cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of CT signs with lymphatic metastasis and pathology of neuroblastoma in children

Correlation between computed tomography (CT) signs, lymphatic metastasis and pathological features of neuroblastoma (NB) in children was investigated. A total of 374 child patients diagnosed with NB via CT scan and pathological section in Department of Pediatric of Xuzhou Children's Hospital from March 2011 to January 2017 were collected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to CT signs, NB calcification and invasion to surrounding tissues were evaluated, and the tumor site, tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, pathological types and clinical prognosis were analyzed. In plain CT scan, 160 cases showed clear tumor mass, and 214 cases showed blurred mass; 78 cases of tumors were uniform in density, and 296 cases were not uniform in density. Besides, there were 351 cases of calcification in mass. There were 106 cases of axial rotation of kidney, 53 cases of enlargement of renal calyce and renal pelvis, 66 cases of elevation of liver position, 71 cases of pancreas translocation, 26 cases of gastrointestinal tract translocation, 17 cases of vascular translocation and 12 cases of bladder translocation, besides 23 of the cases showed no significantly abnormal changes. Moreover, 211 cases had retroperitoneal lymphatic metastasis with soft tissue swelling in phrenic angle, abdominal aorta and renal hilum in image, and non-uniform annular enhancement or uniform enhancement in enhanced scanning. NB in right adrenal gland invaded the liver in 53 cases, invaded the kidney in 26 cases, invaded the psoas in 40 cases and blood vessels in 32 cases, and the remaining cases showed no invasion. A total of 68 cases were accompanied by pleural thickening, 34 cases by pleural effusion, 36 cases by tracheal compression, 38 cases by rib compression, and 40 cases by tumor invading into vertebral canal. Bone metastasis occurred in 182 cases; liver metastases occurred in 28 cases, and brain metastases in 35 cases. NB calcification was significantly correlated with pathological type, tumor site and lymphatic metastasis (p 0.05); NB invasion to surrounding tissues was associated with pathological type, tumor site and clinical prognosis (p 0.05). We concluded that patients with distal mediastinal mass identified by CT examination, accompanied by calcification, and invasion to surrounding tissues may suffer from NB. Tumor growth is closely correlated with tumor differentiation degree.
Inertial Sensor Angular Velocities Reflect Dynamic Knee Loading during Single Limb Loading in Individuals Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Difficulty quantifying knee loading deficits clinically in individuals following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr) may underlie their persistence. Expense associated with quantifying knee moments (KMom) and power (KPow) with gold standard techniques precludes their use in the clinic. As segment and joint kinematics are used to calculate moments and power, it is possible that more accessible inertial sensor technology can be used to identify knee loading deficits. However, it is unknown if angular velocities measured with inertial sensors provide meaningful information regarding KMom/KPow during dynamic tasks post-ACLr. Twenty-one individuals 5.1 ± 1.5 months post-ACLr performed a single limb loading task, bilaterally. Data collected concurrently using a marker-based motion system and gyroscopes positioned lateral thighs/shanks. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)(2,k) determined concurrent validity. To determine predictive ability of angular velocities for KMom/KPow, separate stepwise linear regressions performed using peak thigh, shank, and knee angular velocities extracted from gyroscopes. ICCs were greater than 0.947 (p < 0.001) for all variables. Thigh (r = 0.812 and r = 0.585; p < 0.001) and knee (r = 0.806 and r = 0.536; p < 0.001) angular velocities were strongly and moderately correlated to KPow and KMom, respectively. High ICCs indicated strong agreement between measurement systems. Thigh angular velocity (R² = 0.66; p < 0.001) explained 66% of variance in KPow suggesting gyroscopes provide meaningful information regarding KPow. Less expensive inertial sensors may be helpful in identifying deficits clinically.
Cardiac and lung point‐of‐care ultrasound in pediatric anesthesia and critical care medicine: Uses, pitfalls, and future directions to optimize pediatric care

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has found many relevant applications in pediatric anesthesia and critical care medicine. Specifically, the cardiac and pulmonary POCUS examinations provide a wealth of information from physical examination assistance to diagnostic evaluation and assessment of treatment response. However, as with any adjunct, potentially dangerous pitfalls exist when POCUS is performed, interpreted, and applied by the novice sonographer. Using case illustrations, we highlight the clinical application of POCUS in addition to potential dangers. Additionally, suggestions for learning POCUS, assessing competency and credentialing are reviewed.
Case studies of non-destructive test results and core strengths at age of 3-days

Abstract NDT test results were compared with 3-day compressive strength of drilled cores on 12 separate occasions over a span of 15 years. For each comparison the fresh concrete was obtained from the same concrete producer, using the same mixture proportions supplied from the same sources, and delivered to the test-site as a single truck-load of ready-mixed concrete. Within any given year’s case study all concrete material variability was therefore within-batch, subsequently influenced by designated lab and field-curing conditions. Across the 12 case studies concrete variability was also influenced by annual changes in ambient conditions and typical within-specification changes in raw materials and production. NDT tests included rebound hammer (ASTM C805), penetration resistance (C803), ultrasonic pulse velocity (C597), and the pull-out test (C900). When all 12 test series are compared, broad and sometimes conflicting correlations were identified between NDT and core strength results, with widely varying precision influenced by mixture variations and curing. The utility of generic calibrations provided by NDT equipment manufacturers varied considerably.
Towards the adoption of Local Branch Predictors in Modern Out-of-Order Superscalar Processors

Branch prediction accuracy plays a dominant role in the performance provided by modern Out-of-Order(OOO) superscalar processors. While global history-based branch predictors are more popular, local history-based predictors offer an additional dimension towards enhancing the overall branch prediction accuracy. Integrating the local predictors in modern cores, though, comes with non-trivial challenges associated with managing the local predictor's state and repairing this state on any branch misprediction is essential for the local predictor to operate effectively. Using a highly accurate, industry standard simulator modeling a Skylake-like OOO core and workloads spanning diverse categories including Server, High Performance Computing (HPC) and personal computing suites, besides SPEC, we methodically highlight the issues that need to be tackled, why local predictor repair is non-trivial and the performance opportunity that is lost when the local predictor repair is not handled efficiently. We discuss the issues with prior techniques and quantify their limitations when using them in current OOO cores. Further, we propose three practical, implementable and efficient repair techniques with minimal storage requirements that provide significant performance gains for local predictors. Unlike prior repair techniques that can only attain 50% of the oracular gains, our realistic repair techniques retain about 80% of the oracular gains resulting in significantly better application performance.
A python analysis of mass loss related to thermogravimetric analysis of tetrachloroethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymers

Abstract A tetrachloroethylene/methyl methacrylate copolymer matrix was synthesized at incremental methyl methacrylate proportions. A mass-loss event was observed when Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was performed on the resulting solid polymers. A Python analysis in Jupyter Notebooks was developed to analyze each sigmoidal curve generated by thermogravimetric analysis. This algorithm selects a data range, performs a regression analysis on this range, calculates the line intercepts, finds the nearest neighbor on the mass-loss plot, then calculates the rate of mass-loss. The TGA mass-loss was observed to be inversely proportional to the concentration of methyl methacrylate.
Sinus pericranii in the upper eyelid: diagnosis and management guidelines.

Sinus pericranii (SP) is a rare malformation involving aberrant connections between the dural venous sinuses and extracranial veins. Classically considered congenital pathology, there are reported ...
What's Live? Understanding Distributed Consensus.

Distributed consensus algorithms such as Paxos have been studied extensively. They all use the same definition of safety. Liveness is especially important in practice despite well-known theoretical impossibility results. However, many different liveness properties and assumptions have been stated, and there are no systematic comparisons for better understanding of these properties. This paper systematically studies and compares different liveness properties stated for over 30 prominent consensus algorithms and variants. We introduce a precise high-level language and formally specify these properties in the language. We then create a hierarchy of liveness properties combining two hierarchies of the assumptions used and a hierarchy of the assertions made, and compare the strengths and weaknesses of algorithms that ensure these properties. Our formal specifications and systematic comparisons led to the discovery of a range of problems in various stated liveness properties, from too weak assumptions for which no liveness assertions can hold, to too strong assumptions making it trivial to achieve the assertions. We also developed TLA+ specifications of these liveness properties, and we use model checking of execution steps to illustrate liveness patterns for Paxos.
Sleep Characteristics and Measures of Glucose Metabolism in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Characterizing associations of sleep characteristics with blood‐glucose–level factors among blacks may clarify the underlying mechanisms of impaired glucose metabolism and help identify ...
Chapter 20 – Structure and Bonding in Coordination Compounds

Metal ions function as Lewis acids and they attract pairs of electrons from Lewis bases (the ligands) such as H2O, NH3, Cl−, OH−, CN−, SCN−, NO2−, NH2CH2CH2NH2 to form complexes. Naming coordination compounds involves a special set of rules. In most cases, two, four, or six pairs of electrons are donated to empty hybrid orbitals of sp, sp3, dsp2, d2sp3, or sp3d2 types. As a result, the most common structures of the complexes are linear, tetrahedral, square planar, or octahedral. As discussed in Chapter 3, approaches to explain the bonding are the valence and molecular orbital procedures, but splitting of the energies of d orbitals also occurs. Because there are different ways of arranging the ligands, several types of isomerism are possible. Factors affecting the stability of complexes include the nature of the metal, the row it occupies in a transition series, its charge, and the nature of the ligand. Some ligands have more than one potential electron donor atom and thus bind to the metal at two or more sites (chelation). Stability of chelates depends on the nature and size of the rings.
Technical Note: Deep Learning approach for automatic detection and identification of patient positioning devices for radiation therapy.

Purpose Automatic detection and identification of setup devices, using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for real time multi-class object detection, has the potential to reduce errors in the treatment delivery process by avoiding documentation errors. Methods A database of the setup device photos from the most recent 1200 patients treated at our institution was downloaded from the record and verify system (R&V) along with the corresponding set-up notes. Images were manually labelled with bounding boxes of each device. A real time object detection CNN using the 'you only look once' (YOLOv2) architecture was trained using transfer learning of a pre-trained CNN (ResNet50). The CNN was trained to detect and identify 11 of the most common treatment accessories used at our institution. Results Using transfer learning of a CNN for multi-class object detection, we are able to automatically detect and identify set-up devices in photographs with an accuracy of 96%. Conclusions Automation in radiation oncology has the potential to reduce risk. Automatic detection of setup devices is possible using a CNN and transfer learning. This work shows both the value of incident learning systems (ILS) in practice knowledge dissemination, and shows how automation of clinical processes and less reliance on manual documentation has the potential for risk reduction in radiation oncology treatments.
Remote skin self‐examination training of melanoma survivors and their skin check partners: A randomized trial and comparison with in‐person training

BACKGROUND Compared with other cancers, melanoma has the longest delays measured as the median time to patient presentation for care from symptom onset. Time to presentation for care is a key determinant of outcomes, including disease stage, prognosis, and treatment. METHODS Melanoma survivors with localized disease and their skin check partners enrolled in two sequential randomized control trials of skin self-examination (SSE) training. In Phase 1, the pair read a workbook in the office and had quarterly total body skin examinations with a study dermatologist. In Phase 2, materials were mailed to pairs, whose surveillance was with a community physician. SSE knowledge, performance (frequency and extent), and identification of concerning moles were compared between phases. RESULTS Among 341 patients, 197 received the workbook and the others were controls. Knowledge in performing SSE was higher for the workbook relative to controls in both phases. The SSE frequency ranged from 2.38 to 5.97 times in 9 months. Patients randomized to the workbook in both phases performed significantly more SSE than controls at 9 months (P < .05). In both phases, trained survivors performed significantly more SSEs on the scalp than controls at 9 and 18 months (P < .05). Phase 1 survivors performed significantly more SSEs on the abdomen, buttocks, and soles of the feet than controls, but this did not occur in Phase 2. Finally, in both phases, survivors trained with the workbook resulted in greater detection of suspicious lesions and melanomas. CONCLUSIONS These findings justify the benefits of remote SSE training for patients as an adjunct to provider-administered screening.
On the sideways expansion of relativistic non-spherical shocks and gamma-ray burst afterglows

Expansion of non-spherical relativistic blast waves is considered in the Kompaneets (the thin-shell) approximation. We find that relativistic motion effectively ‘freezes out’ the lateral dynamics of the shock front: only extremely strongly collimated shocks, with opening angles Δθ≤ 1/Γ2, show appreciable modification of profiles due to sideways expansion. For less collimated profiles, the propagation is nearly ballistic; the sideways expansion of relativistic shocks becomes important only when they become mildly relativistic. Even though the post-shock pressure is equilibrated downstream on the sound crossing time-scale, this does not mean that the shape of the shock changes on the post-shock sound crossing time-scale.
Associations Between Bed Bugs and Mental Illness Among Emergency Department Patients

Background Bed bugs are common urban pests associated with stress, anxiety, depression, and some reports of suicidality. The emergency department (ED) treats patients with both acute mental illness and bed bug infestations. There have been few studies examining associations between bed bug infestations and mental illness. Methods A case-control study involving 332 adult ED patients infested with bed bugs and 4,952 uninfested control patients matched on sex, age (±1 year at the time of the ED visit), and the specific ED was completed. All clinic encounters occurred in northeast Ohio between February 1, 2011, and February 1, 2017, from a single health system. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis looked for associations between bed bug infestation and different psychiatric diagnoses and medications. Results Bed bug infested patients were more likely than uninfested patients to screen positive for an unsafe home and needing an abuse consult at ED triage (P≤.03 for both). ED psychiatric evaluations were not significantly more common among those with (2.4%) and without (1.3%) bed bugs (P=.14). Bed bug infested patients were significantly more likely to have an ED or inpatient diagnosis of alcohol abuse and psychosis (P≤.03 for both), but not for depression or suicidality. On univariable analysis, among ED patients not admitted to the hospital, bed bug infested patients were more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis or schizophrenia/schizoaffective disease (P≤.02) than uninfested patients. Among ED patients that received an ED or inpatient psychiatric evaluation and were admitted to the hospital, bed bug infested patients were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with depression and suicidality (P≤.03 for both). However, they were not significantly more likely to have insomnia or anxiety. Discussion Among ED patients, bed bug infestations were not associated with an ED or inpatient diagnosis of depression or suicidality. On univariable analysis, some mental health diagnoses such as anxiety and insomnia were more common among ED patients with bed bugs, but these associations were no longer significant on multivariable analysis. These associations likely reflect the complex relationships between socioeconomic factors, health disparities, mental illness, and having a bed bug infestation.
Men and women candidates are similarly persistent after losing elections.

Are women more likely to quit politics after losing their first race than men? Women’s first-time candidacies skyrocketed in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. Yet we have little sense of the long-term impact of this surge in women candidates on women’s representation writ large: Inexperienced candidates are more likely to lose, and women might be especially discouraged by a loss. This might make the benefits of such a surge in candidacies fleeting. Using a regression discontinuity design and data that feature 212,805 candidates across 22,473 jurisdictions between 1950 and 2018, we find that women who narrowly lose these elections are no more likely to quit politics than men who narrowly lose. Drawing on scholarship on women’s lower political ambition, we interpret these findings to mean that women’s decision-making differs from men’s at the point of entry into politics—not at the point of reentry.
Dr. Mudd and the Lincoln Assassination: The Case Reopened

Dr. Samuel Mudd's guilt or innocence in the Lincoln assassination is debated by a distinguished group of jurists and Civil War historians recently convened by the University of Richmond School of Law to reexamine the case.
Flexible and Adaptive Services in Pervasive Computing

Availability of services to users and applications is a critical issue in mobile and pervasive computing environments replete with hundreds and thousands of smart devices. In such environments, devices such as sensors, embedded processors, personal servers, cell phones and PDAs have limited resources in terms of CPU, memory, communication bandwidth, and battery energy. Therefore, it is extremely important as well as challenging to conserve device resources while providing software services in a timely fashion for a variety of application scenarios. The solution lies in the deployment of software services in pervasive computing environments that can be used by mobile and wireless clients on resource-constrained devices. In this chapter we discuss issues in providing services in pervasive environments and give a summary of related work. Furthermore, we propose a service provisioning framework that is not only flexible in defining and generating services, but also adaptive to the environment. The service provisioning mechanism based on the community computing framework captures the essence of devices and services around users, and facilitates the creation and composition of flexible and adaptive services. We develop an elegant Petri net based modeling of the framework and present several case studies to demonstrate and validate the model.
FOCE: The evolution of in situ Free Ocean CO 2 Enrichment experiments

Ocean acidification (OA) is widely recognized as a significant oceanic threat in connection with other oceanic stressors, including warming and deoxygenation. Recent work shows that ocean acidification will negatively affect calcification processes for many species, including reef-building corals. It is possible that OA may cause diminished fish respiratory stress and impact sensory capabilities. To date most all of these scientific findings are from short-term experiments in laboratory aquaria on limited sets of organisms. The question posed, how can scientists perform long-term in situ CO 2 experiments like those performed on land as part of the Free CO 2 Air Enrichment (FACE) experiments? The desire is for experiments that can confirm conclusions drawn from laboratory experiments.
The Machinery of Whiteness: Studies in the Structure of Racialization

Steve Martinot, The Machinery of Whiteness: Studies in the Structure of Racialization (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2010). Steve Martinot wants to contribute to a critical tradition in ra...
Cumulative energy demand for small molecule and polymer photovoltaics

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are expected to be a low cost, environmentally friendly energy solution with advantageous properties such as flexibility and light weight that enable their use in new applications. Considerable progress in power conversion efficiencies has brought OPV technology closer to commercialization. However, little consideration has been given to potential environmental impact associated with their production. Although environmental life cycle studies of OPV exist, their scope is narrow or too reliant on outdated technologies. Some of the most significant recent improvements are the result of new semiconductors materials, which have not yet been assessed from a life cycle perspective. Therefore, this study calculates life cycle embodied energy for 15 new materials encompassing a variety of donor, acceptor, and interface compounds showing the most promise in organic electronics. With the use of new inventory data, life cycle energy impact associated with production of both single junction and multi-junction architectures has been calculated including bulk heterojunction polymer, planar small molecule, and planar-mixed small molecule devices. The cumulative energy demand (CED) required to fabricate small molecule and polymer photovoltaics were found to be similar from 2.9 to 5.7 MJ/Wp. This CED is on average of 50% less than for conventional inorganic photovoltaics, motivating the continued development of both technologies. The use of fullerenes was shown to have a dramatic impact on polymer solar cells, comprising 18–30% of the CED, despite only being present in small quantities. Increases in device efficiency are shown to marginally reduce CED for both small molecule and polymer designs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors Influencing Customer Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction in the Restaurant Business Using AnswerTree Methodology

In the restaurant business, customer satisfaction can be linked directly to restaurant sales; thus, it is important to identify which perceived quality factors more strongly affect customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to find differences between satisfied and dissatisfied customers using AnswerTree methodology. As AnswerTree method allows the researcher to more effectively target exact groups of people, it is a suitable analysis method to find differences between satisfied and dissatisfied customer groups. Study results indicated three perceived quality factors (good value, tasty food, and restaurant cleanness) most affected satisfied customers. On the other hand, three perceived quality factors (good value, tasty food, and employees' knowledge of menu) most affected dissatisfied customers. Study results provide some meaningful information for restaurateurs in creating a marketing strategy.
Mars aerocapture using bank modulation

In this paper we investigate using bank modulation of a lifting body to capture a spacecraft into orbit in a single atmospheric flythrough. Aerocapture without lift is difficult to achieve because ballistic flythroughs are highly sensitive to the atmospheric entry angle. Lifting bodies are more robust and provide a simple means of control through bank modulation. First and second order analytic solutions to the equations of motion are derived, and are compared against precise numerical integration. Control laws based on the analytic theory guide the spacecraft to the desired exit conditions.
Multilevel cascade h-bridge inverter dc voltage estimation through output voltage sensing

This work presents an approach to determine the input voltage value of each cell in a cascade H-bridge multilevel inverter using a sensor at the output of the inverter to eliminate all the dc voltage sensors measuring the individual source voltages. The input voltages can be equal or unequal. The MOSFET device datasheet, the ambient temperature, and the modulation strategy are utilized to estimate the switch voltage drop to compensate for the measurement. The output voltage is then processed by a DSP unit that uses the signals that command the switches to estimate the voltage at each cell. Simulation and experimental results are shown for a seven-level cascade multilevel inverter operating under a RLC load.
Psychosexual aspects of virilization syndrome

A case is reported of a 35-year-old black woman with marked hirsuitism. The focus is on the psychosexual aspects of her illness. Physicians must attend to the potentially devastating effects of virilization syndrome on their female patients.
Ethanol Molecular Dynamics Measured by Coupled Spin Relaxation Exhibiting Cross Correlation between Dipole-Dipole and Chemical-Shift Anisotropy

Abstract The motional dynamics of ethanol in chloroform are studied by carbon- 13 multiplet spin-lattice relaxation over a wide range of temperatures. The coupled methylene ( 13 CH 2 ) spin system is perturbed from thermal equilibrium using a variety of nonselective and selective pulse techniques. Simultaneous fitting of the resulting partially relaxed transition intensities with a model derived from Redfield theory allows the extraction of both auto-and cross-correlated dipolar spectral densities, from which the three principal elements of a diffusion tensor may be determined. The cross correlation between the chemical-shift anisotropy, CSA, and the dipolar, D, interactions is found to be appreciable. This cross term couples together magnetization modes with different spin-inversion symmetries. Inclusion of the D-CSA interference terms in the model improves the precision of the measurements of dipolar spectral densities, and the determination of the D-CSA interference term itself provides an estimate of the anisotropy of shielding tensors. It is found that the diffusion of ethanol can be described by an axially symmetric diffusion tensor with its unique axis about 5° from the C-O internuclear vector. Calculation of the D-CSA interference terms for an asymmetric shielding tensor under anisotropic diffusion is reported. The experiments were conducted using CD 3 CH 2 OD so that interference from intramolecular interactions with the adjacent protons is minimized. When other isotopomers of ethanol, CD 3 CH 2 OH, CH 3 CH 2 OD, and CH 3 CH 2 OH, were used, measurably different relaxation was observed. However, the experimental results in all cases can be analyzed by grouping these other interactions into a random-field interaction term. The determined dipolar spectral densities and D-CSA interference terms for each isotopomer are within experimental error of the values obtained for CD 3 CH 2 OD. As the adjacent protons only minimally affect the evaluation of anisotropic diffusion, this work supports the extension of this technique to systems where more complex isotopic enrichment schemes are not practical.
Pharmaceutical Investigation of Selected Alberta Bentonites I: Geology and Identification

Bentonite samples were collected from a number of Alberta deposits. Of these, 23 were indexed in table from to show location and other information dealing with the parent beds. On a selected suite of samples, identification as bentonites was confirmed by differential thermal and X-ray diffraction techniques.
Visual imagery and dream recall

Abstract Research in dream recall frequency has failed to isolate psychological variables which clearly and reliably differentiate frequent dream recallers from infrequent recallers. The present study tested the hypothesis that frequent recallers have a greater capacity for visual imagery than infrequent recallers. Subjects selected on the basis of reported dream recall frequency were administered a Paired-Associate Learning task designed to measure visual imagery, a rating scale of imagery clarity and vividness, and a subjective measure of imagery controllability. The results provide support for the hypothesis and, together with other evidence, suggest that a generalized capacity for visualization may contribute to the quality of the dreaming experience and, consequently, to its recallability.
Prostaglandins: regulatory role in cardiovascular system and implications in ischemic heart disease

It is now recognized that platelet-vessel wall interaction may play an important role in the genesis and/or propagation of myocardial ischemia. Discovery of potent prostaglandins released by the blood vessels, circulating platelets and other blood cells has shed light on the mechanisms of vasomotor control and blood flow in different regions of the body. Alterations in the metabolism of arachidonic acid, from which most prostaglandins are derived, may relate not only to the acute manifestation of coronary heart disease, but also to the development of atherosclerosis. Several new pharmacologic agents which modulate arachidonic acid metabolism are currently under investigation in a variety of experimental and clinical myocardial ischemic syndromes. The purpose of this article is to review the major pathways for prostaglandin synthesis and to discuss the role of prostaglandins in coronary heart disease.
A variational, finite-deformation constitutive model for piezoelectric materials

We present a constitutive model for piezoelectric materials. The model is fully variational and supports finite kinematics. The postulated free energy depends on the deformation mapping and an electric vector potential, from which the strain and the electric displacement are derived, respectively. The divergence-free condition of the electric vector potential is enforced by means of a penalty method, which leads to a positive definite tangent for the system of equations that represent the problem. The performance of the formulation is demonstrated by several examples. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective area epitaxy of CdTe

We have performed selective area epitaxy (SAE) of CdTe layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy using a shadow mask technique. This technique was chosen over other SAE techniques due to its simplicity and its compatibility with multiple SAE patterning steps. Features as small as 50 microns × 50 microns were obtained with sharp, abrupt side walls and flat mesa tops. Separations between mesas as small as 20 microns were also obtained. Shadowing effects due to the finite thickness of the mask were reduced by placing the CdTe source in a near normal incidence position. Intimate contact between the mask and the substrate was essential in order to achieve good pattern definition.
A q-Analog of a Whipple′s Transformation for Hypergeometric Series in U(n)

Abstract In this paper we derive a q -analog of Gustafson′s U ( n ) generalization of Whipple′s classical transformation of a very well-poised 7 F 6 (1) into a balanced 4 F 3 (1). This provides a multivariable generalization of Watson′s q -analog of Whipple′s transformation. We obtain our main result by means of general q -difference equations and our q -analog of the balanced 3 F 2 summation theorem for hypergeometric series in U ( n ). Even the classical case of our proof appears to be new. Applications include a multiple series Rogers-Selberg identity and a q -analog of Gustafson′s U ( n ) generalization and analog of Dougall′s summation theorem. In addition, we show how the classical generating function for the number of partitions with parts that differ by at least ( n + 1) arises naturally in the context of our U ( n + 1) Rogers-Selberg identity. Corresponding theorems for ordinary series are deduced by taking the limit as q → 1 of most of these results.
Alcohol and the police: an empirical examination of a widely‐held assumption

Purpose – Popular literature has theorized that police officers consume more alcohol than the general population. However, only a minuscule amount of research has been conducted on this phenomenon. The perceived consumption of police in the USA has been related to stress or social camaraderie issues, a dichotomous debate which has continued for years. This study seeks to enhance the debate by addressing the reported reasoning that police officers' use of alcohol is related to location, type of department, and size of population in which the officer operates.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 1,328 full‐time Mississippi Municipal, Sheriff, and State police officers were asked to complete a 27‐item self‐reported questionnaire containing the World Health Organization's AUDIT instrument to determine alcohol use and risk.Findings – Most of the officers surveyed reported drinking levels of alcohol equivalent to those reported in the general population. Moreover, 70 percent of the officers either abstained...
High‐Velocity Projectile‐Stabilized z‐Pinch

A high current z-pinch can be stabilized by a thin long projectile accelerated to a few km/sec, if the projectile is shot through the core of the pinch. Furthermore, as a result of the thermomagnetic Nernst effect both the heat conduction and radiation losses at thermonuclear temperatures are sufficiently small. The stabilized pinch configuration can therefore be used for the controlled release of large amounts of thermonuclear energy from a dense plasma. The needed projectile velocity of a few km/sec can be already reached with chemical propulsion. Ein mit einem grosen Strom betriebener z-Pinch kann durch ein langes schlankes Projektil, das auf einige km/sec beschleunigt ist, stabilisiert werden, wenn das Projektil durch den Kern des Pinchkanals geschossen wird. Weiterhin sind wegen des thermomagnetischen Nernsteffekts bei thermonuklearen Temperaturen sowohl die Warmeleitungs- als auch Strahlungsverluste hinreichend klein. Die stabilisierte Pinchkonfiguration kann daher fur die kontrollierte Freisetzung von grosen Mengen thermonuklearer Energie aus einem dichten Plasma verwendet werden. Die benotigte Projektilgeschwindigkeit von wenigen km/sec kann bereits mit chemischen Antriebsmitteln erreicht werden.
Genetic exchanges caused by ultraviolet photoproducts in phage lambda DNA molecules: the role of DNA replication.

Genetic recombination induced by structural damage in DNA molecules was investigated in E. coli K12 (λ) lysogens infected with genetically marked phage λ. Photoproducts were induced in the phage DNA before infection by exposing them either to 313 nm light in the presence of acetophenone or to 254 nm light. To test the role of the replication of the damaged phage DNA on the frequency of the induced recombination, both heteroimmune and homoimmune crosses were performed.
Expression of Rh30 and Rh-related glycoproteins during erythroid differentiation in a two-phase liquid culture system.

BACKGROUND: To gain insight into the formation of the Rh complex during erythroid differentiation, the ways in which Rh30 and Rh-related glycoproteins, especially Rh50, were produced in a modified two-phase liquid culture system were studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A mononuclear cell fraction from fresh peripheral blood was first cultured in a medium supplemented with conditioned medium collected from the culture of a bladder carcinoma cell line (5637) for 7 days. Nonadherent cells were then collected for culture in a secondary medium containing 2 U per mL of erythropoietin to initiate erythroid differentiation. The expression of Rh30 and Rh50 during secondary culture (16 days) was monitored by flow cytometry. RESULTS: D+ cells appeared after Day 4 and increased to 70 percent by Day 8. On Day 12, 90 percent of the total cells became D+ and remained so until the end of the culture. A similar expression profile was obtained for Rh50. As determined from mean fluorescence intensities recorded in flow cytometry, the number of both D and Rh50 antigenic sites per cell increased as the differentiation progressed. Rh-related glycoprotein, CD47, had expression patterns significantly different from those of Rh30 and Rh50. In addition, the cultured cells produced partially glycosylated protein (approx. 32 kDa) in Rh50. CONCLUSION: Expressions of Rh30 and Rh50 occur simultaneously during erythroid differentiation, and both proteins are most actively synthesized at the last stage of the differentiation. In contrast, CD47 may be involved in expression of Rh30 in a different manner from Rh50. The two-phase liquid culture system will be an excellent model for studying the interaction among the components of the Rh complex during protein synthesis and complex assembly on the cell membrane.
Evaluation of the chick embryo for the determination of relative virulence of Neisseria meningitidis

The chick embryo model was evaluated as a method to compare virulence between selected strains of Neisseria meningitidis. Inoculation of 13-day-chick embryos via the egg yolk distinguished strains having an LD50 of 10(3) colony forming units (CFU) or greater (low virulence) from those having an LD50 of approximately 10(1) or less (high virulence). A strain of serogroup B and a spontaneous nonpiliated strain of group C were found to be of relatively high virulence while a strain of N. lactamica, a serogroup A carrier strain, and certain nongroupable strains were found to be of low virulence. Strains having an LD50 of 10(2) were not differentiated from either of these. Alternatively, inoculation of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of 9-day-old chick embryos statistically differentiated most strains of N. meningitidis although inoculation via this route was less sensitive.
Quasi-Two-Zone Modeling of Diesel Ignition Delay in Pilot-Ignited Partially Premixed Low Temperature Natural Gas Combustion

This paper presents simulated ignition delay (ID) results for diesel ignition in a pilot-ignited partially premixed, low temperature natural gas (NG) combustion engine. Lean premixed low temperature NG combustion was achieved using small pilot diesel sprays (2–3% of total fuel energy) injected over a range of injection timings (BOIs ∼ 20°–60° BTDC). Modeling IDs at advanced BOIs (50°–60° BTDC) presented unique challenges. In this study a single-component droplet evaporation model was used in conjunction with a modified version of the Shell autoignition (SAI) model to obtain ID predictions of pilot diesel over the range of BOIs (20°-60° BTDC). A detailed uncertainty analysis of several model parameters revealed that Aq and Eq , which affect chain initiation reactions, were the most important parameters (among a few others) for predicting IDs at very lean equivalence ratios. The ID model was validated (within ± 10 percent error) against experimentally measured IDs from a single-cylinder engine at 1700 rpm, BMEP = 6 bar, and intake manifold temperature (Tin ) of 75°C. For BOIs close to TDC (e.g., 20° BTDC), the contribution of diesel evaporation times (Δθevap ) and droplet diameters to predicted IDs were more significant compared to advanced BOIs (e.g., 60° BTDC). Increasing Tin (the most sensitive experimental input variable affecting predicted IDs), led to a reduction in both the physical and chemical components of ID. Hot EGR led to shorter predicted and measured IDs over the range of BOIs, except 20° BTDC. In general, the thermal effects of hot EGR were found to be more pronounced than either dilution or chemical effects for most BOIs. Finally, uncertainty analysis results also indicated that ID predictions were most sensitive to model parameters AP3 , Aq , and Af1 , and Eq , which affected chain initiation and propagation reactions and also contributed the most to overall uncertainties in IDs.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Continuous sedimentation of model suspensions promoted by rigid buoyant particles

Abstract Significant increases to the rate of sedimentation of suspensions of granulated polymers in a continuous-gravity settler were achieved by the addition of buoyant particles into the feed suspensions. The greatest enhancements in throughput occurred with suspensions of highest concentrations and highest fluid viscosity, i.e., those that were the “hardest to settle.” Throughput was enhanced for both polydisperse and monodisperse suspensions.
Resonant reflection of water waves in a long channel with corrugated boundaries

A one-dimensional wave equation is derived for water-wave propagations in a long channel with corrugated boundaries. The amplitude and the wavelength of boundary undulations are assumed to be smaller than and in the same order of magnitude as the incident wavelength, respectively. When the Bragg reflection condition (i.e. the wavenumber of the boundary undulations is twice that of the incident wavenumber) is nearly satisfied, significant wave reflection could occur. Coupled equations for transmitted and reflected wave fields are derived for the near resonant coupling. The detuning mechanism is attributed to the slight deviation in the wavenumber of the corrugated boundaries from the Bragg wavenumber. Analytical solutions are obtained for the cases where the boundary undulations are within a finite region. The application of the present theory to the design of a harbour resonator is discussed.
Reporting a potential pandemic: A risk-related assessment of avian influenza coverage in U.S. newspapers

While quality mediated information does not guarantee accurate public risk perceptions, it provides the public with the means to construct informed risk assessments. This study analyzed four major U.S. newspapers to assess the quality of coverage related to risks posed by avian flu. “Quality of coverage” was examined with a five-dimension conceptualization that included measures of risk magnitude, self-efficacy, risk comparisons, sensationalism, and thematic and episodic framing. Findings revealed that coverage was dominated by episodic frames, exhibited high sensationalism, and contained minimal information promoting self-efficacy. Conversely, coverage exhibited high quality in terms of risk magnitude and risk comparison information.
Biphasic Photoreceptor Degeneration Induced by Light in a T17M Rhodopsin Mouse Model of Cone Bystander Damage

PURPOSE. To evaluate light-induced retinal damage in transgenic T17M rhodopsin mice as a novel model for bystander cone damage during retinal degeneration. METHODS. Mouse eyes were exposed to bright white light (15,000 lux, 2.5 minutes). After exposure, electroretinography was performed on mice dark adapted for 12 or more hours at 0 to 5 days to test photoreceptor response or for 0 to 12 hours to test response recovery. Retinal cryosections were examined by TUNEL staining and outer nuclear layer thickness measurements. Cone morphology was assessed by peanut agglutinin staining in retinal flatmounts and cryosections. RESULTS. T17M retinal function and morphology changed rapidly after exposure to light. Scotopic and photopic electroretinogram responses declined progressively from 0.5 to 3 days. Scotopic response recovery peaked at 50% to 60% of the unilluminated response in 3 hours, indicating an early, rapid decline in scotopic signaling. Photopic responses were near normal or supernormal from 0 to 6 hours. Cell death peaked at 1 day, and outer nuclear layer thickness declined from 1 to 5 days. Disorganized cones were observed at 6 hours, intact and damaged cones were observed at 12 hours and 1 day, but only cone remnants were observed at 3 and 5 days. Light exposure had little to no effect on ERG responses in nontransgenic littermates and other retinal degeneration models. CONCLUSIONS. The time course of light-induced T17M retinal damage is biphasic, with an initial decline in rod function within hours followed by bystander cone and rod deterioration within days. The rapid and synchronous induction of damage in this model is attractive for characterizing bystander effects in retinal degeneration.
Recurrent dysplastic nevus following shave excision

Distinguishing benign from malignant melanocytic lesions is an on-going challenge for the clinician and the histopathologist. The regrowth of benign melanocytic nevi at the dermoepidermal junction following inadequate excision has been shown to be confused with superficial spreading melanoma. The dysplastic nevus has atypical features in and of itself, which become even more compounded when the lesion recurs in the dermoepidermal junction following inadequate resection by shave excision. The use of Monsel's solution to achieve hemostasis at the biopsy site can itself also produce a clinically irregular area of hyperpigmentation, accompanied by a pathologic pigmented and cellular dermal reaction. A case of a dysplastic nevus recurring after inadequate shave excision is reported here. The resultant atypia were further compounded by the use of Monsel's solution for hemostasis in the initial excision, which could have led to a mistaken diagnosis of malignant melanoma. The spectrum of dysplastic nevi is reviewed.
Creativity and conservatism

Across a range of disciplines it is assumed that conservatism and creativity are polar opposites. Although conservatism correlates negatively with appreciation of certain art forms, are conservatives in fact less creative? Four hundred and twenty-two undergraduates completed a Creative Behavior Inventory and creative products judged by the consensual assessment technique. Compared to more liberal college students, those endorsing more conservative positions on a brief version of the Conservatism scale had fewer creative accomplishments and devised photo essays and drawings judged as less creative. Results for accomplishments and drawing products held true when controlling for verbal ability and openness.