cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-injurious and suicidal behavior in young adults, teens, and children with epilepsy: A population-based study

Objective Whereas studies in adult epilepsy patients have shown higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempt, such studies in children are limited. Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project database, we compared the risk of self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation in a population-based cohort of childhood epilepsy to controls. Methods We studied 339 cases with epilepsy and 678 age- and sex-matched controls followed to a median age of 24.7 and 23.4 years, and identified 98 subjects with self-injurious behavior or suicidal ideation (43 with epilepsy and 55 controls). All behaviors were categorized using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results Those with epilepsy had a significantly higher rate of any self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-2.35) and tended to have an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempt (HR = 1.48, 95% CI = 0.93-2.37). The prevalence of preceding mood and substance abuse disorders was similarly high in both cases and controls with self-injurious behavior or suicidal ideation; however, preceding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was more than twice as common in the epilepsy cases. Among cases with epilepsy, we did not identify any specific epilepsy-related variable that was significantly correlated with risk of self-injurious behavior or suicidal ideation. Significance Children, teens, and young adults with a history of childhood epilepsy are at greater risk of self-injurious behavior, highlighting the need for careful screening of mental health concerns as part of routine epilepsy care.
Accuracy of 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography for Localization in Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Abstract Background The etiology of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is single-gland adenoma in most patients. Imaging localization of single-gland disease allows for a focused operation. We sought to determine the accuracy of imaging for localizing a solitary parathyroid adenoma. Methods A single-institution retrospective review was performed of adult patients with PHP undergoing parathyroidectomy from January 2017 through December 2018. Surgeon-performed ultrasound (US), four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT), and sestamibi were assessed for localization of a parathyroid adenoma yielding a single-gland parathyroidectomy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated for each imaging modality. Results One hundred fifty-four patients underwent parathyroidectomy for PHP during the study period, with 100 patients meeting inclusion criteria with a mean age of 61.1 (SD 10) y and 80% women. Mean calcium was 11.1 mg/dL (SD 0.7) and mean PTH was 116 pg/mL (SD 66). All 100 patients had surgeon-performed US with 17 localized, 51 patients had 4DCT with 41 (80%) localized, and 69 patients had sestamibi with 53 (77%) localized. Eighty-two patients underwent successful unilateral parathyroidectomy, 18 required bilateral neck exploration. US was the most specific imaging modality at 94%. Accuracy of imaging localization was 32% for US, 70% for sestamibi, and 86% for 4DCT. Conclusions Surgeon-performed US is a highly specific imaging modality for preoperative localization of solitary parathyroid adenoma in patients with PHP. 4DCT is the most accurate imaging localization study and should be considered for patients with a nonlocalized US.
Antibiotic-induced disruption of commensal microbiome linked to increases in binge-like ethanol consumption behavior.

Abstract Research focusing on the gut-brain axis is growing, but the interplay of ethanol (alcohol molecule), the gut microbiome, the brain and behavior is poorly understood. In the current study, we remodeled the gut microbiota by providing adult male C57BL/6J mice with a non-absorbable antibiotic cocktail (ABX) in the drinking water and tested ethanol consumption behavior in a binge-like “Drinking in the Dark” model. Notably, 2 weeks of ABX pre-treatment significantly increased ethanol consumption during the 6 weeks of ethanol exposure in the DID paradigm. ABX treatment also appeared to prevent anxiety-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal period. ABX-treated mice expressed reduced bacterial diversity and modified microbiota compositions within cecal samples. There were drastically reduced levels of commensal Firmicutes and increases in the Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia populations. Importantly, the relative abundance of Firmicutes inversely correlated to ethanol intake levels regardless of antibiotic treatment, whereas Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia populations negatively correlated to ethanol intake levels. This is the first report demonstrating that ABX-induced disruption of the gut commensal microbiota leads to increased ethanol consumption in mice. This work reveals an important relationship between the gut microbiota and ethanol consumption behavior and supports the use of microbial-targeted approaches to study gut-brain interactions during alcohol use disorder.
Inflammation and Epicardial Adipose Tissue in the Pathobiology of Atherogenesis and Neointimal Hyperplasia Following Coronary Intervention

The global incidence of coronary heart diseases (CHDs) has been increasing at an alarmin rate that demands an increasing attention to develop more effective therapeutic interventions and preventive strategies. The basic and applied research have significantly advanced the understanding on the molecular pathology of CHDs and opened multiple translational avenues in the management. Despite the significant enhancement of knowledge in the underlying pathophysiology, atherosclerosis remains a leading cause of global death and disability which is mainly attributed to alterations in LDL phenotype, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and neointimal hyperplasia. Also, the integration of multidisciplinary elements of medical sciences, immunobiology, nutritional science, intervention biology, molecular signaling, vascular cell biology, animal models and translational medicine are warranted in designing improved management strategies. The critical discussion in this article insights into the underlying mechanisms associated with the degenerative changes and inflammatory events leading to atheroma and subsequent CHDs. In addition, the current understanding on the influence of high calorie diets is highlighted in relation to the molecular pathology of CHDs. Also, the prospectus and novel opportunities are discussed regarding next generation management strategies to address the pathological challenges associated with CHDs.
Temperature dependent fracture behavior in model epoxy networks with nanoscale heterogeneity

Abstract The role of nanoscale heterogeneity on the mode I fracture toughness, K I c , of model epoxy networks has been investigated. Model systems utilized consist of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as the epoxide with a stoichiometric amine mixture of a rigid cycloaliphatic diamine (PACM) and a more flexible, polypropylene glycol based diamine (Jeffamine) at different molar ratios. The molecular weight of the Jeffamine was adjusted to further tailor the epoxy properties. Fracture toughness was measured using single edge notched bend samples and hardness was measured by Vickers indentation. Both measurements were performed at temperatures as low as −100 C to above ambient temperatures. Results are interpreted in the context of the Dugdale model of material toughness where the fracture toughness is expressed in terms of a cohesive zone stress (related to the hardness), the elastic modulus (measured directly) and the crack tip opening displacement (obtained from images of the fracture surfaces). High toughness is obtained in heterogeneous networks where a decrease in the cohesive zone stress is offset by sufficiently large increases in the crack tip opening displacement.
Brain cancer incidence rates and the presence of nuclear reactors in US states: a hypothesis-generating study.

The etiology of brain cancer is poorly understood. The only confirmed environmental risk factor is exposure to ionizing radiation. Because nuclear reactors emit ionizing radiation, we examined brain cancer incidence rates in the USA in relation to the presence of nuclear reactors per state. Data on brain cancer incidence rates per state for Whites by sex for three age groups (all ages, 50 and older, and under 50) were obtained from cancer registries. The location, number, and type of nuclear reactor, i.e., power or research reactor, was obtained from public sources. We examined the association between these variables using multivariate linear regression and ANOVA. Brain cancer incidence rates were not associated with the number of nuclear power reactors. Conversely, incidence rates per state increased with the number of nuclear research reactors. This was significant for both sexes combined and for males in the ‘all ages’ category (β = 0.08, p = 0.0319 and β = 0.12, p = 0.0277, respectively), and for both sexes combined in the’50 and older’ category (β = 0.18, p = 0.0163). Brain cancer incidence rates for counties with research reactors were significantly higher than the corresponding rates for their states overall (p = 0.0140). These findings were not explicable by known confounders. Brain cancer incidence rates are positively associated with the number of nuclear research reactors per state. These findings merit further exploration and suggest new opportunities for research in brain cancer epidemiology.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and disease recurrence after curative-intent surgery in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A single-center retrospective review.

e18610Background: Early stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) account for up to 30% of newly diagnosed patients. Until recently, the mainstay of treatment remained curative-intent surgery f...
The coevolution of flower longevity and self-fertilization in hermaphroditic plants.

Self-fertilization, prevalent in plants, is typically divided into three modes - prior, competing and delayed selfing - based on the timing in which it occurs. Flower longevity affects both the opportunity for pollination and the resources allocated for fertility, and thus may influence the selection on different modes of self-fertilization. Additionally, selfing causes fertilization to depend less on pollinators, which may also influence the evolution of flower longevity. Using game-theoretical models, I investigate how inbreeding depression and the pollination environment influences the coevolution of the three modes of self-fertilization with flower longevity. Invasion of prior selfing allows the subsequent evolution of shorter flower longevity, and thus is favored over competing selfing. Prior selfing can also invade even under high inbreeding depression when the pollen deposition rate is low, but is inhibited by a higher level of delayed selfing. In general, the evolution of selfing decreases flower longevity, and reveals asymmetric effects of pollen deposition and removal on flower longevity. This study suggests considering realization of selfing and outcrossing as concrete processes by incorporating flower reproductive strategies (e.g., flower longevity) and pollination ecology (e.g., accrual rate) may offer better understanding of the evolution of mating systems and flower reproductive traits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Efficacy Assessments as Predictors of Uncertainty Preferences

Abstract. Background: Health challenges can cause feelings of uncertainty that individuals intend to reduce, increase, or maintain. Those goals are connected to different information seeking and av...
Effects of hormonal imbalances on dietary requirements.

Publisher Summary Although a considerable volume of literature has appeared on the effects of nutritional deficiencies on endocrine function, much less work has been reported on the effects of hormonal imbalances on dietary requirements. This chapter deals principally with the effects of alterations in growth hormone, thyroid, adrenal cortical and gonadal steroids on dietary needs. Other hormones, such as insulin and parathormone, also influence nutrition, but these will not be considered in the chapter. It is well known that the endocrine glands are important in regulating the metabolism of foodstuffs in the body. Thus, growth hormone increases protein retention and decreases fat deposition; the thyroid influences the metabolism of all foodstuffs; the adrenal cortex helps regulate protein, carbohydrate, fat, salt, and water metabolism; and gonadal hormones may influence the metabolism of proteins, vitamins, or other factors. Dietary needs may remain unchanged when the endocrine glands are secreting hormones within normal ranges. However, when there is a marked excess or deficiency of some hormones in the body, the need for dietary factors may be altered. This problem may have clinical as well as theoretical importance because of (1) the use of hormones in human and animal practice at times in large doses and over extended periods of time, and (2) the occurrence of spontaneous dysfunction of the endocrine glands. If marked changes in endocrine balance can induce or aggravate dietary deficiencies, optimal dietary supplementation should help to alleviate the resulting clinical picture.
Antigenic variation of Anaplasma marginale msp2 occurs by combinatorial gene conversion

The rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale establishes lifelong persistent infection in the mammalian reservoir host, during which time immune escape variants continually arise in part because of variation in the expressed copy of the immunodominant outer membrane protein MSP2. A key question is how the small 1.2 Mb A. marginale genome generates sufficient variants to allow long-term persistence in an immunocompetent reservoir host. The recombination of whole pseudogenes into the single msp2 expression site has been previously identified as one method of generating variants, but is inadequate to generate the number of variants required for persistent infection. In the present study, we demonstrate that recombination of a whole pseudogene is followed by a second level of variation in which small segments of pseudogenes recombine into the expression site by gene conversion. Evidence for four short sequential changes in the hypervariable region of msp2 coupled with the identification of nine pseudogenes from a single strain of A. marginale provides for a combinatorial number of possible expressed MSP2 variants sufficient for lifelong persistence.
Using a historical aerial photograph analysis to inform trout habitat restoration efforts

Restoration of the upper Strawberry River included bank stabilization techniques because it was assumed that excessive bank erosion was degrading spawning habitat for Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT). Using a long-term aerial photograph record, the historical range of variability in bank erosion rates and channel geometry was determined, and this information was used to assess present-day conditions and the rationale for restoration. Relative to historical variability, the channel planform was relatively stable and bank erosion rates were the lowest recorded in the post-disturbance era. Although a historical loss of riparian vegetation coincided with a shift to a wider and more sinuous channel, lateral migration rates declined and the channel narrowed as riparian cover increased in the decades before restoration, indicating a process of natural recovery. Furthermore, it was found that the percentage of fine sediment in the streambed before restoration was insufficient to affect BCT spawning success. Together these results suggest that bank erosion and fine sediment did not affect the quality of spawning habitat or the abundance of BCT on the upper Strawberry River. The results highlight how a historical analysis can be used to identify the sources of habitat degradation and inform the selection of restoration goals and strategies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large area defect-tolerant tree architectures

The authors study the problem of designing large-area defect-tolerant tree architectures under the fault model that each processor, switch, and wire may be defective with independent constant probability. Using expander graphs, it is shown that, for any given constant 0 >
The British intelligence station in San Francisco during the First World War

During World War I, a network of Indian revolutionaries with the logistical aid of Irish nationalists and the financial aid of German agents made efforts to smuggle guns from the United States to India for a revolt against the British Raj. British agents established a forward intelligence station in San Francisco to aid American authorities in halting and prosecuting these violations of US neutrality laws. This article describes these lesser-known activities of British intelligence working with American authorities in San Francisco with the argument that this station was just as active and important as the better-known New York station of British intelligence.
The chemical composition of precipitated austenite in 9Ni steel

Analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy and a novel Mossbauer spectrometry technique were used to measure the chemical composition of austenite particles which precipitate during intercritical tempering of 9Ni steel. Both techniques showed an enrichment of Ni, Mn, Cr, and Si in the austenite. A straightforward analysis involving data on both austenite composition and austenite formation kinetics suggests that the growth of austenite particles is controlled by a 3-dimensional diffusion process. The segregation of solutes to the austenite accounts for much of its stability against the martensitic transformation at low temperatures. Composition inhomogeneities develop in austenite particles after long temperings; the central regions of the particles are lean in solutes and are first to undergo the martensitic transformation. However, changes in solute concentrations of the austenite during long temperings seem too small to account for the large changes in austenite stability. It appears that some of the stability of precipitated austenite must be microstructural in origin.
Legendary Lionel Trains

Legendary Lionel Trains John A. Grams and Terry D. Thompson. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Publishing, 2004. In the preface to Legendary Lionel Trains, Terry D. Thompson dubs Lionel products as "icons of childhood and American culture" (4). Who could doubt him? Over the course of the past century, the Lionel name has become synonymous with toy trains and has become, in many households, part of Christmas tradition and intergenerational bonding. In this beautifully illustrated coffee table book, Thomson and his coauthor John A. Grams chronicle the key products in the three stages of Lionel's history - Early, Golden Era, and Contemporary-focusing on their size, color, and action capabilities rather than their catalog numbers, condition, ratings, and current prices. Thus, the book's appeal is not limited to toy train collectors, but includes "parents and grandparents [who] love pointing at a Lionel and exclaiming, 'That's just like the one I had when I was your age!'" (7). Joshua Lionel Cowen, founder of the Lionel Manufacturing Company, did not set out to make toy trains. An inventor in the new Age of Electricity, he wandered past a store display window in New York City in 1900 and thought that movement, such as a motorized car on a circular track, might win people's attention and help to sell the merchandise. He was right about one thing: those who passed by were mesmerized by the toy trains and wanted to play with them. Thus, the Early Era of Lionel began in 1901, when the company produced its first catalog, which included products such as a wooden gondola car called Electric Express and a trolley car named City Hall Park. In the years that followed, Lionel pioneered two strategies that contributed to the growth of the toy train industry: creating a standardized track gauge and packaging some trains such as a locomotive, cars, and track-in sets (also called "outfits"). In the mid-1920s, Lionel's market researchers ascertained that although most trains were purchased as gifts for boys, the actual buyers were women, who would be drawn to brighter colors. This ushered in a new era characterized by trains in brilliant reds, blues, yellows, and greens. After the stock market crashed in 1929, Lionel faced a financial challenge and began manufacturing mechanical handcars with replicas of cartoon characters, the most popular of which was Disney's Mickey Mouse; they sold briskly. A Grand Central Station set became another beloved toy during this era. …
The remainder term for analytic functions of Gauss-Radau and Gauss-Lobatto quadrature with multiple end points

A study is undertaken of the kernels in the contour integral representations of the remainder terms for Gauss-Radau and Gauss-Lobatto quadrature rules over the interval [-1, 1]. It is assumed that the respective end points in these rules have multiplicity two, and that integration is with respect to one of the four Chebyshev weight functions. Of particular interest is the location on the contour where the modulus of the kernel attains its maximum value. Only elliptic contours are considered having foci at the points +/- 1.
Phytochromes and Cryptochromes in the Entrainment of the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock

Circadian clocks are synchronized by environmental cues such as light. Photoreceptor-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants were used to measure the effect of light fluence rate on circadian period in plants. Phytochrome B is the primary high-intensity red light photoreceptor for circadian control, and phytochrome A acts under low-intensity red light. Cryptochrome 1 and phytochrome A both act to transmit low-fluence blue light to the clock. Cryptochrome 1 mediates high-intensity blue light signals for period length control. The presence of cryptochromes in both plants and animals suggests that circadian input pathways have been conserved throughout evolution.
Flow of granular media through a plane parallel/converging bunker

Abstract Some experimental results of an investigation of the kinematics of sand in a plane bunker model are presented. A non-steady pattern of rupture bands is shown to develop from the discharge outlet towards the traction-free boundary of the material in the initial stage of flow. In the advanced phase of discharge the rupture band pattern undergoes repetitive fluctuations due to the formation of new shear bands and the diminishing of existing ones. The advanced stage of flow is described approximately by a steady velocity field. The theoretical description is based upon the flow theory of isotropic rigid/perfectly plastic material. The solution for incompressible material seems to accurately predict the experimental measurements of the velocity (displacement) vectors and the location of the discontinuities.
A Theoretical Investigation of the Yield-to-Damage Enhancement with Polyatomic Projectiles in Organic SIMS

Experiments show that polyatomic projectiles have the potential to improve the sensitivity of organic secondary ion mass spectrometry by increasing the yield without a comparable increase in damage to the sample. Molecular dynamics simulations of the high energy bombardment of an organic film have been performed with the purpose of understanding how the yield-to-damage ratio is enhanced with polyatomic projectiles. The model systems consist of 0.6 keV Xe and SF5 projectiles bombarding a monolayer of biphenyl molecules on two different substrates, Cu(100) and Si(001). The yield-to-damage ratio is the ratio of the yield, defined as the number of molecules ejected stable and intact, to the damage, defined as the sum of molecules ejected either fragmented or unstable. To have a quantity that is comparable to the experimental definition of damage cross section, a yield-to-disappearance ratio, defined as the ratio of the yield to the sum of the yield and damage, is also calculated. The enhancements in both the yield-to-damage and yield-to-disappearance ratios show the same trends, with the greatest enhancement on the substrate with the open lattice structure and the lighter mass atoms, 12 Si(100). Polyatomic projectiles are able to increase the yield more than the damage because different types of motion are responsible for the production of the two types of molecules. The yield is enhanced when the polyatomic projectile deposits energy into upward moving substrate atoms over a wider surface area, which leads to a greater number of intact and stable molecules ejected from the surface. Damage to molecules is caused primarily by the impact of the bombarding projectile.
Geochemistry and geothermometry of spring water from the Blackfoot Reservoir region, southeastern Idaho

Abstract The Blackfoot Reservoir region in southeastern Idaho is recognized as a potential geothermal area because of the presence of several young rhyolite domes (50,000 years old), Quaternary basalt flows, and warm springs. North- to northwest-trending high-angle normal faults of Tertiary to Holocene age appear to be the dominant structural control of spring activity. Surface spring-water temperatures average 14°C except for a group of springs west of the Reservoir Mountains which average 33°C. Chemical geothermometers applied to fifty water samples give temperatures less than 75°C except for eight springs along the Corral Creek drainage. The springs along Corral Creek have Na-K-Ca temperatures that average 354°C, a direct result of high potassium concentrations in the water. A correction for carbon dioxide applied to the Na-K-Ca geothermometer lowers the estimated temperatures of the anomalous springs to near the measured surface temperatures, and Na-K-Ca-Mg temperatures for the anomalous springs are near 100°C. Mixing model calculations suggest that hot water with a temperature of approximately 120°C may be mixing with cooler, more dilute water in the springs from the Corral Creek drainage, a temperature supported by Na-K-Ca-Mg temperatures and mineral saturation temperatures. Stability relations of low-temperature phases in the system indicate that the large concentrations of potassium in the eight anomalous springs are derived from reactions with the potassium-bearing minerals muscovite and K-feldspar. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases may be derived through the oxidation of organic matter accompanied by the reduction of sulfate. Concentrations of major and minor elements, and gases found in springs of the Blackfoot Reservoir region are due to water-rock reactions at temperatures less than 100°C. Based on spring geochemistry, a geothermal reservoir of 100°C up to 120°C may exist at shallow (less than 2 km) depths in the Blackfoot Reservoir region.
Real-time filtering for the estimation of steady-state visual evoked brain potentials

It is shown that EEG visual evoked potentials elicited by repetitive stimuli in the range of 2 to 20 per second can be readily estimated in real time using a simple filtering approach. This measurement takes advantage of the fact that a comb filter will pass the important Fourier harmonics of the signal to provide an estimate of the evoked activity and track time variations in the signal. Results on human subjects demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. >
Beyond safe harbor: automatic discovery of health information de-identification policy alternatives

Regulations in various countries permit the reuse of health information without patient authorization provided the data is "de-identified". In the United States, for instance, the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act defines two distinct approaches to achieve de-identification; the first is Safe Harbor, which requires the removal of a list of identifiers and the second is Expert Determination, which requires that an expert certify the re-identification risk inherent in the data is sufficiently low. In reality, most healthcare organizations eschew the expert route because there are no standardized approaches and Safe Harbor is much simpler to interpret. This, however, precludes a wide range of worthwhile endeavors that are dependent on features suppressed by Safe Harbor, such as gerontological studies requiring detailed ages over 89. In response, we propose a novel approach to automatically discover alternative de-identification policies that contain no more re-identification risk than Safe Harbor. We model this task as a lattice-search problem, introduce a measure to capture the re-identification risk, and develop an algorithm that efficiently discovers polices by exploring the lattice. Using a cohort of approximately 3000 patient records from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as well as the Adult dataset from the UCI Machine Learning Repository, we also experimentally verify that a large number of alternative policies can be discovered in an efficient manner.
Latour goes to kindergarten: Children marshaling allies in a spontaneous argument about what counts as science

Abstract Increasingly, researchers interested in science education have come to recognize the value of promoting scientific practices—ways of talking, acting, and engaging with ideas such as conducting inquiry—instead of simply helping students to memorize facts or complete experiments whose purpose they cannot yet discern. By focusing on activities that are typically viewed as core to science, this research may inadvertently overlook those ancillary activities where students demonstrate and refine their own understanding of what constitutes science in non-normative ways, particularly in early elementary classrooms. We propose the use of the Actor–Network Theory as a way of framing and examining students' scientific discourse and offering a fruitful approach to recognizing the strengths that young children bring to science education. From this perspective, students' ability to engage in arguments where they enlist allies—including their peers, the teacher, and scientific norms—are an important and understudied resource. We present a case-study analysis of six kindergarten and first-grade students engaging in an impromptu debate as an illustration of the proposed analytic frame, organized around the three questions: 1) what is being negotiated, 2) who and what are the actors being leveraged in the negotiation, and 3) how are the actors constructed into networks?
Chemical treatment of stones in the biliary tree.

Classification des calculs: frequence, composition, mode de formation. Traitement chimique: selection des agents. Perspectives d'avenir
Normal vibrations and friction at a Hertzian contact under random excitation: Theory and experiments

Abstract Non-linear stochastic contact vibrations at a Hertzian contact are studied using the Fokker-Planck equation. The vibrations are excited either externally to the contact region by a white Gaussian random normal load, or within the contact region by a rough surface input. The statistics of the stationary response are obtained for each case. The parametric dependence of the normal motions and contact area on various contact parameters is investigated. Due to the non-linear Hertzian compliance, the mean normal contact compression under dynamic excitation is smaller than the static deflection in the absence of vibrations. One also finds a reduction in the average area of contact and, by implication, in the mean friction force. It is found that for a 5% probability of contact loss, a reduction in the mean friction force of approximately 9% is expected. Average friction measurements taken during continuous sliding are in agreement with the analysis. Changes in the probability density function of the friction force with sliding, as predicted by the analysis, are also shown to be in good agreement with measured friction data. The results are consistent with the adhesion theory of friction in both an instantaneous and an average sense; even in the presence of substantial fluctuations in the normal contact force.
Formal Education in Wildland Hydrology and Watershed Management in North America

: A survey was made to determine the status of formal education in wildland hydrology by colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As of December 1977 nine institutions offered the B.S. degree, 18 the M.S. degree, and 17 the degree of Ph.D. with a major or minor in watershed management, forest hydrology, or range hydrology. In addition, 8 other schools offer a minor in watershed management. The survey indicated 44 schools in the United States offer a total of 157 courses, five schools in Canada offer 24 courses, and 1 in Mexico offers one course in the related areas. The survey illustrated rapid growth in education programs and it is anticipated that growth will continue.
Work, Performance, and the Social Ethic of Global Capitalism: Understanding Religious Practice in Contemporary India

This ethnographic essay focuses on the relationship between religious performances and the “strong discourse” of contemporary global capitalism. It explores the subjective meaning and social significance of religious practice in the context of a rapidly expanding mass religious phenomenon in India. The narrative draws on Weber's insights on the intersections between religion and economy, phenomenological theory, performance studies, and Indian philosophy and popular culture. It shows that religion here is primarily a means of performing to and preparing for an informal economy. It gives the chance to live meaningful social lives while challenging the inequities and symbolic violence of an imposing global capitalist social ethic. Unlike exclusive formal institutions that are increasingly governed by neoliberal rationalities, the religious event provides an open and freely accessible yet challenging stage for participants to practice and prove their resolve, gifts, and sincerity. In contrast to the focus on social anomie and the reactionary characterization of contemporary religion in identity-based arguments, this essay demonstrates that religious practice here is simultaneously a way of performing to and performing against a totalizing capitalist social order.
Weak homogeneity of metric pythagorean orthogonality

It is known that euclidean or hyperbolic spaces are characterized among certain metric spaces by the property of linearity of the equidistant locus of pairs of points. In this paper, this linearity requirement is replaced by the requirement of convexity of the set of points which are metrically pythagorean orthogonal to a given segment at a given point. As a result a new characterization of real inner product spaces among complete, convex, externally convex metric spaces is obtained.
Dependence of scar contrast in LGE images on the time interval after contrast injection

It was shown that LGE imaging can be used to evaluate post-ablation scar [1,2] and pre-ablation remodeling of left atrium [3]. Visibility of scar depends on a time interval between contrast agent injection and LGE scan. In this study, we try to determine, what time post contrast injection would give optimal contrast between post-ablation scar and blood (CNRSB) and scar and normal myocardium (CNRSM).
A variable geometry high-purity germanium detector telescope system for use with intermediate energy charged particles

Abstract A versatile variable geometry detector telescope system consisting of silicon surface barrier and high-purity germanium planar detector has been developed and used at intermediate light ion energies at IUCF for several years. Detailed descriptions of the telescope system and its operational properties are given. The practical experiences of using detectors fabricated from both n- and p-type high-purity germanium for a variety of particles and energies are described along with details of the effects of long-term storage, radiation damage, and radiation damage annealing procedures on detector properties. Diffusion of the Li n+ contact after many radiation damage and anneal cycles is also discussed.
Insect sting allergy and venom immunotherapy: a model and a mystery

Whole-body extracts of Hymenoptera were used for diagnosis and treatment until controlled clinical trials proved them no better than placebo, whereas venom is 85% to 98% effective. Studies of natural history reveal why whole-body extracts were thought to work. The chance of future systemic reactions is low in large local reactors and in most children and varies between 20% and 70% in adults. Venom skin tests are most accurate, but RAST is an important complementary test. The degree of sensitivity on skin tests or RASTs does not reliably predict the severity of a sting reaction. Venom immunotherapy is recommended for patients at high risk for sting reactions. Rapid regimens are as safe as slower regimens. The recommended dose is 100 μg, but some patients require higher doses for full protection. Venom immunotherapy is continued every 4 to 8 weeks for at least 5 years in most cases. Skin test results become negative in only 25% after 5 years of therapy but in 60% to 70% after 7 to 10 years. When treatment is stopped after 5 years or more, there is a 10% chance of systemic reaction to each future sting, but most reactions are mild. Some patients have a higher risk of relapse and should continue treatment for an extended period.
Notes on the Emergence of Protestant Education in Germany

The movement of the Germanic peoples from the barbaric state that the Romans found them in during the days of Julius Caesar to the highly civilized and educated condition of today is a long and complex history. At the heart of that development over the centuries was first the shift to Roman culture; then the slow adoption of Roman Catholicism and integration into the Holy Roman Empire; and finally the inception of the Protestant Reformation under the leadership of Martin Luther. Roman Catholicism had introduced some notion of the Christian faith, but did not lead to broad education of the common people. This article explores the historical connection between the biblical principles of the Protestant Reformation—especially the rediscovered doctrine of the priesthood of the believer and the authority of the scriptures—and the movement to universal education in the Protestant Germanic states. The correlation of the two is strongly apparent in German history, and establishes the biblical foundation for univer...
Paper: A parallel algorithm for the unbalanced orthogonal procrustes problem

In this paper, a new iterative algorithm is presented for approximating a solution for the orthogonal Procrustes problem min @[email protected]?"F with Q^TQ=I, where [email protected][email protected]?^l^x^m, [email protected][email protected]?^l^x^n and m>n. The new algorithm constructs a transformation Q by computing a sequence of plane rotations. Thus, it is simpler than the existing algorithms that use the recursive singular value decomposition updates, and can be efficiently implemented in a parallel environment. We give an analysis that shows how the new algorithm approximates the solution matrix Q and present an example for which the existing algorithm does not give the correct answer. Numerical experimental results show that the new algorithm has favorable convergence results. Finally we discuss the parallel implementation of the algorithm on a parallel architecture.
Pseudointraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia caused by microscopic periductal endocrine tumors of the pancreas: a report of 3 cases

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms constitute histologically distinctive pancreatic tumors characterized by cystically dilated pancreatic ducts lined by papillary epithelium, often with extensive mucin production. With increasing awareness of and vigilance for these tumors, there has been a surge in the incidence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in the last few decades. However, resections of presumed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms sometimes reveal other types of cystic lesions. Here we describe 3 cases of small, incidentally identified pancreatic endocrine tumors that focally compressed the main pancreatic duct and presented clinically, radiologically, and grossly as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. The histology of the dilated ducts in all cases lacked convincing features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, prompting more careful examination of the specimens and eventual identification of small well-differentiated endocrine neoplasms. The constellation of findings represented by pancreatic endocrine neoplasm-associated duct stricture and dilatation can mimic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm clinically and pathologically. Awareness of this phenomenon can potentially avoid misdiagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in such cases.
AQUIFER THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE-A SURVEY

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Degree of patient pain, complications, and satisfaction after root canal treatment or a single implant: a preliminary prospective investigation.

Abstract Introduction Dentists often face the choice between tooth retention with root canal treatment and tooth replacement with implant treatment. To date, there has not been a prospective clinical trial directly comparing nonsurgical root canal treatment and single delayed implant therapy with regard to the degree of preoperative and postoperative pain, complications, and patient satisfaction. Methods Twenty-four patients had initial nonsurgical root canal treatment, and another 24 had single implant treatment in healed sites. Questionnaires were given at pretreatment, 7 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Results All patients completed the 12-month follow-up period. No significant difference in pain, complications, or overall satisfaction was noted between the 2 groups at any of the time points (P > .05). However, there were differences within each group between the time points. There was more pain at pretreatment for root canal treatment and 7-day post-treatment point for single implant treatment than any other time point. For complications, more were reported at the 7-day post-treatment point than any other time point for both groups. With overall satisfaction, there was no difference from any time point for either group. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that patients perceive both treatments with high degrees of satisfaction with minimal pain and discomfort. Differences were found at different time points of treatment and were related to the nature of the treatment itself. This information is useful to help patients with treatment decisions.
Displacement gradient and deformation in normal fault systems

Abstract All fault systems contain faults with lateral (strike-parallel) displacement gradients. Lateral displacement gradients give rise to elongations parallel to fault cutoffs in either or both of the footwall and hanging wall fault blocks. We present a simple method for estimating cutoff parallel elongation based on geometric fault and fault-block elements. These elements are readily measured in the field or from maps and subsurface data, and include orientations of cutoff lines, faults, and displacement directions. Displacement gradients on overlapping normal faults produce relay ramps. Deformation within a relay ramp includes tilting, extension parallel to bounding cutoff lines, vertical axis rotation, and eventual breakthrough of the ramp. Relay ramp deformation is sensitive to fault displacement directions—oblique slip directions on the ramp bounding faults can cause contraction (restraining-step sense of displacement and overlap) or enhanced ramp extension (releasing-step sense of displacement and overlap). Relay ramp extension accommodated by brittle faulting and extension fracturing is important for locally altering porosity and permeability in fractured aquifers and reservoirs. Locally enhanced fault and extension fracture density can provide fast pathways for infiltration, percolation, and flow of groundwater, or barriers to fluid movement and can influence rock quality and stability of underground excavations. An example of strain localization in a displacement transfer zone from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed site for a high-level radioactive waste repository, is examined.
Hot Cracking Study of High Chromium Nickel-Base Weld Filler Metal 52MSS (ERNiCrFe-13) for Nuclear Applications

High chromium nickel-base weld filler metals 52 (ERNiCrFe-7) and 52M (ERNiCrFe-7A) have in recent years replaced filler metal 82 (ERNiCr-3) for new fabrication and for repair applications in commercial nuclear power plants. Filler metals 52 and 52M are selected because they have excellent resistance to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). Unfortunately, filler metals 52 and 52M exhibit a higher susceptibility to ductility-dip cracking (DDC) compared to filler metal 82. Filler metal 52MSS (ERNiCrFe-13) is a new high chromium nickel-base alloy with Nb and Mo added to improve resistance to ductility-dip cracking. Increasing Nb has in previous research been shown to widen the solidification temperature range in nickel-base alloys. A wider solidification temperature range can potentially increase susceptibility to hot cracking. This study investigated the solidification behavior and hot cracking susceptibility of three heats of 52MSS and compared the results to a heat of filler metal 52M and a heat of filler metal 52i. The solidification behavior and hot cracking susceptibility were investigated by an optimized Transvarestraint test and by a next generation Cast Pin Tear Test (CPTT). The solidification temperature range and eutectic transformations were measured by a patented Single Sensor Differential Thermal Analysis (SS-DTA) technique. This study showed that filler metal 52MSS was slightly more susceptible to hot cracking than 52M and 52i. This study also demonstrated that the next generation CPTT and SS-DTA technique are effective methods for evaluating the solidification behavior and hot cracking susceptibility of high chromium nickel-base weld filler metals.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Fast time-domain simulation for large-order linear time-invariant state space systems

Time-domain simulation is essential for both analysis and design of complex systems. Unfortunately, high model fidelity leads to large system size and bandwidths, often causing excessive computatio ...
Using Infrared Thermography for Detecting Defects on Surfaces With Low and Variable Emissivity

Currently infrared scanning technology has been successfully applied for the detection of a wide variety of defects in many applications provided that the surfaces have a high emissivity that doesn’t reflect radiation from outside sources. However, surfaces with low and variable emissivity present a challenge for the application of this technology because infrared cameras and sensors cannot differentiate between the emitted radiation from the surface of interest and those reflected from outside sources. The system presented is an attempt to reduce and/or remove the effects of reflected radiation to increase the system’s applicability beyond the limit of high emissivity surfaces. Physical hardware and computer software are used in concert with radiative heat transfer equations to first determine the emissivity of each point on the surface, then use that information obtained to accurately depict the surface temperature. While this newest iteration of the system development has addressed many important issues regarding accuracy, efficiency as well as performance enhancement in the removal of the artifacts of reflected radiation, the technique still has difficulties to be applied to most surfaces with variable emissivity.© 2009 ASME