cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Peninsula Blister Test: A High and Constant Strain Energy Release Rate Fracture Specimen for Adhesives

Abstract An extension of the island blister developed by Allen and Senturia to a peninsula-like geometry produces a fracture test which retains the very high strain energy release rates which are possible with the island blister, and also results in a constant strain energy release rate test for adhesive bonds. Analytical solutions are provided for predicting the strain energy release rates for this peninsula blister specimen when the blister adherend may be considered a plate, a pre-stressed membrane, and a simple membrane. Preliminary experimental results for a PSA tape are also presented. The analytical results suggest that the specimen may be extended to a variety of practical adhesive systems.
Bringing Latin America's ‘Interculturalidad’ into the Conversation

In recent years, scholarly conversations and debates have emerged on the distinctions among various approaches to address diversity in modern pluralistic societies. Yet, most of the literature written in English on diversity paradigms in the Americas comes from an Anglo-American perspective. In this article, I address this gap in the scholarship by examining the historical and sociocultural context of North American multiculturalism and interculturalism, alongside that of Latin America's interculturalidad. In so doing, I expand the conversation to include the voices of underrepresented Latin American scholars. Although researchers often pit the three diversity paradigms against each other, I argue that instead, each paradigm should be looked at as serving a purpose within the particular contexts and needs from which they emerged and in which they have evolved.
Perinatal Profiles: Dr Colette Dreyfus-Brisac: Development of Brain Electrocortical Activity

The new Port Royal Hospital Maternity was built in the 1960s to replace the old 17th century Paris Maternity. Under the direction of Alexandre Minkowski, (1) it became one of the most important integrated European perinatal research centers of its time, attracting prolonged visits from world-famous foreign physicians. Studies were conducted there on the normal and pathologic developing neonatal brain. A team of neurophysiologists, directed by Dr Colette Dreyfus (1916–2006), (2) worked in close contact with neonatologists and pediatric neurologists. Her first publication in 1947 with Dr Fischgold, her mentor, was signed Brisac, her maiden name. (3) By 1950, she had published a second paper under the name Dreyfus-Brisac. (4) Dr Jean-Claude Dreyfus, a renowned biochemist, was her husband. To her coworkers, she was Madame Dreyfus. The laboratory in which they worked, located on the fifth floor of the maternity, was superbly equipped. From there, already in 1965, the neurophysiologists could observe with closed circuit television the behavior of any sick infant undergoing electroencephalography (EEG). Healthy babies were studied either at the mother's bedside or in the laboratory, if follow-up was required. Dr Dreyfus worked quietly and came down every morning from her fifth floor laboratory to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). After passing through the extraordinary infection control measures at the entrance and covered from head to foot with white hat, mask, gown, and white boots, she discussed the patient's history with the NICU staff to determine the best candidates for an EEG study. She stood at the side of the incubator, with the discussion taking place above the Plexiglas® hood. The preterm baby was undisturbed by our whispered conversation. Her very soft voice, combined with an acute observation of the patient and merry look, easily convinced the young residents to propose infants for study. She was the …
Perceived risk of female infidelity moderates the relationship between men’s personality and partner-directed violence

We hypothesized that men’s personality traits interact with men’s perceived risk of partner’s infidelity to predict men’s partner-directed violence. Moderation analyses of data provided by 467 men in a committed relationship indicated that: (1) men with lower emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, and men who perceived greater risk of partner infidelity perpetrated more partner-directed violence, and (2) the relationship between men’s personality traits and partner-directed violence depends on their perceptions of the risk of partner infidelity. Simple slope analyses indicated that: (a) men’s emotional stability and agreeableness predict partner-directed violence only when perceived risk of partner infidelity is low, and (b) men’s conscientiousness predicts partner-directed violence only when perceived risk of partner infidelity is high.
Pendant bases as proton relays in iron hydride and dihydrogen complexes.

The complex trans-[HFe(PNP)(dmpm)(CH3CN)]BPh4, 3, (where PNP is Et2PCH2N(CH3)CH2PEt2 and dmpm is Me2PCH2PMe2) can be successively protonated in two steps using increasingly strong acids. Protonation with 1 equiv of p-cyanoanilinium tetrafluoroborate in acetone-d6 at −80 °C results in ligand protonation and the formation of endo (4a) and exo (4b) isomers of trans-[HFe(PNHP)(dmpm)(CH3CN)](BPh4)2. The endo isomer undergoes rapid intramolecular proton/hydride exchange with an activation barrier of 12 kcal/mol. The exo isomer does not exchange. Studies of the reaction of 3 with a weaker acid (anisidinium tetrafluoroborate) in acetonitrile indicate that a rapid intermolecular proton exchange interconverts isomers 4a and 4b, and a pKa value of 12 was determined for these two isomers. Protonation of 3 with 2 equiv of triflic acid results in the protonation of both the PNP ligand and the metal hydride to form the dihydrogen complex [(H2)Fe(PNHP)(dmpm)(CH3CN)]3+, 11. Studies of related complexes [HFe(PNP)(dmpm)(CO)...
New results on cosine-modulated FIR filter banks satisfying perfect reconstruction

The authors present a derivation of the necessary and sufficient condition on the polyphase components of a linear-phase prototype (length N=2 mM) such that the polyphase component matrix of the filter bank is lossless. This in turn ensures that the modulated filter bank satisfies the PR (perfect reconstruction) property. An efficient design procedure (which involves fewer parameters to be optimized than other approaches) is presented. By this approach, FIR (finite-impulse-response) PR filter banks can be designed for an arbitrary number of channels. Moreover, since both the analysis and synthesis filter banks are obtained by modulation, they can be implemented very efficiently (using the discrete cosine transform). The design procedure is outlined and a design example is presented. >
Density Functional Theory-Derived Group Additivity and Linear Scaling Methods for Prediction of Oxygenate Stability on Metal Catalysts: Adsorption of Open-Ring Alcohol and Polyol Dehydrogenation Intermediates on Pt-Based Metals

Semiempirical methods for prediction of thermochemical properties of adsorbed oxygenates are developed. Periodic density functional theory calculations are used to study the relative stability of e...
Can we live longer by eating less? A review of caloric restriction and longevity.

Caloric restriction, decreasing caloric intake by 20-30%, was first shown to extend life in rats nearly 80 years ago. Since that time, limiting food intake for longevity has been investigated in species from yeast to humans. In yeast and lower animals, caloric restriction has repeatedly been demonstrated to lengthen the life span. Studies of caloric restriction in non-human primates and in humans are ongoing and initial results suggest prolongation of life as well as prevention of age-related disease. There is also data in rodents suggesting that short term caloric restriction has beneficial effects on fertility. Although caloric restriction has many positive effects on health and longevity, quality of life on a restricted diet as well as
create: a software to create input files from diploid genotypic data for 52 genetic software programs

create is a Windows program for the creation of new and conversion of existing data input files for 52 genetic data analysis software programs. Programs are grouped into areas of sibship reconstruction, parentage assignment, genetic data analysis, and specialized applications. create is able to read in data from text, Microsoft Excel and Access sources and allows the user to specify columns containing individual and population identifiers, birth and death data, sex data, relationship information, and spatial location data. create's only constraints on source data are that one individual is contained in one row, and the genotypic data is contiguous. create is available for download at http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/CAFL/Ecology/Software.html.
Cigarette Smoking in Popular Films: Does It Increase Viewers' Likelihood to Smoke?1

The effect of viewing smoking in popular films was investigated. Participants were instructed to rate main characters in scenes from popular films on 12 characteristics (e. g., attractive, sexy, sociable). One group watched 6 scenes from popular films in which the main character they rated was smoking. The other group watched scenes from the same 6 films in which they rated the same main characters who were not smoking. The participants rated the female characters shown smoking less favorably on all rated characteristics, but not the male characters. The male regular and occasional smokers had a higher current desire to smoke if the film characters they had viewed smoked. Both female and male participants who viewed the characters smoking were more likely to indicate a likelihood to smoke than were the participants who viewed the nonsmoking scenes.
MEASUREMENT OF THE CASIMIR FORCE USING A MICROMECHANICAL TORSIONAL OSCILLATOR: ELECTROSTATIC CALIBRATION

Experimental procedures associated with the electrostatic calibration of a microelectromechanical torsional oscillator are reported. These calibrations are required for the precision measurements of the Casimir force between a Au-coated sapphire sphere and a Au-coated polysilicon plate. It is shown that the electrostatic force between the surfaces is made zero by the application of a potential difference Vo between the sphere and the plate. Vo is found to be independent of position and separation within the experimental error.
Managing the special collections department in the digital world: a case study of cooperation and innovation

Thousands of special collections departments and libraries throughout the world are currently involved in digital library projects that focus on their holdings. The purposes of these projects are varied: some are to provide broader access to the unique materials within the special collections; others showcase the outstanding images and rare treasures held by libraries; while many provide only intriguing highlights; and a number of digital library projects are extensive enough to include all these purposes. Special collections digital projects can be stand‐alone or cooperative. Such ventures provide case studies in innovation and examples of how others can create digital projects. At the LSU libraries’ special collections department, cooperation and innovation in all digital library projects are emphasized even though the work concentrates on reformatting unique and rare materials. This article is a case study of the special collections department’s work in the digital realm at the LSU Libraries since 1990.
Cancer survival disparities by health insurance status

Previous studies found that uninsured and Medicaid insured cancer patients have poorer outcomes than cancer patients with private insurance. We examined the association between health insurance status and survival of New Jersey patients 18–64 diagnosed with seven common cancers during 1999–2004. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals for 5-year cause-specific survival were calculated from Cox proportional hazards regression models; health insurance status was the primary predictor with adjustment for other significant factors in univariate chi-square or Kaplan–Meier survival log-rank tests. Two diagnosis periods by health insurance status were compared using Kaplan–Meier survival log-rank tests. For breast, colorectal, lung, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and prostate cancer, uninsured and Medicaid insured patients had significantly higher risks of death than privately insured patients. For bladder cancer, uninsured patients had a significantly higher risk of death than privately insured patients. Survival improved between the two diagnosis periods for privately insured patients with breast, colorectal, or lung cancer and NHL, for Medicaid insured patients with NHL, and not at all for uninsured patients. Survival from cancer appears to be related to a complex set of demographic and clinical factors of which insurance status is a part. While ensuring that everyone has adequate health insurance is an important step, additional measures must be taken to address cancer survival disparities.
A simple electronic volume cell sorter for clonogenicity assays

A single-parameter electronic volume flow cell sorter that can be easily and inexpensively constructed using existing technology is described. The instrument is designed for ease and flexibility of operation, including such features as a large open area for recovering sorted cells into a variety of dishes or vessels; a remote, electrically activated fluidics system; a mechanism for heating or cooling samples during sorting; a simple arrangement for monitoring and adjusting the sorting control parameters; and an interface to a standard IBM personal computer for data acquisition, analysis, and control of the sorting windows. Several researchers in our laboratory now routinely use this sorter for plating precise numbers of cells directly into culture dishes in an aseptic manner for clonogenicity assays. The instrument can sort cells at rates of up to approximately 2,000 per second with greater than 80% sorting efficiency and no cytotoxicity. An advantage of this system is that the sorting windows can be set to exclude acellular debris and include either the entire cell volume distribution or a subset thereof. Applications of the instrument are detailed, including 1) precise cell plating for low-dose survival studies, 2) separation of cells into age compartments, and 3) rapid inoculation of single cells into multiwell dishes for cloning studies. Advantages of this technology for cell survival studies are detailed, along with some limitations to its applicability.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking in genome evolution

The quest for evolutionary mechanisms providing separation between the coding (exons) and noncoding (introns) parts of genomic DNA remains an important focus of genetics. This work combines an analysis of the most recent achievements of genomics and fundamental concepts of random processes to provide a novel point of view on genome evolution. Exon sizes in sequenced genomes show a lognormal distribution typical of a random Kolmogoroff fractioning process. This implies that the process of intron incretion may be independent of exon size, and therefore could be dependent on intron-exon boundaries. All genomes examined have two distinctive classes of exons, each with different evolutionary histories. In the framework proposed in this article, these two classes of exons can be derived from a hypothetical ancestral genome by (spontaneous) symmetry breaking. We note that one of these exon classes comprises mostly alternatively spliced exons.
REGIOSPECIFIC SYNTHESIS OF 1,4,5-TRIOXYGENATED ANTHRAQUINONES. A TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF ISLANDICIN

3-Methoxy-2-cyanobenzoesaure (Ia) reagiert zum Ester (Ib), der bei der Photoisomerisierung das Benzophenon (IIa) gibt.
The Effects of Suffering in Chronically Ill Older Adults on the Health and Well-Being of Family Members Involved in Their Care: The Role of Emotion-Related Processes.

A large literature shows that caregivers of chronically ill older adults have a higher risk for impaired health and decreased longevity. In this paper we review research that addresses pathways through which family members experience negative health consequences from exposure to a partner’s suffering. We first provide a conceptualization of suffering and describe how it can be measured, then review empirical evidence that exposure to suffering uniquely influences caregivers’ health, and discuss individual differences in caregivers’ emotional reactions to partners’ suffering using three emotion theories (Gross’ process model of emotion regulation, attachment theory, and a functionalist perspective on emotion). Finally, we discuss implications of the effects of suffering for the health and well-being of family caregivers.
DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF A TANKER MOORED TO AN ARTICULATED LOADING PLATFORM

Abstract An analytical model was developed for the dynamic analysis of an articulated loading platform in an operation condition, while remaining in a head seas position. The environmental excitation considered, resulting from groups of regular waves, included first- and second-order force contributions. The nylon hawser connecting the tanker to the ALP was modeled as a nonlinear spring. The hydrodynamic load on the tower was evaluated using Morison's equation, which was modified to account for the relative motion of the tower and the fluid particles. The hydrodynamic load on the tanker was calculated using linear diffraction theory based on the 2-D Helmholtz equation. The “near field” approach of Pinkster was used to evaluate the drift force.
Interleukin 10 inhibits macrophage microbicidal activity by blocking the endogenous production of tumor necrosis factor alpha required as a costimulatory factor for interferon gamma-induced activation.

Abstract Interleukin 10 (IL-10) inhibits interferon gamma-induced macrophage activation for cytotoxicity against larvae of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni by suppressing production of the toxic effector molecule nitric oxide (NO). In this study, the mechanism of IL-10 action was identified as inhibition of endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production by interferon gamma-activated macrophages. TNF-alpha appears to serve as a cofactor for interferon gamma-mediated activation, since both schistosomulum killing and NO production were inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha antibody, whereas TNF-alpha alone was unable to stimulate these macrophage functions. IL-10 blocked TNF-alpha production by interferon gamma-treated macrophages at the levels of both protein and mRNA synthesis. Addition of exogenous TNF-alpha reversed IL-10-mediated suppression of macrophage cytotoxic activity as well as NO production. Likewise, addition of a macrophage-triggering agent (bacterial lipopolysaccharide or muramyl dipeptide), which induced the production of TNF-alpha, also reversed the suppressive effect of IL-10 on cytotoxic function. In contrast to IL-10, two other cytokines, IL-4 and transforming growth factor beta, which also inhibit macrophage activation for schistosomulum killing and NO production, did not substantially suppress endogenous TNF-alpha production. These results, therefore, describe a separate pathway by which macrophage microbicidal function is inhibited by the down-regulatory cytokine IL-10.
The effect of fiber-matrix reactions on the interface properties in a SCS-6Ti-24Al-11Nb composite

Abstract The interfacial structure/property relationships of a representative composite system consisting of SiC (SCS-6) fibers in a Ti 3 Al + Nb intermetallic alloy have been investigated. Two samples were fabricated at 1040°C with different exposure times in order to vary the amount of fiber-matrix reaction. This resulted in samples with reaction zone thicknesses (δ) of 1.1 and 1.7 μm, while ensuring roughly the same residual stress state. A pushout test was used to determine the debond strength ( τ d ) and sliding resistance ( τ s ) of both interfaces. An increase in the interface debond strength and sliding resistance with reaction zone thickness was observed and has been correlated with a change in debond path. Pushout analysis of the δ = 1.1 μm sample (where debonding occurred between the fiber's SCS carbon coating and the reaction product) revealed a debond fracture energy, Γ i ≈ 0–0.9 J m −2 , a coefficient of friction (assuming simple Coulomb friction), μ ≈ 0.5–0.95, and a radial residual stress, σ r ≈ 100–190 MPa. A similar analysis on the δ = 1.7 μm sample proved unsuccessful using either a simple Coulomb or Coulomb plus constant friction law. This is believed to be due to multiple debond path branching between the SiC/inner SCS, inner SCS/outer SCS and outer SCS/reaction product interfaces. The transition to this mode of sliding is deleterious to composite properties and suggests the importance of minimizing the integrated thermal exposure associated with the consolidation process.
HCL: insights into biology.

In this issue of Blood , Arons and colleagues provide evidence of a nonrandom pattern of somatic hypermutation in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and provide further insights into the biology of this disease.[1][1] Since its original description as an entity in 1958
Spatial array processing methods for radio astronomical RFI mitigation

Summary form only. Over more than a decade there have been a variety of array signal processing methods proposed for interference canceling in radio astronomical observation. Approaches include adaptive filtering, statistically optimal null-steering beamformers, robust adaptive beamforming, vector subspace partitioning, interference tracking algorithms, and use of auxiliary reference antennas. Conventional imaging arrays are obvious candidates where the spatial signature across all antennas may be used to remove interference directly from the visibility/correlation terms. The new wave of phased array feeds under development (e.g. ASKAP, APERTIF, DRAO, BYU/NRAO, Arecibo) also opens up, to both single dish instruments and synthesis arrays, new possibilities for actively nulling interferers independently at each dish. Low frequency aperture arrays (e.g. LOFAR, MWA, LWA, PAPER) have such wide fields of view and operate in such crowded bands that spatial canceling is almost mandatory. Array signal processing can be used in conjunction with traditional data blanking (or pruning) and frequency avoidance, but if successful the array cancelers will offer the attractive new benefit of continuous operation without data loss in corrupted frequency bands. However, adoption has been very slow. Reasons for delay include 1) costly infrastructure requirements like fast correlator dump times, new digital back end processors, computational burden, array signal transport, and new auxiliary antennas, 2) poor nulling performance for adaptive beamformers, i.e. inability to drive interference 10s of dB below the noise floor, 3) uncertainty about signal of interest distortion while canceling interference, and 4) lack of clear science case where critical observations cannot be made without array processing cancelation methods. This tutorial will present an overview of previously proposed array signal processing RFI mitigation techniques and discuss capabilities and limitations. Newer methods will be presented which achieve significantly deeper nulls and introduce less mainbeam distortion than do typical adaptive beamformers. A “state of the art” review of current practice and discussion of future directions and trends will be presented.
Target localization and tracking in noisy binary sensor networks with known spatial topology

Target localization and tracking are two of the critical tasks of sensor networks in many applications. Conventional localization and tracking techniques developed for wireless systems that rely on direction-of-arrival (DOA) or time-of-arrival (TOA) information are not suitable for low-power sensors with limited computation and communication capabilities. In this paper, we propose a low-complexity and energy-efficient method for target localization and tracking in noisy binary sensor networks, where the sensors can only perform binary detection, and the physical links are characterized by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. The proposed method is based on known spatial topology. An efficient wake-up strategy is used to activate a particular group of sensors for cooperative localization and tracking. We analyze the localization error probability and tracking miss probability in the presence of prediction errors. Simulation results validate the theoretic analysis and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Southeast Asia and the West: Prehistoric and early historic relations between these areas are evident but not yet specific.

Traditional reconstructions of the prehistory and early history of Southeast Asia contain two periods of contact between Southeast Asia and the West, these being the beginnings of the so-called Dongson Culture and the first historic state of Funan. There has been controversy as to whether the Western contacts which gave rise to the "Dongson Culture" came directly to north Vietnam around 800 B.C. or whether they were filtered through Chou China and reached north Vietnam about 300 B.C. In either case, primarily decorative patterns, ultimately from the European Bronze and Early Iron Age, and bronze-working came in together. The "Dongson" patterns spread over much of Southeast Asia and are still being used today in some areas. Research by historians and geographers indicated that the Kingdom of Funan existed somewhere in coastal Mainland Southeast Asia. From this work it was apparent that Funan was in some way connected with the trade between China and the West during the first millennium A.D. up until the end of Funan around 600 A.D. In both of these models of contact Southeast Asians were the passive recipients of whatever came from the West.
The definition of chemical diabetes in children.

Abstract Data accumulated from the long-term study and followup of large numbers of siblings of overt diabetics in our clinic has established that there are at least three fairly distinct stages of diabetes in children: (1) Prediabetes—A state of genetic susceptibility in which there are no signs or symptoms of diabetes and all laboratory tests of carbohydrate tolerance are normal. (2) Chemical diabetes—A state of asymptomatic carbohydrate intolerance in which there are varying stages of severity that may be demonstrated and defined by the oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests and serum insulin levels. (3) Overt diabetes —A state of symptomatic diabetes, which, in children, requires insulin therapy. Chemical diabetes may rapidly progress to overt diabetes, especially during the stresses of infections and growth. It may slowly progress over many years, remain stable without progression, or may, after the growth spurt, spontaneously regress to milder forms of carbohydrate intolerance or to the prediabetic state. The many factors responsible for this variability need intensive long-term study.
The Function of Haypiles of Pikas (Ochotona princeps)

The pika, Ochotona princeps , spends a considerable amount of time during summer caching vegetation. These caches (haypiles) have been suggested to function as the mainstay of diet in winter, as a source of food for intermittent periods when the animal is unable to forage elsewhere, or in nonfood functions, e.g., nest sites. I investigated the haying behavior of a population of pikas on the West Knoll of Niwot Ridge, Colorado. In addition to directly measuring sizes of haypiles of pikas on West Knoll, I also estimated, using data from the literature, sizes of haypiles of another population of pikas. Haypiles that were excavated immediately after construction revealed that pikas from West Knoll stored 350 days of food, more than that required for winter. Initial contents of haypiles, discounted for decay and spring leftovers, indicated that pikas from West Knoll consumed at ≥175 days of food from their haypile during winter 1992–1993. Sizes of haypiles based on behavioral data collected on a different population of pikas corroborated the large size of haypiles found on West Knoll. Given these data, the primary function of haypiles appears to be to provide the major source of sustenance for pikas during winter.
Effect of previous experience on sheep grazing leafy spurge

Herbivores develop preferences for certain plant species in several ways. One way is to learn from role models, another is through postingestive feedback. In this study we determined (1) whether yearling sheep exposed to leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) as lambs graze it more readily than yearlings that were not exposed to it as lambs, and (2) whether this difference, if present, persists through the grazing season. On a leafy spurge-infested, Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer) range site, we compared the grazing behavior of naive groups of Targhee yearlings with grazing behavior of experienced groups for 3 years. Using focal animals, we assessed diet selectivity by counting bites and by determining time spent grazing different forage types. During the grazing season, nutritive value (crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, in vitro dry matter digestibility) of leafy spurge was always higher than nutritive value of Idaho fescue. Experienced yearlings spent more than four times as much time grazing leafy spurge in early summer compared with naive yearlings (averaged across 1992 and 1993, experienced 13.6% vs. naive 2.9%), whereas in mid- (39% vs. 31%) and late summer (37% vs. 38%) both groups spent similar amounts of time grazing leafy spurge. Neither group readily grazed the plant in early summer. Experienced yearlings had higher bite rates of leafy spurge than naive yearlings during the early summer sampling periods in 1992 and 1993 (averaged across 1992 and 1993, 15.9 vs. 5.0 bites min−1) but their bite rates were similar by mid-summer (22.7 vs. 20.6 bites min−1). In 1994, we observed their grazing behavior every 5 days for 35 days. Initially, naive yearlings spent less time grazing leafy spurge than experienced yearlings, but were spending similar amounts of time grazing leafy spurge by day 25. Previous experience with leafy spurge, compared with no experience, resulted in a slight but short-lived advantage in early summer use of the species. Within 3–4 weeks, sheep that had never previously been exposed to leafy spurge readily grazed the plant.
Neuropsychological, Academic, and Adaptive Functioning in Children Who Survive in-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation

Children suffering cardiac arrest (CA) are not uncommon in certain pediatric populations. Due to the increasing survival rates of child CA patients, there is a growing interest in, and concern for, their long-term intellectual, academic, emotional, and adaptive functioning. This article describes the possible neurologic sequelae of CA in children and presents standardized assessment results on 25 children, 2 to 15 years of age, who survived a CA while in the hospital. A majority of these children exhibited low-average to deficient levels of performance on neuropsychologic, achievement, and adaptive behavior measures. Duration of cardiac arrest and a medical risk score were significantly correlated with decreased functioning in child CA patients. Children who suffer a cardiac arrest are at high risk for academic struggles, and many may need special education services.
Effect of mithramycin therapy on strontium and calcium metabolism in cancer patients (A preliminary report)

The short-term effects of acute mithramycin therapy on calcium homeostasis and strontium-85 kinetics were studied in four patients with metastatic cancer. Fecal calcium content increased after therapy while urinary calcium excretion decreased, but there was no net change in total calcium excretion. Mithramycin lowered the serum calcium level in three patients with either obvious osseous metastasis or hypercalcemia, but no change was observed in a fourth patient without osseous pathology and normal serum levels. The strontium-85 (Sr85) kinetic data revealed an increase in the skeletal clearance (“accretion”) in three patients and no change in the fourth. There was no change in the extrinsic (excretory) clearance rate in any patient. These data suggest that acute mithramycin therapy lowered serum calcium by promoting non-excretory removal from blood (internal skeletal clearance) rather than by increasing calcium excretion.
A discrete approximation framework for hereditary systems

Abstract A discrete approximation framework for initial-value problems involving certain classes of linear functional differential equations (FDE) of the retarded type is constructed. An equivalence between the FDE and abstract evolution equations (AEE) in an appropriately chosen Hilbert space is established. This equivalence is then employed in the development of discrete approximation schemes in which the infinite-dimensional AEE is replaced by a finite-dimensional system of difference equations. Convergence and rates of convergence are demonstrated via the properties of rational functions with operator arguments and both classical and recent results from linear semigroup theory. Two examples of families of approximation schemes which are included in the general framework and which may be implemented directly on high-speed computing machines are developed. A numerical study of examples which illustrates the application and feasibility of the approximation techniques in a variety of problems together with a summary and analysis of the numerical results are also included.
Isolating gait-related movement artifacts in electroencephalography during human walking

OBJECTIVE: High-density electroencephelography (EEG) can provide an insight into human brain function during real-world activities with walking. Some recent studies have used EEG to characterize brain activity during walking, but the relative contributions of movement artifact and electrocortical activity have been difficult to quantify. We aimed to characterize movement artifact recorded by EEG electrodes at a range of walking speeds and to test the efficacy of artifact removal methods. We also quantified the similarity between movement artifact recorded by EEG electrodes and a head-mounted accelerometer. APPROACH: We used a novel experimental method to isolate and record movement artifact with EEG electrodes during walking. We blocked electrophysiological signals using a nonconductive layer (silicone swim cap) and simulated an electrically conductive scalp on top of the swim cap using a wig coated with conductive gel. We recorded motion artifact EEG data from nine young human subjects walking on a treadmill at speeds from 0.4 to 1.6 m s(-1). We then tested artifact removal methods including moving average and wavelet-based techniques. MAIN RESULTS: Movement artifact recorded with EEG electrodes varied considerably, across speed, subject, and electrode location. The movement artifact measured with EEG electrodes did not correlate well with head acceleration. All of the tested artifact removal methods attenuated low-frequency noise but did not completely remove movement artifact. The spectral power fluctuations in the movement artifact data resembled data from some previously published studies of EEG during walking. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that EEG data recorded during walking likely contains substantial movement artifact that: cannot be explained by head accelerations; varies across speed, subject, and channel; and cannot be removed using traditional signal processing methods. Future studies should focus on more sophisticated methods for removal of EEG movement artifact to advance the field. Language: en
Comparison of endogenous and radiolabeled bile acid excretion in patients with idiopathic chronic diarrhea.

Abstract Fecal recovery of radioactivity after ingestion of a bolus of radiolabeled bile acid is abnormally high in most patients with idiopathic chronic diarrhea. To evaluate the significance of this malabsorption, concurrent fecal excretion of both exogenous radiolabeled bile acid and endogenous (unlabeled) bile acid were measured in patients with idiopathic chronic diarrhea. Subjects received a 2.5-μCi oral dose of taurocholic acid labeled with 14 C in the 24th position of the steroid moiety. Endogenous bile acid excretion was measured by a hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase assay on a concurrent 72-h stool collection. Both radiolabeled and endogenous bile acid excretion were abnormally high in most patients with chronic diarrhea compared with normal subjects, even when equivoluminous diarrhea was induced in normal subjects by ingestion of osmotically active solutions. The correlation between radiolabeled and endogenous bile acid excretion was good. However, neither radiolabeled nor endogenous bile acid excretion was as abnormal as is typically seen in patients with ileal resection, and none of these diarrhea patients responded to treatment with cholestyramine with stool weights less than 200 g. These results suggest (a) that this radiolabeled bile acid excretion test accurately reflects excess endogenous bile acid excretion; (b) that excess endogenous bile acid excretion is not caused by diarrhea per se; (c) that spontaneously occurring idiopathic chronic diarrhea is often associated with increased endogenous bile acid excretion; and (d) that bile acid malabsorption is not likely to be the primary cause of diarrhea in most of these patients.
10F-4 Self-Focused 1-3 Composite LiNbO3 Single Element Transducers for High Frequency HIFU Applications

In this paper it is shown that LiNbO3 single crystal may be used as a piezoelectric material for high frequency high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) applications for its high Curie temperature and low dielectric constant and superior mechanical properties. Simulation results show that LiNbO3 with a 1-3 composite structure is suitable to make large aperture (diameter 22-24 mm) and high frequency (> 10 MHz) single element transducer with desired impedance and required sustainable driving voltage for the expected acoustic intensity in the focal zone. Prototype transducers with the diameter of 23 mm and a surface curvature designed for f#/l were designed and fabricated. The results are in good agreement with KLM model calculation. The measurement results show that center frequency is 10.5 MHz with the fractional bandwidth larger than 60%. The -6 dB lateral and the axial beam widths were measured by a needle hydrophone and they are 160 mum and 98 mum respectively, which are also in good agreement with theory (147 mum and 83 mum).
Error compensation for fused deposition modeling (FDM) machine by correcting slice files

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to extend the previous approach to software error compensation to fused deposition modeling (FDM) machines and explores the approach to apply compensation by correcting slice files.Design/methodology/approach – In addition to applying the stereolithography (STL) file‐based compensation method from earlier research; a new approach using the slice file format to apply compensation is presented. Under this approach, the confounded effects of all errors in a FDM machine are mapped into a “virtual” parametric machine error model. A 3D artifact is built on the FDM machine and differences between its actual and nominal dimensions are used to estimate the coefficients of the error functions. A slice file compensation method is developed and tested on two types of parts as a means for further improving the error compensation for feature form error improvement. STL file compensation is also applied to a specific FDM 3000 machine and the results are compared with those of a ...
Ovarian suppression for breast cancer: an effective treatment in search of a home.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy is the most important systemic treatment for the majority of women with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. Our understanding of the role of endocrine therapy in premenopausal women has lagged considerably in comparison with our knowledge of its role in postmenopausal women. Tamoxifen, for example, was initially shown to be beneficial in postmenopausal women; only after many years were similar benefits demonstrated in premenopausal women. 1 In the last few years, adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women has taken another step forward with the incorporation of the aromatase inhibitors into the treatment armamentarium. 2 The benefits seen with aromatase inhibitors, which arise as a consequence of estrogen deprivation, have contributed to continued interest in the use of ovarian suppression in premenopausal women. Why do we know so much less about endocrine therapy in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women? There are at least three reasons. First, breast cancer, and specifically hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, is much less common in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women. However, receptor-positive breast cancer in premenopausal women is hardly a rare disease. There are approximately 47,000 cases of breast cancer in women younger than 50 years diagnosed in the United States each year; of these, 11,500 cases are in women younger than 40 years. 3 More than half of all premenopausal women with breast cancer have receptor-positive disease, resulting in more than 25,000 cases of receptorpositive disease among premenopausal women. Taking a more global perspective, there are hundreds of thousands of premenopausal women diagnosed each year with hormone receptor–positive disease. Second, there has been a longstanding conviction that chemotherapy was the more important treatment for younger women, and, consequently, trials of endocrine agents have been viewed as second-tier. There has been increasing reason to question this view, but translating hypotheses into practice-changing clinical trials can take many years. Finally, our understanding of endocrine therapy in premenopausal women has been clouded by the indirect endocrine effect of chemotherapy. At least some, if not most, of the benefit of chemotherapy in many premenopausal women with receptor-positive disease probably arises from suppression of ovarian function. There are several reasons to investigate new and im
On the relationship between Spearman's rho and Kendall's tau for pairs of continuous random variables

It has long been known that for many joint distributions exhibiting weak dependence, the sample value of Spearman's rho is about 50% larger than the sample value of Kendall's tau. We explain this behavior by showing that for the population analogs of these statistics, the ratio of rho to tau approaches 3/2 as the joint distribution approaches that of two independent random variables. We also find sufficient conditions for determining the direction of the inequality between three times tau and twice rho when the underlying joint distribution is absolutely continuous.
Spatial variations in forearm skin tissue dielectric constant.

Background: Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values measured at 300MHz via the open-ended coaxial line reflection method depend on the effective measurement depth and the anatomical site being evaluated. Measurements on the forearm have shown that the TDC values decrease with increasing measurement depth but the spatial variability of the TDC values among forearm anatomical positions is unknown. Our goal was to characterize the extent of such spatial variations. Methods: In 30 healthy seated women (27.4 6.5 years), TDC was measured on the forearm midline and 1.2 cm medial and lateral to the midline at sites 4, 8 and 12 cm distal to the antecubital crease. Results: The midline and medial TDC values increased progressively from 4t o 8t o 12 cm sites (Po0.001), with the largest spatial gradient along the midline. At a depth of 2.5 mm, the TDC values increased from 26.3 2.8 to 27.4 3.4 to 28.4 3.7, with a maximum difference of 8.2 10.6%. For all sites, the TDC values were significantly (Po0.001) less for increasing depths. Conclusion: The findings reveal increased TDC values along the forearm from proximal to distal, most prominent at the midline and medial positions. Because many skin-related dermatological and biophysical studies utilize the forearm as a test target, such differences may be important to consider because TDC values in part are reflective of local tissue water (LTW). Although the variation in the TDC values among sites was less than 10%, such differences are of importance when evaluating LTW changes using the TDC method in patients with arm lymphedema that is present in variable arm anatomical locations.
The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi amplified from grapevine roots (Vitis vinifera L.) in Oregon vineyards is seasonally stable and influenced by soil and vine age

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in 10 Oregon vineyards was assessed by examining spores in soil and amplifying mycorrhizal DNA from roots. Seventeen spore morphotypes were found in soil, including seven species in the Acaulosporaceae. Eighteen phylotypes were amplified from grape roots with AM1 and NS31 primers, and clones were dominated by Glomus spp. (> 99%). A few clones (< 1%) representing a single phylotype within Gigasporaceae, and a single clone within Archaeosporaceae were amplified from roots with AM1-NS31 primers. A separate experiment employing known proportions of grape roots colonized by Glomus intraradices or by Gigaspora rosea showed that fungi within Gigasporaceae might be underrepresented in clone abundance when Glomus spp. co-occur in roots. No clones representing fungi within the Acaulosporaceae were amplified from vineyards, although specific fungi within Acaulosporaceae were shown to colonize Pinot noir roots in sterilized soil and were amplified from these roots. Four Glomus phylotypes, including G. intraradices, were found in roots from all 10 vineyards, and these fungi accounted for 81% of clones. AMF phylotypes amplified from roots did not change during the growing season, although six phylotypes varied with soil type. The presence of three phylotypes was affected by vineyard age, and phylotype richness appeared to decline as vineyard age increased beyond 20 y. PCA analysis supported the hypothesis that the AMF community is different in red-hill soils than in valley soils and indicated certain phylotypes might be associated with lower soil and vine nutrient status. However, the changes in the AMF community in grape roots across vineyards were subtle because most root samples were dominated by the same three or four phylotypes. A separate analysis using primers to amplify AMF from the Archeasporaceae/Paraglomeraceae showed most root samples also were colonized by at least one Paraglomus or Archaeospora phylotype.
Applying the object-oriented model to technical information

The object-oriented model for program design evolved from the structured, or top-down, model. Programs in recent years have become much larger, more complex, and subject to faster changing market conditions, and the object-oriented model appears better suited to address these new realities. Technical writers are facing a similar challenge as the volume of information is growing exponentially and increasing in complexity. This paper describes the object-oriented model, shows how the model is influencing the world of documentation, and proposes that it be considered as a basis for the creation and maintenance of large libraries of technical information.
Worldwide High-Altitude Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse Simulators

The five decades since the discovery that the electromagnetic pulse created by a nuclear detonation at high altitude (HEMP) threatens the survivability of strategic military and civilian electronic systems saw development and construction worldwide of many large test facilities for simulating that threat. This paper describes simulators in three categories: guided wave, dipole, and hybrid. In 2002, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) published a compendium of technical information about 42 simulators in 14 countries using this classification system. This paper provides a summary of information in the compendium and describes some developments in the field since 2002.