of diacetylene. With the exception of the 1 1Δu state, all excited states considered are found to have geometrical structures distorted away from linear. Three of the triplet states are predicted to have non-planar C2-symmetry structures. The other states are predicted to be planar, existing as both cis (C2v) and trans (C2h) isomeric forms. Vibrational frequencies are calculated for the low-lying electronically excited states, and vertical and adiabatic excitation energies are reported. © 2000 American Chemical Society.
Chronic exposure to a simulated urban profile of ozone alters ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide challenge in rats

Abstract Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed to a simulated urban profile of ozone (O 3 ) (9-hr ramped spike, integrated concentration = 0.19 ppm) for up to 78 weeks. Small, but statistically significant, changes in breathing patterns and mechanics in unanesthetized, restrained rats were observed at Weeks 1, 3, 13, 52, and 78 during postexposure challenge with 0, 4, and 8% carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The data indicate that O 3 exposure caused an overall increase in expiratory resistance ( R e ), but particularly at 78 weeks. This increase in R e most likely accounts for the rats' reduced ability to increase ventilation during CO 2 challenge compared to control rats. Reductions in CO 2 -induced tidal volume increases were observed in all O 3 -exposed animals during postexposure challenges to 4 and 8% CO 2 . Cumulatively, over all time points, spontaneous frequency of breathing and CO 2 -induced hyperventilation were also reduced. The decrease in frequency was dependent on a significant increase in the inspiratory time relative to control without a change in expiratory time. Light microscopic evaluation of the lung did not reveal any lesions associated with O 3 exposure at any time point. Although statistically significant effects were detected, the etiology of the above-mentioned functional changes remains speculative. The potential relevance of these data to acute and chronic O 3 exposure in humans is also discussed.
A Modified Delphi Study to Identify the Significant Works Pertaining to the Understanding of Reading Comprehension and Content Analysis of the Identified Works.

The first part of this study explored the significant works pertaining to the understanding of reading comprehension using a Modified Delphi Method. A panel of reading comprehension experts identified 19 works they considered to be significant to the understanding of reading comprehension. The panel of experts identified the reasons they considered each identified work to be significant. In the second round of the Delphi, the comprehension experts rated the identified works and reasons for significance on a Likert-type rating scale. The second part of this study was a content analysis of 16 of the 19 identified significant works. The content analysis focused on concepts relevant to the understanding of reading comprehension. The concepts were used to identify themes pertaining to the understanding of reading comprehension.
Heteronuclear spectral editing with adiabatic pulses

Spectral editing pulse sequences have greatly expanded the capabilities of NMR spectroscopy in many different areas of research. In the field of in vivo NMR, editing is frequently employed to extract spectral information which may otherwise be concealed by broad and overlapping resonances. Heteronuclear ( i3C‘H) spectral editing (1-6) provides the additional capability to monitor the metabolism of i3C-labeled compounds while exploiting the high sensitivity of ‘H observation. Recent studies have shown that heteronuclear editing of 13C signals has many advantages, including a more than lo-fold increase in signal-to-noise, over direct 13C observation with nuclear Overhauser enhancement ( 7). Existing spectral editing pulse sequences are based upon conventional radiofrequency pulses which induce flip angles that are directly proportional to the RF field strength, B, . This hip-angle dependence on Br can result in substantial signal losses when an inhomogeneous RF coil, such as a surface coil, is used for pulse transmission. Even with homogeneous RF coils, minor misadjustment of flip angles can cause significant signal losses in multiphase editing sequences since the net error accumulates in a multiplicative manner with each pulse. In this Communication, we describe a pulse which achieves uniform heteronuclear spectral editing above a threshold Br where the pulse operates adiabatically. This Brinsensitive spectral editing pulse (BISEP) selectively excites ‘H spins engaged in heteronuclear J modulation. Uncoupled spins are initially rotated into the transverse plane, but then are returned to the longitudinal axis by the end of the pulse. Theoretically, spectral editing is complete in a single acquisition. BISEP is based on our adiabatic pulse, BIR-4, which can induce any desired flip angle with compensation for Br inhomogeneity and resonance offset (8, 9). The flip angle generated by BIR-4 is determined by two discontinuous phase shifts, Ab, and A&, which take place at specific times during the pulse when the magnetization has been adiabatically rotated onto the transverse plane. For an arbitrary flip angle 8 to be induced at the completion of the pulse, the discontinuous phase shifts are A4, = ?r + 0 / 2 and A& = ( 7r + 6 / 2 ) . These expressions can be equated to give A4 1 A& = 2a + 0 = 8. If A& = A$,, this latter equation predicts that BIR4 will execute a B,-insensitive identity transformation (fl = 0) provided the pulse is operating adi-
Prediction of Membership in Rehabilitation Counseling Professional Associations.

Declining membership is a concerning yet poorly understood issue affecting professional associations across disciplines (Bauman, 2008). Rehabilitation counseling association membership is in declin...
The Odden ice feature of the Greenland Sea and its association with atmospheric pressure, wind, and surface flux variability from reanalyses

[1] The Odden sea ice feature of the Greenland Sea is identified in a rotated principal component analysis of Hadley Center winter sea ice concentration data extending from 1951–2005. Time series of the Odden ice extent are evaluated in the context of sea level pressure, surface wind, air temperature, cloud, and energy flux variations using NCEP-NCAR reanalyses. Odden was a recurring feature in winters 1966–1972, during the Great Salinity Anomaly (GSA), and appeared occasionally in the 1980s and 1990s but has occurred rarely since 2000. Odden formation is associated with northernmost Atlantic high pressure, a negative North Atlantic Oscillation, and anomalous westerly winds. Its formation is most highly correlated, however, to air temperature and fluxes of sensible/latent heat, and downward longwave radiation. Air temperature and downward longwave flux anomalies in the preceding autumn are also unusually low in advance of a winter Odden ice cover while heat fluxes are weakly positive. All parameters, including the ice cover anomaly, exhibit significant winter to winter persistence over time.
Design and synthesis of fused-ring chiral ionic liquids from amino acid derivatives

Abstract Six novel imidazolium salts, which contain a chiral moiety as well as a fused-ring system, have been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These imidazolium compounds were readily prepared from 1-methyl-2-imidazoliumcarboxaldehyde and chiral amino alcohols. Salts that contain the PF 6 anion were solids, but salts with the NTf 2 anion were liquids at room temperature. We envision that these new chiral imidazolium compounds can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions, which are presently being investigated in our lab.
Incremental parsing with reference interaction

We present a general architecture for incremental interaction between modules in a speech-to-intention continuous understanding dialogue system. This architecture is then instantiated in the form of an incremental parser which receives suitability feedback on NP constituents from a reference resolution module. Oracle results indicate that perfect NP suitability judgments can provide a labelled-bracket error reduction of as much as 42% and an efficiency improvement of 30%. Preliminary experiments in which the parser incorporates feedback judgments based on the set of referents found in the discourse context achieve a maximum error reduction of 9.3% and efficiency gain of 4.6%. The parser is also able to incrementally instantiate the semantics of underspecified pronouns based on matches from the discourse context. These results suggest that the architecture holds promise as a platform for incremental parsing supporting continuous understanding.
Correlates of wife abuse in the Maseno and Nairobi areas of Kenya

This study measured the prevalence of wife abuse among a group of women in the Maseno and Nairobi areas of Kenya. Of the 208 women participants, 49.5% reported having experienced abuse.The best predictors of abuse were a history of violence in the husband's family of origin and substance abuse by the husband.
Infrared Studies on Isomeric Octadecadienoic Acid Esters

Glycerol esters of isomeric octadecadienoic acids prepared from dehydrated castor and safflower oils and several commercially available isomerized safflower oils were blended with oils of known compositions and analysed by standard infrared methods for cis- and trans-isomer content in both isolated and conjugated dienes. The agreement between the analytical data for the known and unknown mixtures was very good. For conjugated systems the absorptivities agreed with literature reports. Linoleic acid having the isolated cis-cis-structure was derived from naturally occurring oils and converted to the conjugated cis-trans-isomer by the alkali method. Esterification of the latter with glycerol at 190° to 220° C showed no appreciable change in isomeric structure. The conjugated trans-trans oils were prepared from the cis-trans isomer with iodine. The isolated trans-trans oil was obtained by treatment of safflower oil with selenium or nitrous acid. IR-spektroskopische Untersuchungen von isomeren Octadecadiensaureestern Die aus dehydratisiertem Ricinusol sowie aus Safflorol hergestellten Glycerinester der Octadecadiensauren und einige handelsubliche isomerisierte Safflorole wurden mit Olen bekannter Zusammensetzung gemischt. Die resultierenden Gemische wurden IR-spektroskopisch auf den cis- und trans-Gehalt untersucht, und zwar sowohl bei isolierten als auch bei konjugierten Dienen. Die Analysenergebnisse fur bekannte und unbekannte Gemische zeigten sehr gute Ubereinstimmung. Die Absorptionen bei konjugierten Systemen standen im Einklang mit den in der Literatur angegebenen Werten. Die aus naturlichen Olen erhaltene cis-cis-Linolsaure wurde nach der Alkali-Methode in das konjugierte cis-trans-Isomere ubergefuhrt. Bei der Veresterung des letzteren mit Glycerin bei 190° bis 220° C wurde keine nennenswerte Anderung der Isomerenstruktur beobachtet. Die trans-trans-Konjuenole wurden aus cis-trans-Isomeren mit Jod hergestellt; die trans-trans-Isolenole wurden aus Safflorol durch Behandlung mit Selen oder salpetriger Saure erhalten.
The effects of decreased pO2 and increased pCO2 on nitrogen fixation rates in termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract We examined nitrogen fixation rates in Reticulitermes workers under low O2 and elevated CO2 conditions which may occur in subterranean galleries. In atmospheres of pO2 = 0.162 and pO2 = 0.164 generated by the addition of CO2 or argon, respectively, termite nitrogen fixation rates were higher than in atmospheres of pO2 = 0.186. There was no difference in nitrogen fixation rates between termites exposed to normal atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and atmospheres of pCO2 = 0.098 (≈288 times atmospheric CO2) when pO2 was held constant at ≈ 0.18, however. Nitrogen fixation rates increased at very low pO2 (0.052 and 0.103) when the remaining gas was nitrogen (pN2 = 0.832 and pN2 = 0.782, respectively). However, nitrogen fixation rates decreased at pO2 = 0.052 and pO2 = 0.103, due to narcosis, when the remaining gas was CO2 (pCO2 = 0.832 and pCO2 = 0.782, respectively). These results demonstrate that nitrogen fixation in termites is oxygen sensitive and is not affected by CO2 levels below the point of narcosis.
High-pressure X-ray diffraction studies of potassium chlorate

Two static high-pressure X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of potassium chlorate have been performed at pressures of up to ∼14.3 GPa in a diamond anvil cell at ambient temperature using the 16 ID-B undulator beamline at the Advanced Photon Source for the X-ray source. The first experiment was conducted to ascertain decomposition rates of potassium chlorate as a function of pressure. Below 2 GPa, the sample was observed to decompose rapidly in the presence of the X-ray beam and release oxygen. Above 2 GPa (near the phase I → phase II transition), the decomposition rate dramatically slowed so that good quality XRD patterns could be acquired. This suggests a phase-dependent decomposition rate. In the second study, X-ray diffraction spectra were collected at pressures from 2 to 14.3 GPa by aligning virgin portions of the sample into the focused X-ray beam at each pressure. The results suggest the co-existence of mixed monoclinic (I) and rhombohedral (II) phases of potassium chlorate near 2 GPa. At pressures beyond 4 GPa, the XRD patterns show a very good fit to KClO3 in the rhombohedral phase with space group R3m, in agreement with earlier studies. No further phase transitions were observed with pressure. Decompression of the sample to ambient pressure indicated mixed phases I and II coupled with a small amount of synchrotron X-ray-induced decomposition product. The equation of state within this pressure regime has been determined.
A New Locality Record for Vollenhovia emeryi W. M. Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Maryland, USA

Two worker specimens of the introduced ant species Vollenhovia emeryi (W. M. Wheeler) were collected in Baltimore County on the campus of Towson University in Towson, Maryland, on September 15, 2010. Vollenhovia emeryi has previously been collected in two localities in Maryland: the Potomac River at Fort Washington National Park, Prince George’s County; and Glen Echo Park, Montgomery County (Kjar and Suman, 2007). Both counties are part of the Washington D.C. metro area. Outside the state, the species has been collected in Virginia at Dyke Marsh Preserve, Fairfax County (Kjar and Suman, 2007), along with specimens collected in Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C. (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990), and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (King and Green, 2005). Vollenhovia emeryi is native to Japan (Ohkawara et al., 2006) but was possibly imported to Washington D.C. in 1912 when shipments of 3,020 cherry trees were given to the United States (Fisher and Cover, 2007). A separate introduction into the United States may have also occurred in 1926 when Japan gave 2,000 cherry trees to the city of Philadelphia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (Kjar and Suman, 2007).
Asymmetric multi-quantum well infrared photodetector with a bound state in the continuum

By carefully designing a multi-quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) heterostructure, we present an asymmetric QWIP with a localized state in the continuum. A narrow photocurrent spectrum confirms the electron confinement above the barrier.
Progesterone secreting Sertoli cell tumor of the ovary

A 33-year-old woman presenting with secondary amenorrhea and galactorrhea was found to have a Sertoli cell tumor of the ovary. The neoplasm also had a sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT) component. Further investigations revealed that in many respects the patient was endocrinologically pregnant. She had markedly elevated serum estrogen and progesterone levels and the endometrium demonstrated pronounced decidualization, but there was no evidence of actual pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry to be present in both the Sertoli cell and SCTAT portions of the tumor.
How "Paternalistic" Is Spatial Perception? Why Wearing a Heavy Backpack Doesn't— and Couldn't—Make Hills Look Steeper

A chief goal of perception is to help us navigate our environment. According to a rich and ambitious theory of spatial perception, the visual system achieves this goal not by aiming to accurately depict the external world, but instead by actively distorting the environment's perceived spatial layout to bias action selection toward favorable outcomes. Scores of experimental results have supported this view-including, famously, a report that wearing a heavy backpack makes hills look steeper. This perspective portrays the visual system as unapologetically paternalistic: Backpacks make hills harder to climb, so vision steepens them to discourage ascent. The "paternalistic" theory of spatial perception has, understandably, attracted controversy; if true, it would radically revise our understanding of how and why we see. Here, this view is subjected to a kind and degree of scrutiny it has yet to face. After characterizing and motivating the case for paternalistic vision, I expose several unexplored defects in its theoretical framework, arguing that extant accounts of how and why spatial perception is ability-sensitive are deeply problematic and that perceptual phenomenology belies the view's claims. The paternalistic account of spatial perception not only isn't true-it couldn't be true, even if its empirical findings were accepted at face value.
Health Care Reform: Why? What? When?

Dissatisfaction with the U.S. health care system is widespread, but no consensus has emerged as to how to reform it. The principal methods of finance—employer-based insurance, means-tested insuranc...
Behavioral inhibition system functioning in anxious, impulsive and psychopathic individuals

Abstract Behavioral inhibition system (BIS) functioning (Gray, The Psychology of Fear and Stress. Cambridge University Press, 1987) was assessed by measuring whether approach responses were emitted more slowly when a cue for punishment was present. Experiment 1 compared high- and low-anxious as well as high- and low-impulsive university students. As predicted by Gray's model (Gray, The neuropsychology of anxiety. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), high-anxious subjects responded more slowly than low-anxious subjects on cue-present vs cue-absent displays. Experiment 2 compared incarcerated psychopaths and nonpsychopaths subdivided into high- and low-anxious groups. Consistent with weak BIS models of psychopathy (Fowles, Psychophysiology, 17, 87–104, 1980; Gray, The psychology of fear and stress, Cambridge University Press, 1987), psychopaths displayed less inhibition than controls on cuepresent trials, but this effect was limited to comparisons involving high-anxious psychopaths and controls.
Real-time virtual humans

The last few years have seen great maturation in the computation speed and control methods needed to portray 3D virtual humans that are suitable for real interactive applications. We first describe the state of the art, then focus on the particular approach taken at the University of Pennsylvania with the Jack system. Various aspects of real-time virtual humans are considered, such as their appearance and motion, interactive control, autonomous actions, gestures, attention, locomotion and multiple individuals. The underlying architecture consists of a sense-control-act structure that permits reactive behaviors to be locally adaptive to the environment, and a PaT-Net (parallel transition network) parallel-finite-state machine controller that can be used to drive virtual humans through complex tasks. We then argue for a deep connection between language and animation and describe current efforts in linking them through two systems: the Jack Presenter and the JackMOO extension to lambdaMOO. Finally, we outline a parameterized action representation for mediating between language instructions and animated actions.
Crystallographic Studies of Prion Protein (PrP) Segments Suggest How Structural Changes Encoded by Polymorphism at Residue 129 Modulate Susceptibility to Human Prion Disease

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in codon 129 of the human prion gene, leading to a change from methionine to valine at residue 129 of prion protein (PrP), has been shown to be a determinant in the susceptibility to prion disease. However, the molecular basis of this effect remains unexplained. In the current study, we determined crystal structures of prion segments having either Met or Val at residue 129. These 6-residue segments of PrP centered on residue 129 are "steric zippers," pairs of interacting β-sheets. Both structures of these "homozygous steric zippers" reveal direct intermolecular interactions between Met or Val in one sheet and the identical residue in the mating sheet. These two structures, plus a structure-based model of the heterozygous Met-Val steric zipper, suggest an explanation for the previously observed effects of this locus on prion disease susceptibility and progression.
Systematic Assessment of Selective Language Listening Deficit in Emotionally Disturbed Pre-School Children.

SUMMARY In an automated free-play T.V. game, normal and disturbed children were- allowed to select their preference for either the- natural T.V. soundtrack or a soundtrack progressively degraded by addition of regulated noise interference. The normal children decisively rejected the less intelligible soundtrack, hut the disturbed children listened to the less intelligible speech almost as much as to the natural soundtrack. The data suggest that non-selective listening in the disturbed children indicates a primary dysfunction of receptive language organization, measurable by this technique in objective numerical terms. The discussion considers implications in terms of etiology, systematic evaluation, and further research.
A New Photographic Sensitometer

A sensitometer is described which affords a continuous variation of illumination across the sensitive surface. Two intensity-ranges are available, using the same source of light and the same exposure-time; with both ranges, the instrument can give an over-all variation of intensity in the ratio 2000 : 1. No lenses or moving parts are needed, and the sensitometer is strictly neutral with regard to wave-length.
Controller for reducing excursions in tensions, thicknesses and looper positions during threading of a hot metal strip rolling process

The highly complex and nonlinear nature of the tandem hot metal strip rolling process presents a difficult control challenge. The control of the threading phase of this process is especially difficult as, in addition to the hostile rolling environment which precludes the location of certain sensors important for control, the model of the process changes rapidly as the head end of the strip is sequenced from stand to stand during threading. To improve the quality of the final product during threading it is necessary to reduce excursions in the strip tension, looper position, as well as strip thickness. This paper extends our previous work to develop an improved controller for this process to include the threading phase. The controller resulting from our previous work in this area is based on the use of an augmented state-dependent Riccati equation technique which has been shown by simulation to be highly successful for control of the threaded tandem mill. In this paper we present a comprehensive model of the threading process plus the results of our initial work to develop a suitable controller which handles the rapid changes in the model during threading. Simulations demonstrate the successful results of this work.
Automated Measurement of Protease-Inhibitor Capacity of Serum, by Use of Chymotrypsin and Casein

Serum protease inhibitor activity was assessed from the ability of the serum to inhibit casein hydrolysis by α-chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.4.5). Unmodified AutoAnalyzer equipment was used in conjunction with a fluorimetric method for dialyzable tyrosyl peptides. Serum, diluted with tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffer, was added to a chymotrypsin solution to inhibit its activity. For 72 sera, the automated method was compared with a manual determination of trypsin inhibitor capacity. Results by the two methods correlate well, supporting previous evidence that trypsin and chymotrypsin-inhibitor capacities of serum are related. The present automated method has several advantages that make it useful for clinical studies.
New York and Colorado as Critical States in the Diffusion of State Licensing of Naturopathic Physicians

Purpose: Since 2003, 4 more states have joined the ranks of now 15 states licensing naturopathic physicians (NDs). Qualified NDs residing in unlicensed jurisdictions sometimes obtain licenses from other states licensing NDs. The purpose of this study is to implement a methodology based on number of out-of-state licenses to gauge the demand for licensing among NDs in unlicensed states and to identify likely candidates for successful legislative efforts regarding licensure. Methods: Counts of out-of-state ND licenses issued through Arizona, Connecticut, Oregon, and Washington, the four states with naturopathic medical schools, were used as a surrogate for interest in licensing among states not offering licensing of NDs. Results: In 2005, a total of 457 U.S. NDs obtained out-of-state licenses from the states of Washington (159), Oregon (159), Arizona (79), and Connecticut (60), with 59% of these out-of-state NDs applying from nonlicensed states. States with low (1—13) or moderate (18—27) numbers of out-of-st...
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in Asthma: Implications for Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Therapeutics

Asthma is a complex, inflammatory disorder characterized by airflow obstruction of variable degrees, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation. Asthma is caused by environmental factors and a combination of genetic and environmental stimuli. Genetic studies have revealed that multiple loci are involved in the etiology of asthma. Recent cellular, molecular, and animal-model studies have revealed several cellular events that are involved in the progression of asthma, including: increased Th2 cytokines leading to the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the airway, and an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in the activated inflammatory cells, leading to tissue injury in the bronchial epithelium. Further, aging and animal model studies have revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are involved and play a large role in asthma. Recent studies using experimental allergic asthmatic mouse models and peripheral cells and tissues from asthmatic humans have revealed antioxidants as promising treatments for people with asthma. This article summarizes the latest research findings on the involvement of inflammatory changes, and mitochondrial dysfunction/oxidative stress in the development and progression of asthma. This article also addresses the relationship between aging and age-related immunity in triggering asthma, the antioxidant therapeutic strategies in treating people with asthma.
Mental Exercise and Mental Aging: Evaluating the Validity of the “Use It or Lose It” Hypothesis

It is widely believed that keeping mentally active will prevent age-related mental decline. The primary prediction of this mental-exercise hypothesis is that the rate of age-related decline in measures of cognitive functioning will be less pronounced for people who are more mentally active, or, equivalently, that the cognitive differences among people who vary in level of mental activity will be greater with increased age. Although many training studies, and comparisons involving experts, people in specific occupations, and people whose mental activity levels are determined by their self-reports, have found a positive relation between level of activity and level of cognitive functioning, very few studies have found an interactive effect of age and mental activity on measures of cognitive functioning. Despite the current lack of empirical evidence for the idea that the rate of mental aging is moderated by amount of mental activity, there may be personal benefits to assuming that the mental-exercise hypothesis is true.
Physical activity related energy expenditure in children by doubly labeled water as compared with the Caltrac accelerometer

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To learn that the Caltrac accelerometer was not a significant predictor of physical activity related energy expenditure as measured by doubly labeled water in a sample of 31 free-living children. Obesity is on the rise among U.S. children. Physical activity is known to play an important role in the maintenance of body weight in children. In order to effectively assess the success of weight control intervention programs, it is crucial to have a simple, inexpensive tool that can be used to monitor physical activity levels among free-living children. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Caltrac accelerometer was a meaningful predictor of physical activity related energy expenditure (AEE) in pre-adolescent children. The sample consisted of 31 children (14 girls, 17 boys; 22 Caucasian, 9 Mohawk) with a mean age of 8.3 (± 2.0) years. AEE was measured by subtracting post-prandial resting metabolic rate, measured via indirect calorimetry, from total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), derived from the doubly labeled water method. Average daily "activity counts" were measured using a Caltrac accelerometer, which was worn for three days, two weekdays and one weekend day, within the DLW dosing period. AEE was significantly related to sex (r=0.42, p=.02), fat mass (r=.32, p=.07), and fat free mass (r=.32, p=.07) but not to "activity counts" (r=−.09, p=.63). After adjusting for sex, race, fat mass, and fat free mass using multiple correlation regression analysis (R=.53), "activity counts" did not significantly increase the amount of variation explained in AEE. An estimate of calories expended in physical activity was derived from "activity counts" using a formula developed by Sallis et al. This estimate was significantly higher than AEE (956kcal/day vs. 469kcal/day respectively, t=5.9, p
Advanced CMOS Imaging

Multimedia applications based on video and still images will create a huge demand for compact, low-cost, low-power cameras. Recently developed image sensors based on standard CMOS meet these requirements by enabling the construction of integrated camera subsystems in which sensor array, AID, timing, control, video signal processing, and even lenses are integrated on a single die. This chapter examines the requirements of a low-cost multimedia camera, reviews the architecture and operation of silicon image sensors, proposes an architecture for a single-chip camera, and discusses applications of this CMOS camera technology.
Biventricular Repair With a Ross Procedure After a Norwood Procedure: A Big Operation for a Big Problem

See related article on pages 81-89. This article by Baird and associates from Children's Hospital, Boston, retrospectively looks at 62 children undergoing a Ross procedure between March, 2000 and October, 2014. The emphasis of this article is on 12 patients who underwent a “complex” Ross procedure. All 12 of these complex patients had previous Norwood palliation (a primary Norwood in 11 patients and a hybrid procedure in 1 patient who subsequently had a comprehensive stage II procedure). Of the 12 complex patients, 8 patients had hypoplastic left heart syndrome variant with aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis, 2 patients had aortic stenosis, 1 patient had Shone's complex, and 1 more patient had double outlet right ventricle. At the time of the Ross procedure, all 12 complex patients had takedown of the Damus-Stansel-Kaye (DSK) anastomosis. Two-thirds of the patients (n 1⁄4 8) required a Konno annulus enlargement, 8 patients had a takedown of a prior superior cavopulmonary connection, 1 patient had a Fontan takedown, and 3 patients had resection of endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE). There was 1 operative death in a 10-day old who was failing Norwood palliation. On mean follow-up of 21 months, there was 1 late death of biventricular failure in the complex group. The Boston group has aggressively approached children with marginal left ventricles in an attempt to achieve a biventricular circulation. This article describes a very select group of 12 children with dominant aortic valve disease who had a previous Norwood operation. They underwent DSK takedown with aortic valve replacement employing a Ross procedure (a Ross-Konno in 8 of the 12 children) with 1 early death and 1 late death. Only 2 of the 12 children had a preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic volume Z score of 2 or smaller. Not unexpectedly, this huge operation was accompanied with early morbidity. The median hospital length of stay was 18 days, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in 2 patients, 2 patients suffered a stroke, and 1 patient required a pacemaker. On follow-up, no complex patient required reintervention on the aortic valve although 22% of the operative
Anisotropic magnetoresistance dominant in a three terminal Hanle measurement

Experiments are performed on mesoscopic nonlocal lateral spin valves with aluminum channels and Permalloy electrodes. Four-terminal magnetoresistance and Hanle measurements characterize the spin accumulation with results that compare well with published work. Three-terminal Hanle measurements of the Permalloy/aluminum (Py/Al) interfaces show bell-shaped curves that can be fit to Lorentzians. These curves are three orders of magnitude larger than the spin accumulation. Using anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements of individual Permalloy electrodes, we demonstrate that the three-terminal measurements are dominated by anisotropic magnetoresistance effects unrelated to spin accumulation.
Finite Element Simulations to Explore Assumptions in Kolsky Bar Experiments.

The chief purpose of this project has been to develop a set of finite element models that attempt to explore some of the assumptions in the experimental set-up and data reduction of the Kolsky bar experiment. In brief, the Kolsky bar, sometimes referred to as the split Hopkinson pressure bar, is an experimental apparatus used to study the mechanical properties of materials at high strain rates. Kolsky bars can be constructed to conduct experiments in tension or compression, both of which are studied in this paper. The basic operation of the tension Kolsky bar is as follows: compressed air is inserted into the barrel that contains the striker; the striker accelerates towards the left and strikes the left end of the barrel producing a tensile stress wave that propogates first through the barrel and then down the incident bar, into the specimen, and finally the transmission bar. In the compression case, the striker instead travels to the right and impacts the incident bar directly. As the stress wave travels through an interface (e.g., the incident bar to specimen connection), a portion of the pulse is transmitted and the rest reflected. The incident pulse, as well as the transmitted and reflected more » pulses are picked up by two strain gauges installed on the incident and transmitted bars as shown. By interpreting the data acquired by these strain gauges, the stress/strain behavior of the specimen can be determined. « less
Mid-Cretaceous ammonite zones, Western Interior, United States

The Western Interior of the United States contains an important sequence of middle Cenomanian-late Turonian ammonites. Ammonites from the northern part of the Western Interior are mostly North Temperate forms, whereas those from the southern part are a mixture of Tethyan and North Temperate forms. The ammonite succession in the southern part can be more finely zoned than that of the northern part, and offers better possibilities for international correlation. In the zonation, the boundary between the middle and upper Cenomanian is placed at the top of the zone of Plesiacanthoceras aff. P. wyomingense. The top of the Cenomanian is drawn at the top of the zone of Neocardioceras juddii as recommended in a 1981 study by C. W. Wright and W. J. Kennedy. However, Mammites nodosoides, which occurs three zones higher, is usually regarded in Europe as basal Turonian, although Wright and Kennedy have now recognized a zone of Watinoceras coloradoense at the base, which lies below the zone of Mammites nodosoides. In the Western Interior, W. coloradoense is restricted to the zone of Vascoceras (Greenhornoceras) birchbyi, which is separated from the zone of Neocardioceras juddii by a zone of Pseudaspidoceras flexuosum. Inasmuch as the ammonites in the latter zone are closely related to those in the zone of V. birchbyi, a Turonian assignment seems best for the zone of P. flexuosum. Collignoniceras woollgari, which is widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America, is usually regarded as middle Turonian in a threefold division and late Turonian in a twofold division. I consider the species to mark the base of the middle Turonian. Where to place the top of the middle Turonian, however, is a problem. Inasmuch as the best faunal break is at the top of the zone of Prionocyclus hyatti, that is where the boundary is placed in this report. Inoceramids in the zone of P. hyatti are characterized by forms having a radial depression like the middle Turonian Inoceramus hobetsensis of Japan. The top of the Turonian is designated here at the top of the zone of Prionocyclus quadratus. Fossils of this zone include inoceramids of the fiegei-dresdensis group, which in Europe have been considered either very late Turonian in age or very early Coniacian. Prionocyclus quadratus is the youngest species of a lineage of prionocyclids. This species is succeeded by Forresteria (Solgerites) of Coniacian Age.
Californian Cultures and the Concept of an Archaic Stage

Western archaeologists have almost unanimously shunned the term “Archaic” in describing their finds. In the few cases where the word has been used at all, it has generally been qualified by using quotation marks, a question mark, or some statement indicating the author’s belief that this is not a real Archaic culture. As a result, none of the described western cultures is conventionally labeled “Archaic.” Avoidance of the term has stemmed from two conditions: a) a desire to avoid confusing western cultures with those generally called Archaic in the East; and b) the temporal implications of the word “Archaic.”
Neuroticism and Suicidal Behavior: Conditional Indirect Effects of Social Problem Solving and Hopelessness

Individuals with problem solving deficits, and higher levels of neuroticism and hopelessness, are at increased risk for suicide, yet little is known about the interrelationships between these vulnerability characteristics. In a sample of 223 low-income, primary care patients, we examined the potential mediating role of hopelessness on the relation between neuroticism and suicidal behavior, and the potential moderating role of social problem solving ability. Participants completed self-report questionnaires: Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and NEO Five Factor Inventory. Models were tested using bootstrapped moderated mediation techniques. There was a significant indirect effect of neuroticism on suicidal behavior through hopelessness, and this indirect effect was moderated by social problem solving ability. Patients with greater neuroticism also manifest greater levels of hopelessness and, in turn, more suicidal behavior, and these relations are strengthened at lower levels of social problem solving. Interventions that increase social problem solving ability and reduce hopelessness may reduce suicide risk.