cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selenium Absorption and Balance in Adolescent Females-A Preliminary Report

Abstract The 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) included selenium (Se) intakes for all age groups but were based on studies done only on adult males. These recommendations may not be appropriate since gender-related differences in Se status have been reported. Data related to Se status and the developmental changes of females are limited. Se status was assessed in 26 healthy Caucasian females (average age 13.2±0.7 years). Pubertal stages for breast and pubic hair development were 3.5±0.7 and 4.5±0.6 respectively. A Se balance study was conducted in the metabolic ward of the Clinical Research Center at a large metropolitan hospital to assess the Se balance in all subjects. Data from six subjects are presented. Individual Se balances were performed over a 2-week period. A constant diet containing 98 μ g Se/day was consumed. Subjects were equilibrated to the diet during the first week. Se status was assessed on days 7 and 14 through measurements of serum and erythrocyte (RBC) Se and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and was found to be within normal limits.
On the backhaul efficiency of 3G CDMA radio access network

The recurring operating costs of backhaul links are of key concern to cellular service providers. Backhaul are the links (or trunks) that connect base stations to the base station controller (BSC) in the central office. One of the driving forces to migrate from 2G to 3G RAN (radio access networks) is to maximize the backhaul efficiency by adopting packet-switched technology. The maximum number of calls a backhaul link can support is called the backhaul efficiency. Two major technologies, ATM (specifically, AAL2) and IP, are the main streams offered in 3G. We compare the backhaul efficiency of these two technologies with 2G circuit-switched backhaul efficiency. QoS associated with the 3G AAL2/IP backhaul is also considered.
On the Use of Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices in the Classroom: Evidence from a Survey of Faculty and Students

The authors investigated faculty and student perceptions regarding the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in the classroom. Students differed markedly from faculty, with students exhibiting much greater acceptance of in-class use of technology. Among students, the authors found that gender affected perceptions. Specifically, male students were more accepting of in-class use of technology than were female students. Also, graduate students were more disturbed by off-task use of laptop computers in class than their undergraduate counterparts. This research should be of interest to postsecondary educators and administrators in attempting to bridge the student-faculty generation gap, and in formulating policies regarding the use of electronic devices in the classroom.
Formulation and Durability of Tailored Cenentitious Hosts Applied to TRU Waste Generated at the Rocky Flats Plant

This paper discusses the development of cementitious grout formulations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory which immobilize up to 50% of Rocky Flats Building 374 startup TRU waste. Trial grout mixes were tested in order to minimize the water content and maximize the waste loading. The effects of water reducers and set regulators on these trial mixes were also examined. Durability and physical-property measurements were performed on formulations which are compatible with standard processing equipment. The densities, porosities, and compressive strengths of these solids are reported. Compressive strengths of the samples were found to increase by as much as 69% after the samples had been exposed to leachants for 28 days at 90/sup 0/C.
Unsupervised object-based detection of dissolves in video sequences

A new method for detecting the dissolve production effect within digital videos is proposed. Possible dissolve candidates are first identified based on the MPEG-7 edge histogram (Day, N. and Martinez, J.M., Proc. ISO/IEC/SC29/WG11 N4325, 2001) differences accumulated across a sampled region of the video. These potential candidates are then classified as a dissolve based on the analysis of tracking interesting objects within the considered video segment. The MPEG-7 descriptors (Day and Martinez, 2001), consisting of the edge histogram, homogenous texture, dominant colors and color structure (196 features in all), are then extracted from corresponding objects in successive frames for the duration of the potential dissolve sequence. The object's features are observed to undergo profound changes during a dissolve effect, while changing very little during other types of gradual transitions (e.g. camera panning and zooming). These object changes are used in classifying the sequence as a dissolve.
Olfactory function in corticobasal syndrome and frontotemporal dementia.

Background Formal olfactory testing may be useful as a bedside tool to help differentiate between conditions such as atypical parkinsonism, dementia, and psychiatric conditions. However, the neural basis of olfactory dysfunction, the effect of concurrent cognitive deficits on olfactory testing results, and the exact prevalence of olfactory deficits in populations with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and the frontal variant of frontotemporal dementia (FTD-FV) are to date unclear. Objective To assess the prevalence and the neural basis of olfactory recognition deficits in patients with a clinical diagnosis of CBS or FTD-FV. Design Retrospective study of clinical, neuropsychological, and imaging data. Setting National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Participants Twenty-five patients with CBS, 22 with FTD-FV, and 12 age-matched control subjects. Main Outcome Measures Results of neuropsychological evaluation, formal olfactory recognition testing (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test [UPSIT]), and voxel-based morphometry analysis of structural magnetic resonance images of the brain. Results Mean UPSIT percentile scores were 31.6% for the CBS group and 9.5% for the FTD-FV group. The voxel-based morphometry correlations between local gray matter and UPSIT scores showed a significant volume effect in the right midfrontal gyrus for the FTD-FV patients and in the right insula, right midfrontal gyrus, and bilateral inferior frontal gyrus for the patients with CBS. A linear regression analysis of the UPSIT scores revealed as significant predictors the general memory score of the Wechsler Memory Scale and the Boston Naming Test total score for the patients with FTD-FV and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale total score for the patients with CBS. Conclusions Our data showed a more severe olfactory impairment for CBS patients than previously reported. We also showed a significant relationship between formal olfactory recognition testing scores and specific cognitive domains. These findings could be useful to clinically differentiate FTD-FV and CBS from other dementing illnesses and movement disorders.
Experimental Investigation of Cyclic Behavior of Concrete-Filled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tubes

Concrete-filled fiber reinforced polymer~FRP! tubes ~CFFT! have in the last decade been used as girders, beam columns, and piles. The focus of research, however, has been exclusively on their monotonic behavior, with little or no attention to the implications of using CFFT in seismic regions. A total of six CFFT specimens were tested as simple span beam columns under constant axial loading and quasi-static reverse lateral loading in four point flexure. Three of the tubes were made using centrifuge ~spin! casting with 12.7 mm thickness with the majority of the fibers in the longitudinal direction, whereas the other three were filament wound with 5 mm thickness and ±55° fiber orientation. One specimen for each type of tube had no internal reinforcement, whereas the other two incorporated approximately 1.7 and 2.5% steel reinforcement ratios, respectively. The two types of tubes represented two different failure modes; a brittle compression failure for the thick tubes with the majority of the fibers in the longitudinal direction, and a ductile tension failure for the thin tubes with off-axis fibers. The study showed that CFFT can be designed with ductility behavior comparable to reinforced concrete members. Significant ductility can stem from the fiber architecture and interlaminar shear in the FRP tube. Moderate amounts of internal steel reinforcement in the range of 1-2% may further improve the cyclic behavior of CFFT.
Remotely switched OTDR conformance testing at the fiber distribution hub

Conformance testing is a critical step in ensuring the future quality of a passive optical network. A new automated test procedure couples an optical switch and a hand-held test set to enable significant labor savings.
Perceptual Robotics: Toward a Language for the Integration of Sensation and Perception in a Dextrous Robot Hand

Controllers of industrial robot arms basically use positional information, generally programmed in a language which has no concept of an object other than as occupying a fixed position. They require a well-structured work environment before they can operate effectively. Three features characterize these robots: few degrees of freedom (DOF), little use of dynamic sensory information, and limited control architectures. Sensors to measure other physical features, and world-modeling robot systems, which present the user with a looser tie between object and position, are under active development.(1,5,17,23) However, we maintain that lack of sufficient sensory information is not the only problem, there is also the interfacing of sensory information to motor behavior.
Asymptotic analysis of exchange interactions

Deduction du terme principal dans les developpements asymptotiques des contributions a 3 centres aux elements de la matrice d'echange pour 3 atomes H. Utilisation des approximations obtenus pour estimer l'importance des interactions a 3 centres dans l'hydrogene a spin polarise
Conjugal interactions between consenting spectrins: predicting which mutations will lead to hereditary hemolytic anemias

The erythrocyte membrane skeleton comprises α/β spectrin heterodimers that must associate into elongated heterotetramers (and higher oligomers) in order to span between actin-rich junctional complexes. Mutations leading to weakened or flawed spectrin self-association result in hereditary
Caregiving to Children and Grandchildren and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women

Objectives. We examined the relationship between burden of providing care to non-ill children and grandchildren and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) among women. Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted as part of the Nurses’ Health Study among 54 412 women aged 46 to 71 years who were registered nurses. Women answered questions about their child care responsibilities. Results. We documented 321 incident cases of CHD during 4 years of follow-up. Multivariate analyses showed that caring for non-ill children 21 hours or more per week and caring for non-ill grandchildren 9 hours or more per week (vs no caregiving) were associated with an increased risk of CHD (relative risks were 1.59 and 1.55, respectively). Conclusions. High levels of care provision to grandchildren (and possibly children) may increase the risk of CHD among women.
The Inter-Organizational Ties That Bind: Exploring the Contributions of Agency- Congregation Relationships*

Do inter-organizational relationships between religious congregations and social service agencies create bonds that have the capacity to strengthen civil society? Previous research has shown that the provision of social services is one way that congregations contribute to their communities. While some congregations establish their own social service programs, many do not. Instead, they provide services by forming relationships with other organizations. Yet, few studies have examined these relationships to determine whether the institutional bonds that they create encourage individuals to become more engaged in service activities that foster community connectedness. Drawing on interview and survey data collected from social service agencies in one community, this article explores the types of relationships that exist between agencies and congregations. Findings reveal four categories of agencycongregation relationships. Moreover, interview data suggest that inter-organizational partnerships have the most potential for contributing to stronger local civic life.
An Antibody To The Drosophila Period Protein Recognizes Circadian Pacemaker Neurons In Aplysia And Bulla

The molecular mechanisms of the pacemakers underlying circadian rhythms are not well understood. One molecule that presumably functions in the circadian clock of Drosophila is the product of the period (per) gene, which dramatically affects biological rhythms when mutated. An antibody specific for the per protein labels putative circadian pacemaker neurons and fibers in eyes of two marine gastropods, Aplysia and Bulla. As was found for the Drosophila per protein, there is a daily rhythm in the levels of the per-like antigen in Aplysia eyes. Thus, certain molecular features of the per protein, as well as aspects of the temporal regulation of its expression, may be conserved in circadian pacemakers of widely divergent species.
Exploiting Dynamic Parallelism to Efficiently Support Irregular Nested Loops on GPUs

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been used in general purpose computing for several years. The newly introduced Dynamic Parallelism feature of Nvidia's Kepler GPUs allows launching kernels from the GPU directly. However, the naive use of this feature can cause a high number of nested kernel launches, each performing limited work, leading to GPU underutilization and poor performance. We propose workload consolidation mechanisms at different granularities to maximize the work performed by nested kernels and reduce their overhead. Our end goal is to design automatic code transformation techniques for applications with irregular nested loops.
Ultrahigh-resolution optical trap with single-fluorophore sensitivity

We present a single-molecule instrument that combines a time-shared ultrahigh-resolution dual optical trap interlaced with a confocal fluorescence microscope. in a demonstration experiment, we observed individual single fluorophore–labeled dn A oligonucleotides to bind and unbind complementary dn A suspended between two trapped beads. s imultaneous with the single-fluorophore detection, we clearly observed coincident angstrom-scale changes in tether extension. Fluorescence readout allowed us to determine the duplex melting rate as a function of force. t he new instrument will enable the simultaneous measurement of angstrom-scale mechanical motion of individual dn A-binding proteins (for example, single-base-pair stepping of dn A translocases) along with the detection of properties of fluorescently labeled protein (for example, internal configuration).
Multiuser clinical electrophysiology database using low-cost PCs in a Novell Netware Environment

A multiuser database has been developed by the Duke University Medical Center's clinical electrophysiology (EP) group that runs on low-cost IBM compatible PCs running in a Novell Netware Environment and is written in the FoxPro programming language. The authors describe the functioning of the Duke EP database and illustrate how networked PCs in combination with the powerful database development systems now available can be employed by end-users to solve problems quickly and economically. The functions provided by the Duke EP database include storage of patient information, procedure report generation, quality assurance monitoring, intrahospital billing, clinic scheduling, and implantable cardiac defibrillator monitoring. The system incorporates features such as pop-up menus for data entry, step-by-step instructions, and an online help system to make it easy to use by nontechnical personnel. The effectiveness and cost of the system are discussed. >
Monitoring the Marshall Islands for Residual Weapons Testing Fallout: Techniques and Findings

The Republic of the Marshall Islands, site of 66 nuclear weapons tests conducted by the U.S. Government, was monitored for residual radiological contamination from 1990 through 1994 by a study commissioned by the Marshall Islands Government. Several monitoring methods were used including in situ gamma spectrometry, soil sampling and laboratory measurement of gamma and alpha emitters, comparison of ground level measurements with aerial measurements (for a limit number of islands) taken 15 years earlier, and measurements of radionuclide uptake into edible plants and into plants used for medicinal purposes. The various techniques were used to assess present day exposure rates and possible future exposures of island inhabitants where remediation options are being considered. In addition, these data allowed various questions to be investigated including fractionation between plutonium and caesium as a function of distance from the test site. A brief summary of these various monitoring methods and related findings are presented.
Determination of the mutual-diffusion coefficient of a binary mixture by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics viewed as a sedimentation experiment

We show that the computer simulation ‘colour-conductivity’ experiment that is used in non-equilibrium molecular dynamics to determine the kinetic part d of the mutual-diffusion coefficient of a binary mixture of non-electrolytes may be interpreted as a sedimentation experiment. Correspondingly, the expression that relates the colour conductivity to d is a special case of the Svedberg relation.
Measuring Students' Self-Efficacy for Communication.

Design students are asked to regularly communicate their ideas to a diverse audience. Students' abilities may be affected by their perceived self-efficacy, the perception of abilities to perform a task. Because self-efficacy is conceived of as context-specific, it is vital to consider self-efficacy as it specifically relates to design studios and the communication within that context, rather than to look at generalised self-efficacy for communication. To that end, this article explains the development and validation of measures of students' perceived self-efficacy for communicating in both formal (critique) and informal (studio working time) design circumstances. Using data from students at two institutions, the measures were found to be reliable; these results were further supported through their relationship to previously validated measures. The development of these measures and the results from pilot data provide insight into students' perceptions of their communication abilities that may be beneficial to educators seeking to help design students communicate competently.
Transnational Cinema and Ideology: Representing Religion, Identity and Cultural Myths

In her impressive and thoroughly researched book, Milja Radovic, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh, tackles a thorny topic that eludes the brightest and most sensitive among...
Nurse practice centers in academia: an emerging subsystem.

Nurse practice centers have been instituted by numerous schools of nursing throughout the United States. This study was done in part to better identify their components as well as the forces constraining and stimulating their development. General systems theory was used as the theoretical base. Academically-based nursing centers were identified as a subsystem of both the health care system and the higher education system in America. As a subsystem of both of these systems, the nurse practice center operated by a school of professional nursing represents an entity that has the capacity to foster all components of professional nursing including scholarly practice, education and research. Forty such centers were found to be sites for a wide variety of care, research and learning involving faculty and students. Forces stimulating the development of such centers were faculty clinical practice, clinical learning experiences and service opportunities. Constraining forces were time management and role ambiguity. Faculty members' job satisfaction correlated significantly with the budget at the .007 level.
Satisfaction with Life along the Rural-Urban Continuum: Key Indicators in the Halifax Region of Canada

This paper examines how satisfaction with life (SWL) varies for residents in different zones of the rural-urban continuum, using objective and subjective indicators for 1,971 respondents in the county-sized municipality of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Data are from the STAR project, which was a combined time diary and travel survey. Respondents rated their overall feelings about life quality (global SWL) and feelings for life domains (e.g. health, finances). SWL scores were highest in the inner city (IC), moderate in the suburbs and inner commuter belt (ICB), and lowest in the outer commuter belt (OCB). These variations are partly related to the geography of socio-demographic 'control' variables, such as age, household income, and marriage status. They also relate strongly to self-rated health status (highest in the IC), and ratings of 'time stress' (lowest in the IC, highest in the commuter belt). Some inherently geographic variables also relate significantly to SWL: the most notable are 'sense of community belonging' (highest in the IC, lowest in the OCB) and 'unsafe walking after dark' (least safe in the IC, safest in the OCB). Keywords: life satisfaction, well-being, rural-urban, community, health
The Effect of Nicotinamide & Hyperoxic Gases on Blood Glucose

Hypoxia plays a major role in tumor clinical behavior and response to therapy. Many methods have been used to try to increase tumor p02 including Nicotinamide (Nic) t hyperoxic gases. In a recent study reported by Robinson et al., carbogen/Nic induced hyperglycemia. This phenomenon had not been previously reported.
The Politics of Quranic Education among Muslim Traders in the Western Sudan: The Subbanu Experience

RESUMEL'histoire de l'enseignement coranique et les tentatives de l'adapter aux exigences modernes constituent une phase importante de l'evolution culturelle et politique des populations musulmanes d'Afrique noire. Cet article est une contribution a l'etude de l'Islam a la fois comme une religion et une ideologie nationaliste. Il traite de la reforme wahhabi ou subbanu, mouvement qui s'est developpe en Afrique occidentale sous l'effet du pelerinage a la Mecque et de l'universite Al-Azhar du Caire entre 1945 et 1960. Il montre aussi comment les membres subbanu de l'Union culturelle musulmane ont contribue au succes du Rassemblement democratique africain au Mali et en Guinee et comment ils ont procede a l'amelioration de l'enseignement arabe. Apres l'independance, les contradictions entre le secularisme des dirigeants politiques et celui des reformistes musulmans apparurent. Ceux-ci ont commence a s'interroger sur la nature de leurs regimes politiques et cherchent maintenant les moyens de maintenir les trad...
The prevalence and influencing factors of eye diseases for IT industry video operation workers

Objective To investigate the situation of video-contact and eye diseases for IT industry video operation workers,and to analyze the influencing factors,providing scientific evidence for the make of health-strategy for IT industry video operation workers.Methods We take the random cluster sampling method to choose 190 IT industry video operation workers in a city of Jiangsu province,analyzing the relations between video contact and eye diseases.Results The daily video contact time of IT industry video operation workers is 6.0～16.0 hours,whose mean value is (10.1±1.8) hours.79.5％ of workers in this survey wear myopic lens,35.8％ of workers have a rest during their working,and 14.2％ of IT workers use protective products when they feel unwell of their eyes.Following the BUT experiment,54.7％ of IT workers have the normal examine results of binoculus,while 45.3％ have the abnormal results of at least one eye.Simultaneously,54.7％ workers have the normal examine results of binoculus in the SIT experiment,however,42.1％ workers are abnormal.According to the broad linear model,there are six influencing factors (daily mean time to video,distance between eye and displayer,the frequency of rest,whether to use protective products when they feel unwell of their eyes,the type of displayer and daily time watching TV.) have significant influence on vision,having statistical significance.At the same time,there are also six influencing factors (whether have a rest regularly,sex,the situation of diaphaneity for cornea,the shape of pupil,family history and whether to use protective products when they feel unwell of their eyes.) have significant influence on the results of BUT experiment,having statistical significance.However,there are seven influencing factors (the type of computer,sex,the shape of pupil,the situation of diaphaneity for cornea,the angle between displayer and workers' sight,the type of displayer and the height of operating floor.) have significant influence on the results of SIT experiment,having statistical significance.Conclusions The health-situation of IT industry video operation workers' eye is not optimistic,most of workers are lack of protection awareness; we need to strengthen propaganda and education according to its influencing factors and to improve the level of medical control and prevention for eye diseases in relevant industries. Key words: computer terminals; occupational exposure; vision; eye diseases.
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase modifier protein is associated with microtubules in kidney epithelial cells

After exposure of monkey kidney epithelial cells to a reduced concentration of K, a known mitogenic signal, the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) is activated by a cytosolic protein whose function appears to be novel. A monospecific antibody was used as an immunoprobe to study the contribution of this G3PD modifier protein (MP) to signal transduction. Raising the extracellular Na concentration as well as lowering the K concentration of the medium increased the amount of MP in cytosol and also activated G3PD. Metabolic labeling of cells followed by preparation of detergent-soluble (cytosolic) and detergent-resistant (cytoskeletal) fractions, immunoprecipitation, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of radiolabeled immune precipitates suggested that the protein was also associated with cytoskeleton. Depolymerization of the microtubules with colchicine or nocodazole increased cytosolic immunoreactive MP, whereas cytochalasin D had no effect. Taxol, which stabilizes microtubules, blocked the effects of colchicine or nocodazole. When tubulin, actin, and intermediate filament fractions of the cytoskeleton were prepared, blotted, and probed with specific antibodies, MP was found in the tubulin fraction. These observations suggest that MP is associated with the microtubules and can be displaced into the cytosol, wherein it could activate G3PD and thereby stimulate glycolytic production of ATP during mitogenic signal transduction.
Spacing of Seeded and Spontaneous Streaks during Convective Deposition

Convective deposition is widely used to deposit a highly ordered and uniform layer of monosized particles from solution by drawing the particles into an advancing thin film that uses capillary forces to define their local orientation. This process is often plagued by the formation of streaks, the regions where particles accumulate due to a local flux inhomogeneity. Flow occurs in the direction orthogonal to the deposition direction and parallel to the substrate near the streaks due to enhanced evaporation where particles have accumulated. This study investigates the formation of streaks nucleated from seeds or defects having prescribed dimensions and spacing across the substrate. The formation and spacing of both seeded and spontaneous streaks are characterized and were observed to be roughly dictated by the suspending fluid capillary length. Thus, spontaneously forming streaks can be suppressed by reducing the spacing to less than twice the critical length. Likewise, the conditions for maximum density or minimal spacing of streaks are also shown.
Initial experience with breast biopsy utilizing the advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI)

The Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) system combines a cylindrical single-use biopsy device with digital stereotactic imaging that achieves targeting of radiographic lesions to ± 1 mm. This allows complete removal of specimens in a one-step procedure that does not involve separate trips to radiology and then surgery. The ABBI system improves on core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration and may reduce the need for open biopsy. The authors' initial 34 cases utilizing the ABBI system were reviewed. The accuracy of specimen targeting, the success rate of lesion removal, and operative complications were some of the issues assessed. Six cases were not suitable for the procedure: the mammographic lesion was not visualized in four, and the breast was too thin on compression in two. There was successful removal of the lesion in 27 of the remaining 28 cases. There were no local wound complications, and patient satisfaction was high in all completed biopsies. The ABBI system is an effective new form of minimally invasive breast surgery. It provides complete excision of mammographic abnormalities. Its use of the most direct path to these lesions allows for minimal removal of adjacent normal tissue. In this study there were no complications and very little patient pain.
Impact of System Integration on Reliability and Maintainability

Integration objectives are normally focused on whether the system of interest performs its basic functionality in accordance with stated requirements. Secondary considerations, such as effects on reliability or maintainability due to integration impacts, are often left unaddressed until a problem actually arises. By looking at several instances where these impacts had significant impact, we can take away several lessons learned to guide future integration efforts towards a more fully successful end result.
Anaerobic pretreatment of hazardous waste leachates in publicly owned treatment works

Feasibility studies have been completed for an anaerobic pretreatment system designed to treat hazardous waste leachates in publicly owned treatment works. The system was designed to mitigate many of the problems associated with conventional aerobic treatment of these wastes and other types of dilute waterborne hazardous wastes. In this new approach, a contact/sorption stage consisting of an expanded bed of granular activated carbon (GAC) with an attached anaerobic biomass was used as a pretreatment device after primary clarification before the aerobic treatment portion of the plant. This sorption stage was intended to reduce pass-through of toxics, retaining them for subsequent treatment in a separate anaerobic stabilization reactor. The organic-rich GAC/biomass bed from the sorption stage was exchanged with stabilized GAC/biomass from the anaerobic stabilization stage, conserving the GAC in the system. Two 87-L/d bench-scale systems were operated for 332 days, one treating unspiked primary effluent and one treating primary effluent spiked with 5% landfill leachate and 14 hazardous organic compounds. In the spiked system, removals in the sorption stage were the highest for the aromatic compounds. Five ofthe six aromatics added were removed at over 95% and the sixth, phenol, had an 85% removal. Removals of chlorinated aliphatic compounds ranged from 52% for methylene chloride to 95% for trichloroethylene. Removals of phthalate compounds were approximately 60%. Removals of ketones ranged from 24% for acetone to 93% for methyl isobutyl ketone. Chemical oxygen demand removals remained at 40% to 50% throughout the year-long study in both systems.
Usage of Diagnostic Simulator for Ground Engineering Crew Training

Abstract Diagnostic simulator of M-28 aircraft was designed in Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Warsaw together with Polish Air Force Academy (PAFA) in Deblin. The project was co-financed by European Union, as a part of “Innovative Economy” project entitled: “Development and tests of a diagnostic simulator of an aircraft with virtualization technology applied”. This paper describes main assumptions of the project, which aim was to build a diagnostic simulator of the M-28 aircraft with usage of virtual technology. Simulator is intended for ground engineering crew training in the scope of performing maintenance procedures and dealing with malfunctions. The paper gives the overview of simulator's technical and software structure. Also results of comparative tests carried out among 2 student groups, one trained with the usage of simulator, the other with the usage of previously used methods, are presented in the paper.
Application of Human Augmentics

Display Omitted The design used a tailored health intervention with persuasive technology.The method used a mobile device and app to persuade toward adherence.A pilot study showed an 83% completion rate for improved adherence.The study showed 58% of participants achieving clinically important improvement.This method was feasible to improve adherence to asthma control medication. This article describes a tailored health intervention delivered on a mobile phone platform, integrating low-literacy design strategies and basic principles of behavior change, to promote increased adherence and asthma control among underserved minority adolescents. We based the intervention and design principles on theories of Human Augmentics and the Elaboration Likelihood Model. We tested the efficacy of using electronic monitoring devices that incorporate informative and persuasive elements to improve adherence to a prescribed daily medication regimen intended to reduce use of asthma rescue medications. We describe the theoretical framework, hardware and software systems, and results of user testing for design purposes and a clinical pilot study incorporating use of the device and software by the targeted population. The results of the clinical pilot study showed an 83% completion rate for the treatment as well as improved adherence. Of note, 8% and 58% of participants achieved clinically significant adherence targets at baseline and last week of the study, respectively. Rescue asthma medication use decreased from a median of 3 puffs per week at baseline to 0 puffs per week during the last week of the study.
PL Homotopy Algorithms

In the last chapter we discussed the general features of PL continuation methods. In this chapter we will apply them to find a zero point of a map G : R N → R N . We will see that it is possible to greatly relax the smoothness hypotheses regarding the map G, which are usually assumed for numerically solving such problems. In fact, the map G may even be set-valued. Eaves (1971) showed that it is possible to calculate by PL algorithms the fixed points which are guaranteed to exist by a theorem of Kakutani (1941). Merrill (1972) gave a more general boundary condition for set-valued maps G, which is similar to the Leray-Schauder condition (11.2.12). In this chapter we present two PL algorithms due to Merrill (1972) and Eaves & Saigal (1972) which can be regarded as PL implementations of the homotopy method which was sketched generally in section 11.2. To insure success of the algorithms, we will follow a presentation of Georg (1982) which used a quite general boundary condition extending somewhat that used by Merrill.
A high-density scalp EEG dataset acquired during brief naps after a visual working memory task.

Abstract There is growing interest in understanding how specific neural events that occur during sleep, including characteristic spindle oscillations between 10 and 16 Hz (Hz), are related to learning and memory. Neural events can be recorded during sleep using the well-known method of scalp electroencephalography (EEG). While publicly available sleep EEG datasets exist, most consist of only a few channels collected in specific patient groups being evaluated overnight for sleep disorders in clinical settings. The dataset described in this Data in Brief includes 22 participants who each participated in EEG recordings on two separate days. The dataset includes manual annotation of sleep stages and 2528 manually annotated spindles. Signals from 64-channels were continuously recorded at 1 kHz with a high-density active electrode system while participants napped for 30 or 60 min inside a sound-attenuated testing booth after performing a high- or low-load visual working memory task where load was randomized across recording days. The high-density EEG datasets present several advantages over single- or few-channel datasets including most notably the opportunity to explore spatial differences in the distribution of neural events, including whether spindles occur locally on only a few channels or co-occur globally across many channels, whether spindle frequency, duration, and amplitude vary as a function of brain hemisphere and anterior-posterior axis, and whether the probability of spindle occurrence varies as a function of the phase of ongoing slow oscillations. The dataset, along with python source code for file input and signal processing, is made freely available at the Open Science Framework through the link https://osf.io/chav7/ .
Pursuing Higher Education in Rural Pennsylvania Schools: Shaping the College Path

Rural youth are now graduating from high school at rates comparable to their peers in urban and suburban schools, however far fewer rural youth pursue postsecondary education. Using a comparative case study method, we explore postsecondary preparation efforts at three rural school districts. Each case represents a different classification of rural: fringe, distant, and remote. We find that while all three districts offered similar postsecondary preparation programs, the amount and array of available course offerings and levels of additional support provided by the community differed. We also explore how the values and philosophies of school administrators shaped the postsecondary preparation efforts. These findings are considered through the lens of previous research on factors that influence the educational outcomes of rural youth, including literature on rural brain drain.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORONARY ARTERY STENOSIS AND LEFT VENTRICULAR ASYNERGY: A COMPUTERIZED STUDY TO EVALUATE LV WALL MOTION

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the relationship between coronary artery stenosis and left ventricular asynergy. Although global left ventricular function can be well quantified, analysis of regional wall motion has been limited mainly for lack of a satisfactory method of measuring segmental motion. Radiographic cine left ventriculography has been used for evaluating left ventricular function. The goals of this investigation were l) to establish a computerized system to quantify left ventricular wall motion and then apply this system to delineate those factors determining ventricular asynergy; and 2) to assess the feasibility of characterizing normal patients from those suffering from single vessel coronary artery stenosis on the basis of that wall motion. In the study described in the chapter, two groups of patients who underwent single plane anterior oblique cine left ventriculography and coronary cineangiography were utilized. One group was composed of 34 patients lacking any significant coronary artery stenosis or other ventricular abnormalities. These were defined to be normal. The second group of 22 patients had significant left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenosis. Data from all patients were stored on magnetic disk and were used through-out the analysis. The results of the study showed that for the ventricular region contained between 30° and 170°, the mean percent change of the chords for normal patients varied between 30% and 40% increasing to mean values varying between 55% and 65% for the region between 190° and 300°. The entire population of LAD patients had significantly reduced percent shortening as compared to normals for left ventricular regions between 60° to 2I5°. In evaluating LAD patients as to the extent of stenosis, those with complete occlusion had greater impairment of shortening than those with stenotic but patent vessels.
3.4 Remote Sensing of Land Cover Dynamics

Our understanding of land-cover dynamics and geomorphology has advanced with the development of remote-sensing science and technology. Remote sensing provides data that drive biophysical models of Earth-surface processes, as well as mapping discrete land cover and land-use change information and landform maps. Land cover remote sensing has also spurred land-change science, an emergent paradigm linking anthropogenic and natural-system change dynamics using predictive models. This chapter reviews the state of remote sensing applied to land-cover dynamics, provides selected case studies, and surveys future challenges and advances in light of increasing anthropogenic changes on the landscape.
How the Mortgage Crisis Has Affected the Tax Lien Market

In 2007 the authors published a paper (de la Torre and Martinez, 2007) concerning tax liens as an investment. Since then, the real estate market has experienced a dramatic upheaval with prices decl...
Neurologist at ringside - to be or not to be?

Background: Ringside physicians are entrusted with the task of protecting the health and safety of combat sports (boxing and mixed martial arts) athletes. Ringside physicians come from various disciplines of medicine such as primary care, Internal Medicine, orthopaedics, sports medicine and even otolaryngology. There are very few neurologists who work as ringside physicians. Discussion: Boxing and MMA are highly controversial sports for neurologists to be involved in for in these sports every punch and kick to the head is thrown with the intention of knocking the opponent out. Every punch and kick to the head is thrown with the intention to win via causing a concussion. Many neurologists thus feel it is unethical to support boxing by working as a ringside physician. Conclusion: Boxing and MMA are universally thought to be detrimental to the brain and nearly all medical associations at various times have made calls to ban boxing and MMA altogether. While medical associations and physicians including neurologists may not support boxing or MMA, the presence of a neurologist ringside or cageside helps make these sports safer by protecting the health and safety of a combat sports athlete.
Effect of processing conditions on the microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V repair fabricated by directed energy deposition

Abstract In this study, the effect of processing parameters in directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (AM) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V was evaluated. A commercial DED system was used to deposit square patches of Ti-6Al-4V onto a substrate with the same nominal composition, with varying conditions to represent those that may be found in actual repair applications. A design of experiments was used to study the effect of substrate thickness, interlayer dwell time (time between deposition of subsequent layers), initial substrate temperature, hatch pattern, and number of deposited layers on the microstructure, porosity, and hardness of the deposition. Varying these processing parameters elucidates how each independently, or all collectively, impact the resulting microstructure and properties of Ti-6Al-4V deposits. As internal pores, or defects, significantly affect the properties of additively manufactured components, this study aimed to identify and quantify those defects in DED. The results from the current study show that with decreasing substrate thickness, the depth of the heat affected zone increased by an average of 400 μm. The density of the part was affected by the number of deposited layers and the initial substrate temperature, increasing with increasing the number of deposited layers, but decreasing with higher initial substrate temperatures. Lastly, the hardness increased with increasing substrate thickness, but was not impacted significantly by the other parameters studied.
A survey on driving prediction techniques for predictive energy management of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Abstract Driving prediction techniques (DPTs) are used to forecast the distributions of various future driving conditions (FDC), like velocity, acceleration, driver behaviors etc. and the quality of prediction results has great impacts on the performance of corresponding predictive energy management strategies (PEMSs), e.g., fuel economy (FE), lifetime of battery etc. This survey presents a comprehensive study on existing DPTs. Firstly, a review on prediction objectives and major types of prediction algorithms are presented. Then a comparative study on various prediction approaches is carried out and suitable application scenarios for each approach are provided according to their characteristics. Moreover, prediction accuracy-affecting factors are analyzed and corresponding approaches for dealing with mis-predictions are discussed in detail. Finally, the bottlenecks of current researches and future developing trends of DPTs are given. In general, this paper not only gives a comprehensive analysis and review of existing DPTs but also indicates suitable application scenarios for each prediction algorithm and summarizes potential approaches for handling the prediction inaccuracies, which will help prospective designers to select proper DPTs according to different applications and contribute to the further performance enhancements of PEMSs for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Micro-appearance Modeling of Fabrics

Fabrics are essential to our everyday lives. Modeling and reproducing the appearance of fabrics have been an active research topic in computer graphics for decades. Traditionally, fabrics are treated as infinitely thin 2D sheets. These surface-based reflectance models, although being conceptually simple, have insufficient power to describe a fabric’s small-scale 3D geometries, such as disorganized layers of fibers in felts. Thus, these models cannot accurately reproduce the fabric’s thickness and fuzziness, limiting the level of realism they can offer. In contrast, micro-appearance models explicitly express those fiber-level structures, upon which greatly varying visual effects, from anisotropic highlights to deep textures, emerge automatically. Unfortunately, these models are generally difficult to build due to their high complexities. This article presents a family of algorithms that introduce a new way to automatically build volumetric and fiber-based micro-appearance models for fabrics. The results capture rich details at the fiber level, yielding highly realistic renderings even under extreme close-ups.
Feasibility of a mobile feedback system for gait retraining in people with lower limb loss-A technical note.

Gait retraining in people with musculoskeletal and/or neurological impairments requires sustained dedicated efforts by the patient and the rehabilitation therapist. Various technical approaches hav...
Differential effects of intrauterine growth restriction and a hypersinsulinemic-isoglycemic clamp on metabolic pathways and insulin action in the fetal liver.

Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetal sheep have increased hepatic glucose production (HGP) that is resistant to suppression during a hyperinsulinemic-isoglycemic clamp (insulin clamp). We hy...