cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of the molecular dipole moment using active microwave thermography (AMT)

Abstract A method for implementing Active Microwave Thermography (AMT) for use in determining molecular dipole moments is reported. Specifically, the experimental setup along with a mathematical model for determining the dipole moment for deionized water is reported herein. The thermal and spatial resolution of the camera is shown to be of utmost importance in providing statistical and regional relevance, respectfully, of the properties of the material being studied. Deionized water in particular was studied in order to provide foundational knowledge for the veracity of using AMT in determining dipole moment values and representative values are reported herein. In order to extend the technique to more localized regions and composite systems, a more complex model and upgraded hardware are required.
Gender Justice in Post-Conflict Guatemala: The Sepur Zarco Sexual Violence and Sexual Slavery Trial

Guatemala is breaking new ground with a series of high-impact war crimes prosecutions. The 2016 Sepur Zarco trial was one such landmark case: it was the first time that Guatemala prosecuted wartime sexual violence, and the first time that a domestic court prosecuted sexual slavery as a crime against humanity. This case also set important precedents in legal and evidentiary practice. Based on my direct observation of the Sepur Zarco case, this paper examines the legal practices that placed the women- survivors, not the defendants, at the forefront of the proceedings, and which proved that the state of Guatemala systematically used sexual violence as a weapon of war against women and as a strategy to control the civilian population. It also examines the evidentiary practices in this case, which allowed not only for a conviction more than 30 years after the crimes, but for a broader understanding of the historical context, including land conflict, that led to the atrocities in Sepur Zarco. By piercing the veil of impunity surrounding wartime atrocities and making visible the faces of the victims — indigenous men and women who have historically been relegated to the margins of Guatemalan society — the Sepur Zarco trial is challenging entrenched narratives of denial that have sustained the power of military officials whose influence continues to shape present-day politics in the Central American nation.
Designing Neural Networks Using Logical Specs

As systems that deploy machine learning models become more and more pervasive, there is an urgent need to ensure their reliability and safety. While recent years have seen a lot of progress in techniques for verification and validation of machine learning models, reasoning about and explaining their behaviors remains challenging. This paper introduces a new approach for creating machine learning models where instead of the traditional supervised learning using data, the models are directly synthesized from specifications, and thus, are correct by construction. Our focus is binary classifiers with boolean features. Specifically, our approach translates relational specifications written in the well-known modeling language Alloy to neural networks that run on the widely used Tensorflow backend. Our key insight is that a slight enhancement of traditional boolean gates can provide a rich intermediate representation that readily translates to neural networks. To translate the enhanced gates to neural networks, we employ a state-of-the-art program synthesis framework that allows us to find minimal neural networks. The translation of Alloy specifications then follows the standard translation to boolean logic with the exception of utilizing the enhanced boolean gates, followed by a translation to neural networks. We embody our approach in a prototype tool and use it for experimental evaluation. The experimental results show that our approach allows synthesis of neural networks that are hard to create using traditional training methods.
Bronchoscopic Management of Endobronchial Atypical Carcinoid With Argon Plasma Coagulation and Laser: A Rare Case With Literature Review.

Atypical carcinoid belongs to a spectrum of neuroendocrine tumors that can present as central airway obstruction. We treated a 58-year-old female who presented with recurrent pneumonia. Flexible bronchoscopy showed complete obstruction of the tumor in the right lower lobe. The tumor was excised by electrocautery snare followed by laser and argon plasma coagulation (APC). Endobronchial biopsy showed atypical carcinoid with lymph node metastasis. Succeeding bronchoscopic management, the patient's symptoms improved. In our patient, bronchoscopy with laser and APC was performed to prevent tumor recurrence after resection and reduce the risk of recurrent postobstructive pneumonia. Surveillance computed tomography at six months showed no evidence of recurrence. Bronchoscopic management should be considered in poor surgical candidates or patients with metastatic disease.
Structure-Function Relationships of the Vertebral Endplate

Abstract Background Although deformation and fracture of the vertebral endplate have been implicated in spinal conditions such as vertebral fracture and disc degeneration, few biomechanical studies of this structure are available. The goal of this study was to quantify the mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate. Methods Eight-five rectangular specimens were dissected from the superior and/or inferior central endplates of human lumbar spine segments L1-L4. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging, four-point-bend testing, and ashing were performed to quantify the apparent elastic modulus and yield stress (modulus and yield stress, respectively, of the porous vertebral endplate), tissue yield stress (yield stress of the tissue of the vertebral endplate, excluding pores), ultimate strain, fracture strain, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and various measures of tissue density and composition (tissue mineral density, ash fraction, and ash density). Regression was used to assess the dependence of mechanical properties on density and composition. Results Wide variations in elastic and failure properties, and in density and tissue composition, were observed. BMD and BV/TV were good predictors of many of the apparent-level mechanical properties, including modulus, yield stress, and in the case of the inferior vertebral endplate, failure strains. Similar values of the mechanical properties were noted between superior and inferior vertebral endplates. In contrast to the dependence of apparent stiffness and strength on BMD and BV/TV, none of the mechanical properties depended on any of the tissue-level density measurements. Conclusion The dependence of many of the mechanical properties of the vertebral endplate on BV/TV and BMD suggests possibilities for non-invasive assessment of how this region of the spine behaves during habitual and injurious loading. Further study of the non-mineral components of the endplate tissue is required to understand how the composition of this tissue may influence the overall mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate.
The Parent Factor: Collaborating with Parents to Promote Mental Health Treatment

Parent involvement in their college student’s mental health has increased, perhaps in light of the growing number and complexity of mental health problems on campuses. Parents are more aware of mental health problems in the college population and expect campuses to provide services for their students. College psychiatrists and other psychiatric providers may find themselves collaborating with parents, after obtaining consent from the student, in a variety of situations: the student is experiencing suicidal thoughts; has been psychiatrically hospitalized; or has a serious substance use disorder that puts their life at risk. Even in non-emergent situations, parents can provide valuable information to the psychiatric provider regarding developmental and family history, and also serve as a source of support for the student. This chapter provides examples of how best to work with parents to promote safety and obtain the right level of treatment for the student. It also covers studies regarding parent involvement in college mental health, and reviews the changing laws and policies regarding communicating with parents with and without a student’s consent. Psychiatrists and other psychiatric providers should consider parent collaboration as part of the treatment plan when it will be clinically beneficial to student.
A Taxonomy of Snow Crystal Growth Behaviors: 1. Using c-axis Ice Needles as Seed Crystals

I describe a new approach to the classification of snow crystal morphologies that focuses on the most common growth behaviors that appear in normal air under conditions of constant applied temperature and water-vapor supersaturation. The resulting morphological structures are generally robust with respect to small environmental changes and thus should be especially amenable to computational modeling. Because spontaneous structure formation depends on initial conditions, the choice of seed crystal can be an important consideration, and I have found that slender c-axis ice needles provide an exceptionally good starting point for this series of investigations. A sharp needle tip exposes a single basal surface that often simplifies subsequent morphological development, and the absence of a nearby substrate allows for the exploration of a broad range of supersaturations with well-controlled boundary conditions. The overarching goal of this endeavor is to facilitate detailed quantitative comparisons between laboratory ice-growth experiments and corresponding computational models, which will should greatly improve our understanding of the ice/vapor molecular attachment kinetics as well as our ability to model diffusion-limited growth dynamics in the ice/vapor system. This specific case-study of water ice connects broadly to many areas in aqueous chemistry, cryobiology, and environmental science, while the physical principles of molecular attachment kinetics and diffusion-limited growth apply more generally to other systems in crystal growth and materials science.
A Consensus Algorithm for Linear Support Vector Machines

In the era of big data, an important weapon in a machine learning researcher’s arsenal is a scalable support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. Traditional algorithms for learning SVMs scale superline...
Inhaled Nitric Oxide via High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Related to COVID-19.

INTRODUCTIONLimited evidence exists regarding use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in spontaneously breathing patients. We evaluated the effectiveness of continuous iNO via high-flow nasal cannula (HF...
Agencies, educators, communities and wildfire: partnerships to enhance environmental education for youth

We studied seven programs that engage youth from 10 to 18 years old in wildfire risk reduction in their communities in the United States through in-depth interviews to examine the nature and role of community-school partnerships in resource-focused environmental education. While the programs use a variety of strategies, from Scout badge to summer school, they exhibit several common dimensions: they all engage youth in community projects; they all arise from partnerships between resource agencies, community organizations, and educators; they all began when people familiar with both wildfire and youth education saw an opportunity to improve the community and educate youth through action; and all partners are able to contribute to the common program yet retain their individual identity as they meet their own mission-based goals. We use themes and quotes to illustrate these common dimensions for establishing community-school partnerships that could build action competence through environment-based education p...
Esophageal perforation caused by edible foreign bodies: a systematic review of the literature

Objectives/Hypothesis Presentation of a case of esophageal perforation caused by ingestion of a foreign body that was difficult to visualize endoscopically, and systematic review of the current literature with a focus on available diagnostic modalities and missed diagnoses. Data Sources MEDLINE (1946–2014) Review Methods We conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE for cases and studies of esophageal perforation due to foreign bodies. Results A systematic review of esophageal perforations caused by foreign bodies revealed 40 studies that included 168 patients. Neck/chest pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia were the most common presenting symptoms—each occurring in the majority of patients. Where reported, diagnostic sensitivity of lateral neck X-rays was 56%, and computed tomography (CT) scan was 100%. Nine of 168 cases specifically mentioned a missed diagnosis. Very few studies reported a failure to visualize the foreign object at the time of primary rigid or flexible esophagoscopy. No studies reported nonvisualization of the foreign body at the time of open surgery. Conclusion Esophageal perforations due to foreign bodies are rare but carry potentially devastating complications. Delays in diagnosis are common, and no standard diagnostic algorithm exists. Lateral neck X-rays are an easy but insensitive screening test. Laryngoscopy is an excellent screening test but not always diagnostic. CT is a more sensitive diagnostic method, which can also help guide management based on the detection of complications. Although seldom described, if an object is not visualized at the time of endoscopic or surgical intervention, follow-up CT may be useful in determining the persistence of effects of the perforation or the foreign body. Laryngoscope, 125:371–378, 2015
Learning and enforcement: stabilizing environments to facilitate activity

Abstract One of the basic assumptions of work in machine learning is that the environments in which our learning systems are situated are stable enough to make learning useful. While this assumption is warranted in most domains, much of what we tend to think of as a natural regularity in the world has often been artificially imposed in order to make both learning and planning more tractable. This imposition is usually the product of a long-term manipulation of the physical structure, goals, and operators of these domains in the direction of maximal utility. Often, however, it is the product of an agent imposing stability on a domain in an effort to increase the utility of his own planning and learning. This paper examines the idea of what it would mean for an agent to strategically impose order on a domain in an effort to increase the effectiveness of its own learning. In particular, it outlines an initial taxonomy of classes of stability and presents the strategies for increasing overall stability that are associated with each class. Finally, it outlines the basic learning and planning trade-offs that have to be made when stability is optimized.
Ribosome-catalyzed peptide-bond formation.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the essential features of ribosome-catalyzed peptide-bond formation and the involvement of ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) in the catalysis of this critical reaction. Peptide-bond formation, the covalent linkage of amino acids during messenger RNA (mRNA) translation, is among the most fundamental biochemical transformations in nature and is the principal catalytic activity of ribosomes. Ribosomes are complex ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles, comprising in all organisms of two subunits; in the eubacterium Escherichia coli, the 30-S ribosomal subunit is composed of 16-S rRNA and a single copy each of 21 ribosomal proteins, whereas the 50-S ribosomal subunit consists of 5-S rRNA, 23-S rRNA, and 32 different proteins, one of which is present in four copies. Translation of mRNA is initiated, by the assembly of a ternary coniplex, between the 30-5 subunit, mRNA, and the initiation-specific aminoacyl tRNA (aa-tRNA) substrate, fMet-tRNA fMet . However, the ribosome is a processive enzyme; thus, following the peptide-bond formation, a translocation event occurs, in which the movement of tRNA substrates and mRNA is promoted, by interaction with another GTPase elongation factor G.
Basic research strategies for resolving remediation needs in contaminated fractured media

This paper describes a multidisciplinary endeavor to develop and employ basic research strategies for guiding remediation efforts in contaminated fractured subsurface media at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It gives a brief overview of research activities spanning the past 15 years that have sought to provide both an improved understanding of and a predictive capability for contaminant transport processes in highly structured, heterogeneous subsurface environments that are complicated by fracture flow and matrix diffusion. Our approach involved a multiscale (cm-to-ha) experimental and numerical endeavor to investigate coupled time-dependent hydrological and geochemical processes that control contaminant migration in unsaturated and saturated soil and rock. Novel tracer techniques and experimental manipulation strategies were applied at laboratory, intermediate, and field scales to unravel the influence of multiple processes on contaminant fate and transport. The basic research strategies have significantly improved our conceptual understanding of time-dependent solute migration in fractured subsurface media. This information has proven useful in decision-making processes regarding selection of effective remedial actions and interpretation of monitoring results after remediation is complete.
Exploring Sustainable Development

Martin Purvis and Alan Grainger, eds. Sterling, VA: Earthscan Publications Limited, 2004. xiv and 401 pp., index. $39.95 paperback (ISBN 1-85383-472-6), $110 cloth (ISBN 1-84407-107-3). When one be...
Alternate path FDDI topology

An alternate path fiber distributed data interface (APFDDI) topology is described. This topology is compared with a definition for computer survivability. Experimental results prove that the topology works. The token flow is described. Control and reconfiguration delay times for the APFDDI are discussed. Many commercial and military applications exist where APFDDI will provide important redundancy not available with other topologies. >
Summary and Comparison of Myeloid Growth Factor Guidelines in Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and its complications are major dose-limiting toxicities of cancer chemotherapy. The myeloid growth factors have been shown to reduce the risk of neutropenic events across malignancies, regimens, and associated risk categories often enabling the delivery of greater chemotherapy dose intensity. Three different practice guidelines for the myeloid growth factors have recently been published by major professional organizations. A comprehensive review and comparison of the guidelines using a priori structured content criteria and a previously validated quality appraisal tool are reported. Consistency in the final recommendations from these guidelines is observed for primary prophylaxis with the colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) when the risk of febrile neutropenia is in the range of 20% or greater. There is also consistency in the recommendation that patients receiving regimens associated with lower risk should have CSF use guided by individual risk assessment. Critical quality appraisal indicates that the scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, and applicability of the guidelines differ little. There is more emphasis on comprehensive literature reviews in the ASCO and EORTC guidelines while the NCCN guidelines are more current based on systematic annual updates. The clarity of presentation also favors the NCCN guidelines with recommendations generally presented as both text and algorithmic diagram. All three new or updated guidelines recommend prophylactic use of the myeloid growth factors in patients at greater than a 20% risk of febrile neutropenia and in those with important factors increasing individual risk of neutropenic complications.
An efficient partial differential equation formulation for solving electromagnetic scattering from arbitrarily-shaped bodies of revolution

The authors consider the direct solution of the partial differential equations arising in the problem of electromagnetic scattering by an arbitrarily shaped perfectly conducting body of revolution (BOR). The BOR may. in general, be coated with one or more layers of dielectric material. The approach of R. Mittra and R.K. Gordon (1989) is generalized to arbitrarily shaped BORs by means of boundary-fitted curvilinear coordinates that avoid the problem of staircasing in the process of describing the geometry of the scatterer. As a numerical example, the authors consider the problem of a finite conducting cylinder, illuminated by a plane wave incident upon it. >
Coherent-potential-approximation calculations for Pd H x

The angular-momentum components of the density of states (DOS) for substoichiometric $\mathrm{Pd}{\mathrm{H}}_{x}$ were calculated by the coherent-potential approximation (CPA). A tight-binding form of the CPA was used, based on a Slater-Koster fit to first-principles APW calculations. The CPA DOS's have been used to calculate the electron-phonon interaction and superconducting transition temperatures as a function of hydrogen concentration $x$. The results are in good agreement with experiment and with previous calculations in which the rigid-band model was utilized. The CPA results for the electronic-specific-heat coefficient as a function of $x$ are in excellent agreement with experiment while the results of the rigid-band model are not.
Evaluation of Rumble Strips and Police Presence as Speed Control Measures in Highway Work Zones

This paper presents the results of a field study conducted on western New York State (NYS) highway work zones to evaluate two types of speed control devices: (1) rumble strips, and (2) police presence in combination with rumble strips. The study included speed measurements of approximately 554,400 vehicles. The most commonly used rumble strips comprise of either raised asphalt humps, or grooves cut in the pavement. In both of these two practices, the pavement is damaged, and the layout requires closing the road for extended periods. This project tested the effectiveness of two types of rumble strips: 3M and Swarco. These rumble strips do not damage the pavement, have the potential of repeated use, and are installed in a short period of time. The 3M rumble strips utilized on Interstate-86 were effective in reducing the passenger car (PC) speeds by approximately 3.86 km∕h (2.4 mph) , the two-axle four-tire vehicle speeds by 2.25 km∕h (1.4 mph) , and the five-axle single trailer vehicles by 3.22 km∕h (2.0 mp...
Necrotizing Retinitis Caused by Opportunistic Virus Infection in a Patient with Hodgkin's Disease

A 33-year-old woman with Hodgkin's disease developed a painless progressive loss of vision in both eyes. Despite an ophthalmoscopic appearance of white-yellow retinal necrosis and retinal hemorrhage similar to that described with Hodgkin's disease, no sign of the disorder was found at autopsy. Instead, widespread evidence of Herpesviridae family virus infection was present in several organs, including the retinas. Opportunistic infection, including herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus, should be considered when retinitis complicates Hodgkin's disease.
Numerical solutions for some coupled systems of nonlinear boundary value problems

In the well-known Volterra-Lotka model concerning two competing species with diffusion, the densities of the species are governed by a coupled system of reaction diffusion equations. The aim of this paper is to present an iterative scheme for the steady state solutions of a finite difference system which corresponds to the coupled nonlinear boundary value problems. This iterative scheme is based on the method of upper-lower solutions which leads to two monotone sequences from some uncoupled linear systems. It is shown that each of the two sequences converges to a nontrivial solution of the discrete equations. The model under consideration may have one, two or three nonzero solutions and each of these solutions can be computed by a suitable choice of initial iteration. Numerical results are given for these solutions under both the Dirichlet boundary condition and the mixed type boundary condition.
Effect of Dyes on the Growth of Food Yeasts

Organic dyes were incorporated in YM medium individually at various concentrations (1:1,000 to 1:1,000,000 dilutions) to test their effects on growth of 33 food-related yeasts (e.g. Saccharomyces spp. and Candida spp.). Of 101 dyes tested, many (e.g. Bismarck brown Y, Brilliant cresyl blue, Congo red, Crystal violet, Diphenyl red 4BS supra, Erionyl Red B, Jannus green B, Malachite green, Methyl green, Methyl red, Methyl violet 2B, Nylomine red C-G, Phenosafranin, Safranin Y, Telon yellow GRL) showed potential application for selective isolation and differentiation of specific food yeast species. Candida lipolytica can be effectively selected from other yeasts on a Crystal violet medium (1: 1,000) and Malachite green medium (1:250,000) by providing distinctive white coarsely folded colonies. Trypan blue, Atlantic sky blue FF, Erie brilliant violet B, Eriosin blue B, and Jenner's stain contributed their characteristic violet or blue to the colonies, which may help counting or differentiation on primary plating agar.
Effect of imbalance and intracluster correlation coefficient in cluster randomized trials with binary outcomes

Cluster randomization trials are increasingly popular among healthcare researchers. Intact groups (called 'clusters') of subjects are randomized to receive different interventions, and all subjects within a cluster receive the same intervention. In cluster randomized trials, a cluster is the unit of randomization, and a subject is the unit of analysis. Variation in cluster sizes can affect the sample size estimate or the power of the study. [Guittet, L., Ravaud, P., Giraudeau, B., 2006. Planning a cluster randomized trial with unequal cluster sizes: Practical issues involving continuous outcomes. BMC Medical Research Methodology 6 (17), 1-15] investigated the impact of an imbalance in cluster size on the power of trials with continuous outcomes through simulations. In this paper, we examine the impact of cluster size variation and intracluster correlation on the power of the study for binary outcomes through simulations. Because the sample size formula for cluster randomization trials is based on a large sample approximation, we evaluate the performance of the sample size formula with small sample sizes through simulation. Simulation study findings show that the sample size formula (m"p) accounting for unequal cluster sizes yields empirical powers closer to the nominal power than the sample size formula (m"a) for the average cluster size method. The differences in sample size estimates and empirical powers between m"a and m"p get smaller as the imbalance in cluster sizes gets smaller.
Aerosol Backscatter Coefficient Profiles Measured at 10.6 μm

Abstract Using an airborne lidar, we have measured atmospheric aerosol backscatter coefficients (differential backscatter cross section per unit volume) for 10.6 μm wavelength laser radiation as a function of height to 5200 m for a number of meteorological conditions over the United States high plains. Airborne in situ samplers measured the particle size distribution at the same time and altitude as the lidar measured backscatter. One backscatter coefficient profile at 10.6 μm was compared with a 0.694 μm lidar backscatter profile as well as with the particle size distribution profile. The average infrared backscatter coefficient ranged from ∼8 × 10−9 m−1 sr−1 at the surface to 1 × 10−10 sr−1 at 5200 m altitude.
An Evaluation of Healthy Relationship Education to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence.

This research evaluated the impact of the Within My Reach healthy relationship education program on intimate partner violence for 419 high-risk adults in an urban area. Key outcomes such as relationship knowledge, communication/conflict resolution skills, relationship quality, and physical and emotional abuse were evaluated through survey research immediately post- and 6-months postprogram participation. Results suggest that participation in the Within My Reach program is associated with a statistically significant decrease in physical and emotional abuse, as well as isolation behaviors. Differences by participant demographics and the role of communication skills and relationship quality as mediators of these outcomes are also discussed.
An Investigation of Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Nano Zinc Oxide Catalyzed Composite Propellant

Thermal decomposition and the combustion mechanism of ammonium perchlorate/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene propellant has been widely investigated during the past decades. The focus in the present work is to investigate the catalytic effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nano particles on the decomposition mechanism and kinetic behavior of composite solid propellant. Thermal cum kinetic evaluation of the catalyzed and non-catalyzed version of composite propellant has been carried out by four different kinetic methods, including Kissinger method, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method, Friedman method, and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose method. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry have been used to identify the changes in the thermal and kinetic behavior of the catalyzed composite propellant. The major effect in the catalyzed propellant was lowering of the decomposition temperature by nearly 52°C. The activation energy also decreased, whereas the rate constant increased by the addition of nano zinc oxide confirming th...
Capable Dropouts and the Social Milieu of the High School

AbstractStudies of high-school dropouts suggest that many of those who drop out of school have the requisite ability to do passing or even superior work. A conceptual framework is presented which attempts to explain why these capable students leave school.The basic premise is that a capable dropout is a response to status deprivation experienced primarily by lower-class youth in the informal network of peer relations and in the academic system of the school. The socialization in middle-class families prepares youth to compete successfully in school, while in lower-class families children are not trained to conform to the academic and informal requirements of the school.
Smoking prevention for ethnically diverse adolescents: 2-year outcomes of a multicultural, school-based smoking prevention curriculum in Southern California.

Abstract Background Effective school-based curricula are needed to prevent smoking among ethnically diverse adolescents. This study evaluated a multicultural smoking prevention curriculum in ethnically diverse Southern California middle schools. Methods Students in 24 middle schools (N = 3157 sixth graders) received the multicultural curriculum, a similar curriculum without references to cultural issues, or a control condition. Odds ratios for experimentation with smoking over a 2-year period were calculated. Results The multicultural program was associated with a lower risk of smoking between sixth and eighth grade, relative to the control group. Program effects varied according to the ethnic composition of the schools. In schools with predominantly Hispanic populations, the multicultural curriculum was more effective than the control, but the standard curriculum was not. In schools with predominantly Asian or multicultural populations, the standard curriculum was more effective than the control, but the multicultural curriculum was not. Analyses stratified by ethnicity within the schools revealed that the multicultural curriculum was effective among Hispanic students within predominantly Hispanic schools, but not among Hispanic students within predominantly Asian/multicultural schools. Conclusions Smoking prevention for adolescents in culturally diverse school contexts is a challenge. In this study, a multicultural curriculum was most effective among Hispanic students in predominantly Hispanic schools. Further research is needed to determine the best ways to prevent smoking in predominantly Asian and multicultural schools.
An Anti-adenoma Antibody, Adnab-9, May Reflect the Risk for Neoplastic Progression in Familial Hamartomatous Polyposis Syndromes

Patients with the hamartomatous polyposis Peutz-Jeghers and familial juvenile polyposis syndromes are predisposed to colorectal cancer but lack early genetic alterations found in adenomatous premalignant lesions. We studied hamartomatous polyps for the expression of an early preneoplastic colorectal neoplasia risk marker also found in familial adenomatous polyposis patients. Retrospective, genetic, and hospital archival tissue immunohistochemistry using Adnab-9, a premalignant marker often found in Paneth-like cells (PCs), was performed on sections of polyps from eight patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, eight patients with familial juvenile polyposis, and 36 hyperplastic polyp control sections. Anti-α-defensin 5 (AD5), a universal PC marker, was also used to label a subgroup of sections. Hamartomatous polyposis patients also underwent specific genetic analysis. Eighty-nine percent of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome polyps labeled with Adnab-9 compared with 63% for AD5; 88% of familial juvenile polyposis sections also labeled with Adnab-9. Of the 36 hyperplastic polyp sections, only four (11%) labeled with Adnab-9 and one (3%) with AD5. Adnab-9 labeling of PCs in the epithelial elements of hamartomatous colonic lesions of hereditary hamartomatous syndrome patients reflects the predisposition to colorectal cancer, further justifying early intervention strategies.
Tenofovir-induced kidney disease: an acquired renal tubular mitochondriopathy

Tenofovir, used in combination with other antiretroviral agents, is an effective therapy for HIV infection. Although large clinical studies and post-marketing data support a benign renal profile for tenofovir, numerous cases of kidney injury raise concern for nephrotoxic potential. Early human studies and experimental evidence suggested that tenofovir itself was not associated with mitochondrial toxicity within the kidney. However, recent animal data demonstrate that tenofovir causes mitochondrial DNA depletion and mitochondrial toxicity. Herlitz et al. confirm the nephrotoxicity of tenofovir in humans. They describe its clinical consequences, histopathologic findings, and its mitochondrial toxicity in HIV+ patients.
Response of a Laminated Beam to a Moving Load

A study of the steady-state response of an infinite composite beam subjected to a moving concentrated load and supported by an elastic foundation with and without damping is presented. A rectangular beam, with alternating layers of two different elastic materials is considered, and the equations derived by C. T. Sun, which include microstructure, are employed. Results are also obtained on the basis of Timoshenko beam equations for an equivalent homogeneous beam, using the effective moduli suggested by Voigt and by Reuss, respectively. The influence of the damping coefficient and the load velocity on the beam response are analyzed in some detail. The limiting case for no damping and the resonance behavior of the steady-state solutions are also investigated.
Atypical Cogan's syndrome: a case report

Cogan's syndrome is a rare presumed autoimmune disorder characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and progressive audiovestibular symptoms. The initial report by David G. Cogan in 1945 was modified by Haynes et al in 1980 who proposed diagnostic criteria for patients with other ocular or vestibular symptoms and suggested this to be atypical Cogan's syndrome. In a more typical presentation of Cogan's syndrome, ocular and audiovestibular signs and symptoms usually appear alone and are bilateral. We report a case of 50-year-old woman with an atypical Cogan's syndrome manifested by unusual relatively rapid clinical deterioration.
Continuously recording fluorescent assays optimized for five human matrix metalloproteinases

Four new fluorogenic heptapeptide substrates have been synthesized with sequences that are optimized for five human matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). All four substrates are similar to one recently reported by Stack and Gray (1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264, 4277-4281) and have the fluorescent Trp residue in subsite P'2 and the dinitrophenol (DNP) quenching group on the N-terminus. The quenching of the Trp fluorescence in the intact substrate is relieved on hydrolysis of the P1-P'1 bond, giving rise to a continuously recording fluorescence assay. The residues placed in subsites P3-P'1 and P'3 have been optimized for each MMP, while Arg has been placed in P'4 to enhance solubility. Thus, DNP-Pro-Leu-Ala-Leu-Trp-Ala-Arg has been prepared as a substrate for fibroblast collagenase, DNP-Pro-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Trp-Ala-Arg for neutrophil collagenase, DNP-Pro-Tyr-Ala-Tyr-Trp-Met-Arg for neutrophil collagenase, DNP-Pro-Tyr-Ala-Tyr-Trp-Met-Arg for stromelysin, and DNP-Pro-Leu-Gly-Met-Trp-Ser-Arg for both 72-kDa fibroblast gelatinase and 92-kDa neutrophil gelatinase. These substrates have been characterized with respect to their composition, solubility, optical and fluorescence spectra, and hydrolysis by their target MMP. The hydrolysis rates rival or exceed those of either their natural protein substrates or other synthetic peptides. The solubility of each substrate in assay buffer exceeds the KM value for each reaction, allowing accurate determination of the kinetic parameters. These new substrates should greatly facilitate kinetic studies of the MMP.
Evaluation of the structural integrity of timber bridges

Timber bridges are used on all types of rail lines including important main transcontinental rail lines. A combined structural dynamic and ultrasonic inspection approach is proposed for testing these bridges. This paper presents results of preliminary field tests. Dynamic excitation of the system is used to identify suspect elements in the bridge. Ultrasonic inspection is used to evaluate the suspect elements identified from global testing. The potential for on-site evaluation based on two different dynamic excitations is investigated. Testing of a bridge member using dry coupled ultrasonics is shown to demonstrate this technique on aged timber.
Scatterometer Observes Extratropical Transition of Pacific Typhoons

From September 15 to 25, 1996, NASA's scatterometer (NSCAT) monitored the evolution of twin typhoons-Violet and Tom-as they moved north from the western tropical Pacific, acquiring features of mid-latitude storms. The typhoons developed frontal structures, increased asymmetry, and dry air was introduced into their cores. Violet hit Japan, causing death and destruction, and Tom merged with a mid-latitude trough and evolved into a large extratropical storm with gale-force winds. We understand relatively little about the extratropical transition of tropical cyclones because of the complex thermodynamics involved, but we do know that the mid-latitude storms resulting from tropical cyclones usually generate strong winds and heavy precipitation. Since the transition usually occurs over the ocean, few measurements have been made. The transition is a fascinating science problem, but it also has important economic consequences. The transition occurs over the busiest trans-ocean shipping lanes, and when the resulting storms hit land, they usually devastate populated areas. NSCAT was successfully launched into a near-polar, sunsynchronous orbit on the Japanese Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) in August 1996 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. NSCAT's six antennas send microwave pulses at a frequency of 14 GHz to the Earth's surface and measure the backscatter.
Financial and workflow analysis of radiology reporting processes in the planning phase of implementation of a speech recognition system

The goal of this study is to determine the financial value and workflow improvements achievable by replacing traditional transcription services with a speech recognition system in a large, university hospital setting. Workflow metrics were measured at two hospitals, one of which exclusively uses a transcription service (UCLA Medical Center), and the other which exclusively uses speech recognition (West Los Angeles VA Hospital). Workflow metrics include time spent per report (the sum of time spent interpreting, dictating, reviewing, and editing), transcription turnaround, and total report turnaround. Compared to traditional transcription, speech recognition resulted in radiologists spending 13-32% more time per report, but it also resulted in reduction of report turnaround time by 22-62% and reduction of marginal cost per report by 94%. The model developed here helps justify the introduction of a speech recognition system by showing that the benefits of reduced operating costs and decreased turnaround time outweigh the cost of increased time spent per report. Whether the ultimate goal is to achieve a financial objective or to improve operational efficiency, it is important to conduct a thorough analysis of workflow before implementation.
A perturbed hard‐sphere, corresponding states model for liquid metal solutions

Molecular thermodynamics is used to develop a new model for the prediction of the thermodynamic properties of liquid metal mixtures. It combines corresponding states theory with a perturbed hard sphere model to predict successfully, without adjustable parameters, a variety of mixture properties from pure component properties for simple eutectic mixtures.
PROBABILISTIC MODELLING OF LIGNIN LIQUEFACTION

ABSTRACT The results of the thermal and catalytic reactions of lignin model compounds are used in the a priori prediction of its liquefaction. Lignin was defined probabilistically as an ensemble of single ring aromatics with substituents on each of their six ring positions. Elements in a substituent vector x1, for each ring position i, were matched into all possible combinations to describe lignin. Initial number fractions, or probabilities, for each vector element were ascertained through inspection of lignin structural data. The reaction of lignins altered the probabilities within each substituent vector, and reaction products were also calculated by matching all combinations of vector elements for each ring position. Model compound results provided the identities and rates of change of vector elements. This simulation of lignin liquefaction predicted the yields of permanent gases, aqueous liquids, single- and two-ring phenolic products, and a carbonaceous residue. The impact of the distribution of olig...
Simulated changes in potentiometric levels resulting from groundwater development for phosphate mines, west-central Florida

Abstract A digital model of two-dimensional groundwater flow was used to predict changes in the potentiometric surface of the Floridan aquifer resulting from groundwater development for proposed and existing phosphate mines during 1976–2000. The modeled area covers 15,379 km 2 in west-central Florida. In 1975, groundwater withdrawn from the Floridan aquifer for irrigation, phosphate mines, other industries and municipal supplies averaged about 28,500 l/s. Withdrawals for phosphate mines are expected to shift from Polk County to adjacent counties to the south and west, and to decline from about 7,620 l/s in 1975 to about 7,060 l/s in 2000. The model was calibrated under steady-state and transient conditions. Input parameters included aquifer transmissivity and storage coefficient; thickness, vertical hydraulic conductivity, and storage coefficient of the upper confining bed; altitudes of the water table and potentiometric surface; and groundwater withdrawals. Simulation of November 1976 to October 2000, using projected combined pumping rates for existing and proposed phosphate mines, resulted in a rise in the potentiometric surface of about 6 m in Polk County, and a decline of about 4 m in parts of Manatee and Hardee counties.
Comparison of accelerator-based with reactor-based nuclear waste transmutation schemes

Abstract An overview of the most significant studies in the last 35 years of partitioning and transmutation of commercial light water reactor spent fuel is given. Recent Accelerator-based Transmutation of Waste (ATW) systems are compared with liquid-fuel thermal reactor systems that accomplish the same objectives. If no long-lived fission products (e.g., 99 Tc and 129 I) are to be burned, under ideal circumstances the neutron balance in an ATW system becomes identical to that for a thermal reactor system. However, such a reactor would need extraordinarily rapid removal of internally-generated fission products to remain critical at equilibrium without enriched feed. The accelerator beam thus has two main purposes (1) the burning of long-lived fission products that could not be burned in a comparable reactor's margin (2) a relaxing of on-line chemical processing requirements without which a reactor-based system cannot maintain criticality. Fast systems would require a parallel, thermal ATW system for long-lived fission product transmutation. The actinide-burning part of a thermal ATW system is compared with the Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor (ALMR) using the well-known Pigford-Choi model. It is shown that the ATW produces superior inventory reduction factors for any near-term time scale.
Transport properties of the mesothelium and interstitium measured in rabbit pericardium.

Abstract The contribution of the pleural mesothelium to pleural liquid and protein transport is still vigorously debated. Recent in vitro studies of stripped pleural membrane and free-standing pericardium have demonstrated active ion solute coupled transport of liquid and transcytosis of protein. However, the relative contribution of the passive transport properties of the pleural mesothelium compared to the pleural interstitium has not been extensively studied. In in vitro studies, we measured the albumin diffusion coefficient, reflection coefficient, hydraulic conductivity and electrical resistance of rabbit pericardium. We used two techniques, treatment with 40 μM nocodazole and a 1-min hypotonic cell lysis with distilled water, to eliminate the effect of the two mesothelial layers on diffusional and hydraulic resistances. Each technique increased the albumin diffusion coefficient and hydraulic conductivity 3- to 4-fold. In hydraulic conductivity experiments using tracer 125 I-albumin, nocodazole reduced the reflection coefficient to zero, rendering the pericardium completely permeable to albumin. We applied the cell-lysis technique to the pleural and pericardial mesothelium in sequence to evaluate the separate contribution of each mesothelium. Both diffusional and hydraulic resistances, but not electrical resistance, of the mesothelium were overestimated by the cell-lysis technique. The pleural mesothelium contributed at most 30% of diffusional resistance, 10% of hydraulic resistance and 14% of electrical resistance of the total pericardial resistances. We conclude that the pleural mesothelium is not the primary barrier to protein diffusion or bulk flow of liquid from the pericardial microcirculation to the pleural liquid.