cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large deformation and gas retention during cookoff of a plastic bonded explosive (PBX 9407)

Abstract We have used several configurations of the Sandia Instrumented Thermal Ignition (SITI) experiment to develop a pressure-dependent, four-step ignition model for a plastic bonded explosive (PBX 9407) consisting of 94 wt.% RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), and a 6 wt.% VCTFE binder (vinyl chloride/chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer). The four steps include desorption of water, decomposition of RDX to form equilibrium products, pressure-dependent decomposition of RDX forming equilibrium products, and decomposition of the binder to form hydrogen chloride and a nonvolatile residue (NVR). We address drying, binder decomposition, and decomposition of the RDX component from the pristine state through the melt and into ignition. We used Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) of the parameters to determine the sensitivity of the model to variation in the parameters. We also successfully validated the model using one-dimensional time-to-explosion (ODTX and P-ODTX) data from a different laboratory. Our SITI test matrix included 1) different densities ranging from 0.7 to 1.63 g/cm3, 2) free gas volumes ranging from 1.2 to 38 cm3, and 3) boundary temperatures ranging from 170 to 190 °C. We measured internal temperatures using embedded thermocouples at various radial locations as well as pressure using tubing that was connected from the free gas volume (ullage) to a pressure gauge. We also measured gas flow from our vented experiments. A borescope was included to obtain in situ video during some SITI experiments. We observed significant changes in the explosive volume prior to ignition. Our model, in conjunction with data observations, imply that internal accumulation of decomposition gases in high density PBX 9407 (90% of the theoretical maximum density) can contribute to significant strain whether or not the experiment is vented or sealed.
Celecoxib Is Associated With Dystrophic Calcification and Aortic Valve Stenosis

Highlights •Celecoxib use is associated with diagnosis of aortic stenosis in analysis of electronic medical records. •Celecoxib treatment increases dystrophic calcification of aortic valve interstitial cells in vitro. •Dimethyl celecoxib, which binds CDH11, prevents TGF-β1–mediated calcification of aortic valve interstitial cells in vitro.
Floating-Point Instructions

This chapter introduces the fundamentals of floating-point instructions. This includes registers, memory storage, input/output, the instructions needed to perform arithmetic, and basic control structures. In order to learn the concepts in this chapter one should understand how floating-point numbers are represented in memory from a computer organization class or text. Alternatively, one can review or learn the basic concepts needed as presented in Appendix B.7 of this text. Also, one should have knowledge of stacks usually discussed in a second semester computer science course or text such as Guide to Data Structures [3].
STP at 75: Development of Teaching Resources:

The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a division of the American Psychological Association. During its history, it has served as a repository of ma...
Orofacial granulomatosis: A case treated with azithromycin pulse therapy, review of the literature and an algorithm for diagnosis

Abstract Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) describes a disease entity with recurrent or persistent edema within the orofacial region. Microscopically, non-necrotizing granulomas form in the affected tissues in the absence of any recognized systemic disease. The etiologies of OFG are still debatable and poorly understood. Hypotheses are abundant as to the pathogenesis, which include genetic causes, allergic reactions to food or dental materials, infectious agents, and immunologic dysfunction. OFG also accounts for two other disease processes in a spectrum of nonspecific granulomatous diseases. Management of OFG is often challenging as there exists no singular medication which has been tested or approved for the treatment of the disease. We present an unusual case successfully treated with azithromycin pulse therapy, a literature review on the recent therapeutic options and an algorithm for the treatment of OFG.
Intraperitoneal vancomycin treatment of multifocal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis

PURPOSE We report the case of a 2-year-old girl with end-stage renal disease managed by peritoneal dialysis (PD) who developed methicillin-resistant staphylococcal osteomyelitis of the left shoulder and was successfully treated with intraperitoneal (IP) administration of vancomycin for 2 weeks followed by oral clindamycin therapy. SUMMARY The patient was hospitalized with tactile fever and a 3-day history of worsening fussiness. Radiography of the left shoulder showed findings indicative of osteomyelitis. Vancomycin was administered via central venous line for 3 days, during which time the patient underwent PD 24 hours a day. After magnetic resonance imaging revealed proximal humeral osteomyelitis, septic arthritis of the shoulder joint, and osteomyelitis of the scapula, the patient underwent incision and drainage of the left shoulder joint. Both blood and joint drainage cultures grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus that was sensitive to vancomycin. The patient's central venous catheter was removed on hospital day 4; due to difficulties with peripheral i.v. access and a desire to avoid placing a peripherally inserted central venous catheter, vancomycin administration was changed to the IP route, with vancomycin added to the PD fluid. During IP treatment, serum vancomycin levels were maintained at 13.5 to 18.5 mg/L, and the calculated ratio of vancomycin area under the curve to minimum inhibitory concentration was maintained above 400. After completing a 14-day course of IP vancomycin therapy, the patient was switched to oral clindamycin, with subsequent complete resolution of osteomyelitis. CONCLUSION IP vancomycin was effective for treatment of invasive S. aureus infection in this case. This approach should be considered in patients undergoing PD for whom peripheral i.v. access options are limited and/or not preferred.
Ultrasonography for Wound Healing Evaluation of Implant-Related Surgeries

Implant therapy is a gold-standard procedure to replace missing teeth. Broadly speaking, implant-related surgeries include not only fixture placement but also socket augmentation, guided bone regeneration in a staged or simultaneous approach, and soft tissue augmentation. Wound healing assessment is critical to assure a successful procedure and determine if additional attention is needed. It is currently evaluated by visual examination, palpation, and radiographs. Although convenient and easy to perform, these methods may not detect early subtle adverse healing events that could lead to more severe complications. As subclinical imminent events, e.g. prolonged inflammation and low-grade infection, occur primarily in soft tissue, ultrasound stands out as a promising imaging modality for assessing wound healing after these procedures. This chapter will present ultrasound images of clinical cases to demonstrate the potential of ultrasound in wound healing assessment. Though presented as preliminary evidence, this chapter could serve as a foundation for inspiring further ultrasound research and formulating clinical protocols for patient care. Once validated, ultrasound can become an objective device to evaluate wound healing of implant-related surgeries and assist clinicians in making clinical judgments and decisions.
Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the Kaibab Plateau, Coconino County, Arizona

Seven hundred and ninety-two vascular plant taxa were documented for the Kaibab Plateau through a review of herbarium records (primarily online) and targeted fieldwork focusing on springs, natural ponds, cattle tanks, and sinkholes. Taxa not previously published or currently recorded on SEINet for the Kaibab Plateau include 7 taxa for Grand Canyon National Park, 4 taxa for the Kaibab National Forest, 51 taxa for the Kaibab Plateau, 6 taxa for Coconino County, and 5 taxa for the state of Arizona. Two hundred and thirty previously published records or records on SEINet were eliminated from the flora area by reviewing specimens that were either misidentified or mismapped.
Intracranial Venous Sinus Stenting in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We describe a case of severe headaches, double vision, and progressive vision loss secondary to a ruptured intracranial cyst (IAC) in a 31-year-old woman with no relevant past medical history. The case is peculiar because drainage of the subdural hygroma led to a minimal improvement in vision with persistent elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Further exploration revealed transverse sinus stenosis necessitating stenting. Evaluation post-stenting showed marked reduction of ICP and improvement in symptoms. This report underscores the importance of comprehensive work-up and suspicion of multiple underlying etiologies that may be crucial to complete resolution of presenting symptoms in some cases. We provide an overview of the clinical indications and evidence for venous sinus stenting in treating idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).
SU-C-BRD-03: Closing the Loop On Virtual IMRT QA

Purpose: To develop an algorithm that predicts a priori IMRT QA passing rates. Methods: 416 IMRT plans from all treatment sites were planned in Eclipse version 11 and delivered using a dynamic sliding window technique on Clinac iX or TrueBeam linacs (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). The 3%/3mm and 2%/2mm local distance to agreement (DTA) were recorded during clinical operations using a commercial 2D diode array (MapCHECK 2, Sun Nuclear, Melbourne, FL). Each plan was characterized by 37 metrics that describe different failure modes between the calculated and measured dose. Machine-learning algorithms (MLAs) were trained to learn the relation between the plan characteristics and each passing rate. Minimization of the cross validated error, together with maximum a posteriori estimation (MAP), were used to choose the model parameters. Results: 3%/3mm local DTA can be predicted with an error smaller than 3% for 98% of the plans. For the remaining 2% of plans, the residual error was within 5%. For 2%/2mm local DTA passing rates, 96% percent of the plans were successfully predicted with an error smaller than 5%. All high-risk plans that failed the 2%/2mm local criteria were correctly identified by the algorithm. The most important metric to describe themore » passing rates was determined to be the MU per Gray (modulation factor). Conclusions: Logs files and independent dose calculations have been suggested as possible substitutes for measurement based IMRT QA. However, none of these methods answer the fundamental question of whether a plan can be delivered with a clinically acceptable error given the limitations of the linacs and the treatment planning system. Predicting the IMRT QA passing rates a priori closes that loop. For additional robustness, virtual IMRT QA can be combined with Linac QA and log file analysis to confirm appropriate delivery.« less
The Ambulatory Services Information System at Graduate Hospital

Ambulatory Services, a teaching clinic of the Department of Medicine at Graduate Hospital, is currently implementing initiatives to improve its patient care management and, thus, its clinical effectiveness. An important part of this project is the development of an Information System to facilitate both the initiatives and the evaluation of their effects.
Feature Article - Semiconductor Superlattices with Small Band Offsets

Optical transitions in small band offset superlattices are studied within the framework of the nearly free electron approximation, in which the weak superlattice potential is treated as a perturbation. Interband selection rules are derived for transitions involving conduction and valence band states at the superlattice Brillouin zone center and the zone edge. It is found that a number of new transitions can occur in such small-offset superlattices due to wave function mixing of different subband states. The effect of the effective mass on the optical transitions is also discussed. The theory is used to explain the results observed in magneto-optical absorption experiment in ZnSe/Zn1-xMnxSe small-offset superlattices. Furthermore, the nearly free electron formulation is fouud to be in excellent agreement with rigorous multi-band numerical calculation on superlattices involving small band offsets.
Genetic dissection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: amyloid and its relationship to tau.

Genetic dissection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: amyloid and its relationship to tau
In Their Own Voices

Abstract Social policy should be informed by scientific research. Yet, the rapport between researchers and policy makers remains poor, and the translation of social research into social policy haphazard. Many researchers follow a positivist paradigm and prepare quantitative reports that are difficult for policy makers to decipher. Good research is “wasted” because policy makers consider it irrelevant to the real-life problems of their constituents. Policy research that are qualitative narratives are more readerfriendly and thus more appealing to policy makers. This article argues for the inclusion of qualitative methods into research conducted to inform social policy and offers several case examples.
Acceleration and Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles

The acceleration of electrons and charged nuclei to high energies is a phenomenon occuring at many astrophysical sites throughout the universe. In the heliosphere, processes in the solar corona associated with flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most energetic natural particle accelerators, sometimes accelerating electrons and ions to relativistic energies. The observation of these particles offers the unique opportunity to study fundamental processes in astrophysics. Particles that escape into interplanetary space can be observed in situ with particle detectors on spacecraft, and their spectra and composition can be used as diagnostic of the acceleration processes. On the other hand, energetic processes on the sun can be studied indirectly, via observations of the electromagnetic emissions (radio, X-ray, gamma-ray) produced by the particles in their interactions with the solar atmosphere. The comparison of interacting and escaping particles can provide valuable information about the question whether there is one dominant energization process in solar events, or whether particles are accelerated in multiple processes or sites. Equally important, the study of the propagation of solar cosmic rays allows to address some fundamental problems in the scattering of charged particles by magnetic fluctuations. In this article, we give an overview on models of stochastic particle acceleration and interplanetary particle transport, and discuss the question what conclusions about those models can be drawn from spacecraft observations.
Treating Major Depression by Creating Positive Expectations for the Future: A Pilot Study for the Effectiveness of Future-Directed Therapy (FDT) on Symptom Severity and Quality of Life

SUMMARY Introduction: This nonrandomized pilot study assesses the efficacy of a new future- oriented form of therapy, known as future-directed therapy (FDT), as a treatment for pa- tients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a naturalistic hospital-based outpatient psychiatry clinic. The study measured symptom severity of depression and anxiety, in addi- tion to quality of life pre- and posttreatment. Aims: The study examined a new manualized treatment designed to help people antic- ipate a more positive future. The intervention consists of twenty 90-min group sessions administered twice a week over 10 weeks. The intervention was compared to depressed patients in the same clinic who enrolled in traditional cognitive-based group psychother- apy. Sixteen patients with MDD completed the FDT intervention as part of their outpatient treatment for depression. Seventeen patients with MDD participated in treatment as usual (TAU) cognitive-based group therapy. The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Quality-of-Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire short form, self-report instruments were administered prior to and immediately after the completion of therapy. Results: Patients treated with FDT demonstrated significant improvements in depression (P = 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.021) and quality of life (P = 0.035), and also reported high sat- isfaction with the therapy. Compared to the TAU group, patients treated with FDT showed greater improvements in depressive symptoms (P = 0.049). Conclusions: FDT may have the potential of becoming an additional treatment option for patients with MDD.
New high-pressure phase of MgH2: An ab initio constant-pressure study

The stability of magnesium hydride (MgH2) at high pressure is studied using a constant-pressure ab initio technique. Two phase transformations are successfully observed through the simulations. The rutile structure undergoes a phase transformation into a CaCl2-type phase. Further increase in pressure results into a first-order phase transition into an orthorhombic state within Pbcm symmetry. This phase can be considered as a distorted CaF2-type crystal and does not correspond to the previously proposed MgH2 phases. The transformation mechanism of the CaCl2-Pbcm phase change at the atomistic level is successfully characterized and it is found that the CaCl2-to-Pbcm phase change proceeds via an ideal CaF2-type intermediate phase. These phase transformations are also analyzed using total energy-volume calculations.
Trade reform, aggregate investment and capital flight: On credibility and the value of information

Abstract In this paper we demonstrate that uncertainty about future policy reversals coupled with irreversible investment confers an option value to foreign exchange and may lead to capital flight and a fall in aggregate investment after a trade reform. The analysis focuses on the value of information and the credibility of the policy reform. The conclusion points to a potential role for international institutions to prevent such problems.
The Economic Significance of Executive Order 13,422

In January 2007, President Bush issued an Executive Order changing the procedures for undertaking benefit-cost analyses of proposed regulations. These changes have been hailed by some as dramatic improvements while criticized by others as representing the politicization of the evaluation process. This essay analyzes the major provisions of the new Executive Order, and concludes that it is unlikely to have much of an impact on the number or quality of regulations. Only one provision – subjecting major “guidelines” documents to mandatory benefit-cost analysis – potentially could be important, but even here there is no systematic evidence that agencies have used guidance documents to change the stringency of regulations and thereby to bypass the mandatory regulatory review for regulations. Moreover, the Executive Order leaves untouched the primary weaknesses of benefit-cost analysis as practiced by government agencies, such as the absence of standardization of values for key parameters, the use of inappropriate alternative regulations for comparison with a proposed regulation, and the general lack or either peer review or ex post re-evaluation of regulatory impact studies. Forthcoming, Yale Journal on Regulation. * Professor Emeritus of Economics, Stanford University, and Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Helpful comments from Robert Hahn and Gregory Rosston are gratefully acknowledged. 1 The Economic Significance of Executive Order 13422 by Roger G. Noll Executive Order (EO) 13422 is remarkably short, covering barely more than two pages and consisting primarily of a series of small wording changes and inserts into President Clinton’s EO 12866 that established the current regime of mandatory benefit-cost analysis for regulations promulgated by executive branch agencies. Despite its brevity, the new EO has been widely heralded by proponents and critics alike as the most significant change in the process of reviewing new regulations since EO 12866 was released in 1993. The purpose of this essay is to assess the likely economic significance of the new EO. Before evaluating the desirability of the new EO, one must first determine what effects, if any, it is likely to have on regulatory outcomes. My main conclusion is that both the accolades and the criticisms of EO 13422 are over-stated and based less on what the new EO says than on either one’s views about the desirability of benefit-cost analysis generally or one’s evaluation of the 1. “On January 18, 2007, President George W. Bush issued E. O. 13422, making the most significant amendments to E. O. 12866 since it was published. The changes made by this new executive order are controversial, characterized as some as a power grab by the White House that undermines public protections and lessens congressional authority, and by others as a ‘paragon of common sense and good government.’” Curtis W. Copeland, “Changes to the OMB Regulatory Review Process by Executive Order 13422,” CRS Report for Congress RL33862, Congressional Research Service, February 5, 2007.
New Strategies for Enforcement of the Access to Information Act

In the last eight years the Chr?tien government has taken several steps that have weakened the Access to Information Act, the federal law that guarantees the rights of citizens to access information held by the government. These changes compel a reconsideration of the Act's enforcement strategy - a strategy that is common to many older right-to-information laws - which is centered principally on the resolution of complaints about individual cases of non-compliance and gives the final authority to resolve complaints to the Federal Court of Canada rather than the Information Commissioner. The author argues that a better strategy would put greater emphasis on the analysis and publication of data on overall compliance patterns; give the Commissioner more effective tools for remedying systemic non-compliance; and give the Commissioner the authority to issue orders to resolve complaints about specific cases of non-compliance. These steps would help to repair frayed relationships between the Office of the Information Commissioner and federal departments, and would improve overall compliance with the requirements of the Act.
Modified linkage learning genetic algorithm for difficult non-stationary problems

The linkage learning genetic algorithm (LLGA) proposed by Harik (Harik 1997), evolved tight linkage in a bid to solve difficult problems. This paper extends this work to difficult non-stationary problems. The probabilistic expression mechanism of the LLGA is akin to the dominance and polyploidy found in nature. This redundancy of gene expression found in the LLGA was found to benefit the adaptation of the solution to dynamic fitness landscapes. However as the LLGA converges to tight linkage the available diversity decreases considerably. In this study it was found that by allowing disruption of tightly linked structures (with low probability) through the crossover operator and introducing explicit mutation and diploidy, much improvement could be gained in solving non-stationary deceptive problems without relearning the linkage evolved over the run.
Neuroendocrine Suppression of Female Courtship in a Wild Passerine: Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and Endogenous Opioids

During emergencies in their natural environments, vertebrates initiate coping mechanisms that redirect behavior away from nonessential activities and towards survival. Reproductive behaviors are suppressed. Evidence from field studies on passerine birds shows that this inhibition may not depend on the suppression of gonadal sex steroids, since during the breeding season they remain elevated despite activation of the stress response. We hypothesize that an alternate, central mechanism mediates the inhibition of reproductive behavior during stress in passerines. In this study, we tested the intracerebroventricular effects of endogenous opioids and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptides implicated in the stress response, on courtship behavior in wild-caught female white-crowned sparrows. Beta-endorphin (beta-EN) significantly inhibited copulation solicitation, an estrogen-dependent courtship display, 30 min after treatment. Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, enhanced the behavior. CRF caused a suppression of solicitation that was reversible by pretreatment with naloxone, suggesting an intermediary role for endogenous opioids in CRF-induced suppression of courtship. The effects of beta-EN and CRF on solicitation appear to be independent of any general effects on locomotor activity. These results support our hypothesis that stress neuropeptides orchestrate coping behaviors in wild birds.
The Interface of School Climate and School Connectedness and Relationships with Aggression and Victimization

This paper examines how school connectedness and school climate work together to influence students, and whether the relationship between connectedness and climate reveal information about the interaction of social context and the individual. School connectedness generally includes the sense of attachment and commitment a student feels as a result of perceived caring from teachers and peers. School attachment is often one of several indices included when measuring school climate. Further, comparisons of research on climate and connectedness reveal coinciding external associations and dimensions of school climate highly correlated with connectedness. This paper summarizes analyses of data from the Safe Communities-Safe Schools initiative, comparing effects of connectedness and climate on measures of aggression and victimization. Analysis of the results of this study demonstrated that even a positive school climate does not always reduce the likelihood of perpetration of aggression and victimization. Likewise, a negative school climate does not necessarily increase that risk. Despite variations in climate, the amount of connectedness experienced by the average student appears to consistently contribute to predicting his likelihood of aggression and victimization. Language: en
Active cavity modes for VCSEL simulation

Active cavity modes are presented as a useful mode set for the analysis of the optical problem in oxide-confined VCSELs. We define the active cavity modes via a novel integral eigenvalue equation containing the VCSEL cavity electromagnetic Green's function and the gain distribution. Photon rate equation parameters, such as the net modal gain and the spontaneous emission into a mode, are calculated using this mode set as a basis. An efficient method for calculating the active cavity modes has been developed in order to allow for rapid iterations with the electronic solver in the laser simulator MINILASE. The details of the implementation of this method are presented, as are sample calculated mode parameters.
Changes in soil biogeochemistry following disturbance by girdling and mountain pine beetles in subalpine forests

A recent unprecedented epidemic of beetle-induced tree mortality has occurred in the lodgepole pine forests of Western North America. Here, we present the results of studies in two subalpine forests in the Rocky Mountains, one that experienced natural pine beetle disturbance and one that experienced simulated disturbance imposed through bole girdling. We assessed changes to soil microclimate and biogeochemical pools in plots representing different post-disturbance chronosequences. High plot tree mortality, whether due to girdling or beetle infestation, caused similar alterations in soil nutrient pools. During the first 4 years after disturbance, sharp declines were observed in the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (45-51 %), microbial biomass carbon concentration (33-39 %), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentration (31-42%), and inorganic phosphorus (PO4(3-)) concentration (53-55%). Five to six years after disturbance, concentrations of DOC, DON, and PO4(3-) recovered to 71-140 % of those measured in undisturbed plots. Recovery was coincident with observed increases in litter depth and the sublitter, soil O-horizon. During the 4 years following disturbance, soil ammonium, but not nitrate, increased to 2-3 times the levels measured in undisturbed plots. Microbial biomass N increased in plots where increased ammonium was available. Our results show that previously observed declines in soil respiration following beetle-induced disturbance are accompanied by losses in key soil nutrients. Recovery of the soil nutrient pool occurs only after several years following disturbance, and is correlated with progressive mineralization of dead tree litter.
P02.196. Changes in medication use associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic pain

Methods One hundred sixty-eight TMD patients received TCM or enhanced self-care using a stepped-care design where those who failed on self-care were offered TCM. This report includes 121 patients during their first 16 TCM visits. The initial 8 occurred more often than weekly; patients and practitioners determined subsequent schedules. Outcome data were collected via study-administered questionnaires at standard times, and self-report at every treatment visit. Here we report on average pain (VAS 0-10) and pain medications over the previous week, collected at treatment visits. We converted pain medication intake to equivalent weekly doses of aspirin (for NSAIDs and acetaminophen) or morphine (7.5mg for narcotics). Pain was analyzed by linear regression with random effects for within-individual correlations. Medication use was log-transformed and analyzed using quadratic splines.
Continent Urinary Diversion and the Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex

ABSTRACTPurpose: The use of continent urinary reservoirs has gained wide acceptance, particularly in urinary reconstruction in children with a small capacity or neuropathic bladder. When augmentation cystoplasty is combined with clean intermittent catheterization, patients are often able to achieve continence with low intravesical filling pressures and renal preservation. Often this approach requires fashioning a continent cutaneous stoma, which remains the most challenging aspect of continent urinary reservoirs. We analyzed our experience with continent diversion in patients with exstrophy-epispadias to determine complications and long-term results.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective database review of 704 cases of exstrophy-epispadias. Medical records were then used to identify those patients who had undergone creation of a continent urinary reservoir. Charts were reviewed to determine initial diagnosis, augmentation technique, continence mechanism, age, preoperative and postoperative bl...
Physical growth, nutritional status, and dietary intake of African-American middle school students from Philadelphia

As part of an integrated program of academically based participatory action research, measurements of nutritional status and dietary intakes were collected from 11- to 15-year-old African-American youth attending an innercity Philadelphia middle school. Statures and weights were collected on 136 individuals and 24-hr recalls, distributed across the week, on 113. Using the U.S. reference data, statures were not significantly different from U.S. age/sex means, but weights were significantly greater. With the U.S. Black population (NHANES I and II) serving as a reference for the body mass index, 23.5% of the sample were classed as obese, with a BMI >90th centile. This is greater than has been reported for Philadelphia Whites, for U.S. Blacks in general, or for other samples from the U.S. and Canada. Intakes of vitamins were at or above two-thirds of RDAs except for vitamin D, with a median of 28.1% of the recommended allowance. Low intakes were also recorded for dietary fiber (36.9% RDA) and zinc, with a median intake of 63% RDA. The median intake of fat was 101.3% RDA, of saturated fat, 102.2% RDA, of cholesterol, 76% RDA, and of polyunsatured fat, 48.2% RDA. The median intake of sodium was 2701 mg, 112.5% RDA. Overall, the data indicate a population with a very high prevalence of obesity, and diets high in saturated fat and low in polyunsaturated fat. Also of potential concern is the indication of low intakes of zinc and high intakes of sodium. Given the increased health risks of urban African-Americans, these findings on young adolescents suggest the need to develop programs designed to improve diets and enhance health in general in this age group. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Multiresolution wedgelet transform for image processing

Edges in images convey a great deal of information, but wavelet transforms do not provide an economical representation. Thus, popular wavelet-based compression and restoration techniques perform poorly in the presence of edges. We present her a new multiresolution wedgelet transform based on the lifting construction. This transform provides an economical edge representation and thus offers the potential for improved image processing. We demonstrate this potential with applications in image denoising.
Characterization of nucleic acid higher order structure by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is extensively used for the identification and sequencing of nucleic acids but has so far seen limited use for characterization of their higher order structures. Here, we have applied a range of different tandem mass spectrometry techniques, including electron detachment dissociation (EDD), infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), activated ion (AI) EDD, and EDD/IRMPD MS(3), in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer to the characterization of three isomeric 15mer DNAs with different sequences and predicted solution-phase structures. Our goal was to explore whether their structural differences could be directly probed with these techniques. We found that all three 15mers had higher order structures in the gas phase, although preferred structures were predicted for only two of them in solution. Nevertheless, EDD, AI EDD, and EDD/IRMPD MS(3) experiments yielded different cleavage patterns with less backbone fragmentation for the more stable solution-phase structure than for the other two 15mers. By contrast, no major differences were observed in IRMPD, although the extent of backbone cleavage was higher with that technique for all three 15mers. Thus, experiments utilizing the radical ion chemistry of EDD can provide complementary structural information compared to traditional slow heating methods, such as IRMPD, for structured nucleic acids.
Optimal control of semilinear unbounded differential inclusions

Abstract This paper concerns a general optimal control problem of the Mayer type for semilinear unbounded differential inclusions with endpoint constraints in reflexive and separable Banach spaces. Based on the method of discrete approximations and advanced generalized differential tools of variational analysis, we establish necessary optimality conditions for discrete-time control problems and then, by passing to the limit, derive intrinsic optimality conditions of the extended Euler–Lagrange type for semilinear evolution inclusions.
When should central venous catheters be changed in the intensive care unit? Should there be a rigid time, based protocol for doing so?

The decision is made case by case rather than on a time-based protocol. Proactive strategies can reduce the risk of infection.
Mechanisms of virus control during iron electrocoagulation--microfiltration of surface water.

Abstract Results from a laboratory-scale study evaluating virus control by a hybrid iron electrocoagulation – microfiltration process revealed only 1.0–1.5 log MS2 bacteriophage reduction even at relatively high iron dosages (∼13 mg/L as Fe) for natural surface water containing moderate natural organic matter (NOM) concentrations (4.5 mg/L dissolved organic carbon, DOC). In contrast, much greater reductions were measured (6.5-log at pH 6.4 and 4-log at pH 7.5) at similar iron dosages for synthetic water that was devoid of NOM. Quantitative agreement with Faraday’s law with 2-electron transfer and speciation with phenanthroline demonstrated electrochemical generation of soluble ferrous iron. Near quantitative extraction of viruses by dissolving flocs formed in synthetic water provided direct evidence of their removal by sorption and enmeshment onto iron hydroxide flocs. In contrast, only approximately 1% of the viruses were associated with the flocs formed in natural water consistent with the measured poor removals. 1–2 logs of virus inactivation were also observed in the electrochemical cell for synthetic water (no NOM) but not for surface water (4.5 mg/L DOC). Sweep flocculation was the dominant destabilization mechanism since the ζ potential did not reach zero even when 6-log virus reductions were achieved. Charge neutralization only played a secondary role since ζ potential → 0 with increasing iron electrocoagulant dosage. Importantly, virus removal from synthetic water decreased when Suwanee River Humic Acid was added. Therefore, NOM present in natural waters appears to reduce the effectiveness of iron electrocoagulation pretreatment to microfiltration for virus control by complexing ferrous ions. This inhibits (i) Fe 2+ oxidation, precipitation, and virus destabilization and (ii) virus inactivation through reactive oxygen species intermediates or by direct interactions with Fe 2+ ions.
The Problems of Definition and Differentiation and the Need for a Classification Schema

From both a theoretical and practical perspective, the majority of respondents to the future survey recognized the as yet unmet need to develop valid procedures for differential diagnosis and subtyping of learning disabilities. The foundation for developing such procedures was seen as requiring agreement about the definition of LD and appropriate ways to operationalize the definition.There was, however, a major split among the respondents regarding how LD should be defined. Some wanted to keep the definition tied to learning problems stemming from central nervous system dysfunctions; others wanted to ignore cause and broaden the field by defining as LD any learning problem that is not readily understood. These contrasting views about definition were then reflected in the controversy among respondents about operational criteria, e.g., the appropriateness and feasibility of identifying LD based on a severe discrepancy between aptitude and achievement. Another concern was raised in connection with the matter...
Revisit of the Theorem of Image Trajectories in the Earth-Moon Space

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the theorem of the image trajectories in the Earth-Moon space, the author revisits the theorem and clarifies the relation between the class of image trajectories and the class of symmetric free-return trajectories, which were employed in the Apollo program. In a nutshell, the symmetric free-return trajectories are those image trajectories that intersect the Earth-Moon axis orthogonally at some point above the far side of the Moon. Optimization implications are pointed out.
Design of stabilized laser for optically pumped atomic frequency standards

The influence of a stabilized laser's fluctuations in an optically pumped atomic frequency standard is considered. It is important to use a laser with narrow linewidth and select the modulation frequency where the laser's free-running frequency fluctuation at twice the modulation frequency is the lowest. Employing these considerations, the stabilized laser for our optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard is designed. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(2): 31–37, 2001
Pushing-up in finite groups

A p-local subgroup of G is maximal if it is not contained in a larger p-local subgroup. Thus the pushing-up problem amounts to showing that a maximal p-local subgroup contains a p-Sylow normalizer. This is indeed the case in the Chevalley groups over a finite field of characteristic p. In fact, the maximal p-local subgroups of such groups are the maximal parabolic subgroups, which by definition contain a p-Sylow normalizer. On the other hand, the Chevalley groups over finite fields of characteristic different from p do not, in general, share this property. Furthermore, Ma, and PSLa(17) offer examples of charateristic p-type groups (i.e. groups in which F*(H) is a p-group for all p-local subgroups H) in which the property fails to hold for p = 2. We see, then, that the above statement of the pushing-up problem is somewhat oversimplified. If we survey the known counterexamples of the pushing-up problem, we will see that the p-local subgroup H is always in some sense, “small”. One can construct a large class of counterexamples G which are almost simple. This is done as follows. Let G, be a Chevalley group over a finite field of characteristicp, and assume G, admits a graph automorphism 01. Let G be the subgroup of Aut(G,,) generated by 01 and Tnn(G,) (which we will identify with G,), and let P E Syl,(G,,) be a p-Sylow subgroup of G, fixed by 01. Let H be a maximal parabolic subgroup of G,, which is not fixed by 01 and contains NGO(P). Then it is easy to see that H is a maximal p-local subgroup of G, but as a! E N,(P), H does not contain a p-Sylow normalizer of G. Thus we see that the maximal
Theory of polydisperse reacting polymer systems

The kinetics of irreversibIe reactions between polymer chains of different molecular weights are studied, with emphasis on the case of highly reactive end groups. We calculate the rate constant k(N, M) for reaction between chains of lengths N and M respectively, in dilute and semi-dilute solutions and in the melt. In all cases, k(N, M) is dominated by the shortest chain: the limit k (N) ≡ k (N, ∞) is well-defined and scales as if both chains were of lengths N. In dilute solutions k(N, M) obeys mean field theory, being proportional to the equilibrium reactive group contact probability. For melts and concentrated solutions, k (N, M) follows diffusion-controlled laws: k(N, M) (R 3 N /τ N )f(M/N) where R N and τ N are the coil size and relaxation time of the shortest chain N, and f(M/N) is a cross-over function describing theapproach to the asymptotic form k (N) for M/N 1. We calculate the leading contributions to this cross-over function, which has universal forms depending on the concentration regime. The implications of these results for high-conversion free-radical polymerization are discussed
Advanced CO2 Separation Technologies: Coal Gasification, Warm-gas Cleanup, and Hydrogen Separation Membranes

Abstract To facilitate the use of hydrogen in integrated gasification combined-cycle applications, hydrogen-from-coal technologies capable of managing carbon will be needed. Many technologies are under development for the separation of hydrogen from coal-derived syngas. Among the most promising are hydrogen separation membranes. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), together with the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory and the state of Wyoming, completed a project evaluating the performance of hydrogen separation membranes on coal-derived syngas. EERC small pilot-scale gasifiers were used to produce the syngas, and solid sorbents were used for warm-gas cleanup and water–gas shift.
Acute effects of static stretching on characteristics of the isokinetic angle – torque relationship, surface electromyography, and mechanomyography

Abstract The aims of this study were to examine the acute effects of static stretching on peak torque, work, the joint angle at peak torque, acceleration time, isokinetic range of motion, mechanomyographic amplitude, and electromyographic amplitude of the rectus femoris during maximal concentric isokinetic leg extensions at 1.04 and 5.23 rad · s−1 in men and women. Ten women (mean ± s: age 23.0 ± 2.9 years, stature 1.61 ± 0.12 m, mass 63.3 ± 9.9 kg) and eight men (age 21.4 ± 3.0 years, stature 1.83 ± 0.11 m, mass 83.1 ± 15.2 kg) performed maximal voluntary concentric isokinetic leg extensions at 1.04 and 5.23 rad · s−1. Following the initial isokinetic tests, the dominant leg extensors were stretched using four static stretching exercises. After the stretching, the isokinetic tests were repeated. Peak torque, acceleration time, and electromyographic amplitude decreased (P≤ 0.05) from pre- to post-stretching at 1.04 and 5.23 rad · s−1; there were no changes (P > 0.05) in work, joint angle at peak torque, i...
Spinoza's Normative Ethics

Spinoza presents his ethics using a variety of terminologies. Propositions that are, or at least might be taken for, normative include only very few explicit guidelines for action. I will take this claim from Vp10s to be one such guideline: Vp10s: So that we may always have this rule of reason ready when it is needed, we should think and meditate often about common human wrongs and how and in what way they may best be driven away by nobility.
Timing of Quaternary megafaunal extinction in South America in relation to human arrival and climate change

Abstract South America lost more genera in the Quaternary megafaunal extinction than any other continent, but how it fits into the worldwide extinction has been unclear largely due to the lack of chronological resolution. This work evaluated 138 published radiocarbon dates for megafauna and 402 published dates for early (>8000 BP) South American archaeological sites. A total of 93 megafauna dates for 15 genera, and 110 archaeological dates on early human appearance, are robust enough to assess correspondence between last-appearance records of megafauna, first-appearance records of humans, and the Younger Dryas to Holocene climatic transition in six different regions of South America. Interesting patterns come to light, but are based on few dates, particularly in northern South America. No taxon other than Mylodon has >7 robust dates, and many taxa have less than 3 dates. Accordingly, an assessment of how likely it is that only a few dates will yield the youngest date in an underlying frequency distribution of dates was conducted, by applying probability and bootstrapping analyses to 27 dates on Mylodon from southern Patagonia, 26 of them from a single site. It was found that 15 dates out of a sample of 27 will commonly yield a date within 200 years of the youngest date in the sample. For that reason, and because even for a taxon with many dates it is likely that the youngest dated specimen pre-dates the actual time of extinction, most of the last-appearance dates are interpreted as recording the last time taxa were abundant on the landscape, rather than extinction per se . With those caveats in mind, on a continental scale most megafauna have last appearances after human arrival, but seem to last at least 1000 years after first human presence. Some taxa apparently survived >6000 years after humans entered South America and >1000 years after the end-Pleistocene climatic changes. Last-appearance patterns for megafauna differ from region to region, but in Patagonia, the Argentine and Uruguayan Pampas, and Brazil, extinctions seem more common after humans arrive and during intensified climatic change between 11.2 and 13.5 ka. This pattern suggests that a synergy of human impacts and rapid climate change—analogous to what is happening today—may enhance extinction probability. Nevertheless, even in these regions, some megafauna persisted for thousands of years after human arrival and after the climate warmed. These results highlight the need for future intensive dating efforts on South American megafauna and archaeological remains.