cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal Stone Disease

1. Charles P. McKay, MD* 1. *Associate Pediatric Program Director, Department of Pediatrics, Levine Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Discuss the major risk factors for renal stone disease in children. 2. Perform and interpret the evaluation of a child who has suspected or proven renal stone disease. 3. Provide dietary advice for the child who has renal stone disease, including fluid intake goals. 4. Prescribe potassium citrate or thiazide diuretics appropriately in the treatment of renal stone disease. 5. Recognize the conditions of cystinuria, primary hyperoxaluria, and struvite stones. A 9-year-old boy is referred by his primary care physician for evaluation of abdominal pain and blood in the urine after playing on a trampoline. His past medical history is negative for renal disease, and he takes no medications. A complete dietary history reveals that he eats a lot of fast food and drinks about 1 glass of milk daily. His father and grandfather have a history of renal stones. Findings on his physical examination are unremarkable. A serum chemistry profile yields normal results, and the urinalysis shows a specific gravity of 1.030, pH of 6.5, and the presence of a large amount of blood but no protein. Microscopic examination shows numerous eumorphic red blood cells and calcium oxalate crystals. Spiral computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast shows two very dense stones in the pelvis of the right kidney and one stone in the left kidney. There is moderate hydronephrosis on the left, and a 3-mm stone seen in the left ureter is recovered 24 hours later by straining the urine. Stone analysis shows elements of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid. Three weeks later, a 24-hour urine collection demonstrates elevated supersaturation for calcium oxalate, low …
Morphological changes associated with the myoneural junction in extraocular muscle of the dystrophic mouse

Abnormalities of the muscle fiber in the sub-junctional region were observed in association with both normal and disrupted terminal axons. The most frequently observed myopathic change was the presence of extensive areas of densely packed vacuoles beneath the junction. Fibers containing such conglomerations of vacuoles also manifested swollen sarcoplasmic reticulum. Degeneration of terminal axons was evidenced by swelling, a decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles, and fragmented mitochondria. These findings suggest an involvement of the myoneural junction in the etiology of muscular dystrophy in the extraocular muscles of the mouse.
Experimental hemiplegia in the monkey: Basal ganglia glucose activity during recovery

Unilateral ablation of cerebral cortical areas 4 and 6 of Brodmann in the macaque monkey results in a dense contralateral hemiplegia that recovers partially with time. During the phase of dense hemiplegia, the local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (lCMRGlc) is decreased significantly in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the lesion. In the present study, lCMRGlc in the basal ganglia was studied during the phase of partial recovery of motor activity. lCMRGlc was partially restored, and the greatest degree of restoration occurred in structures with direct connections to the cerebral cortex (caudate nucleus, putamen, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, and red nucleus). Restoration was least in structures that do not receive direct connections from the cerebral cortex (the internal and external segments of the globus pallidus). The findings support the hypothesis that corticofugal activity accounts for a substantial degree of functional recovery.
Studies on mitochondria: I. The association of cyclophorase with mitochondria

Abstract The study of the activity and cytology of the cyclophorase system under a variety of conditions has established that mitochondria are the morphologic units of the cyclophorase system. A close correlation was also observed between the state and number of mitochondria and the extent of cyclophorase activity.
A HISTOLOGIC DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EPITHELIAL AND VASCULAR STRUCTURES IN THE KIDNEY OF THE NORMAL RAT.

The cytology of the whole length of the collecting tubule of the rat kidney was studied by light microscopy. The tubule may be subdivided into four successive segments on the basis of the types of epithelial cells that form its lining. The morphology of other epithelial and vascular structures in the renal medulla and papilla was also studied. In fixed histologic specimens, morphologic characteristics of capillaries near the apex of the papilla and in retia mirabilia of the outer portion of the medulla suggest that their plasma is relatively concentrated in the living rat. First, plasma in capillaries of both regions stains deeply with certain histologic dyes. Second, in many specimens erythrocytes in capillaries near the apex of the papilla appear crenated. The significance of the morphologic findings is discussed with regard to current hypotheses concerning the physiologic function of the collecting tubule and other epithelial and vascular structures in the medulla and papilla.
Virtue as knowledge: Objections from the philosophy of mind

Analyse des arguments developpes par la philosophie de l'esprit et la psychologie morale contre l'identification de la vertu a la connaissance morale du bien. Examinant les notions de croyance et desir telles qu'elles designent les deux directions de l'adequation entre les etats mentaux et le monde, l'A. montre que les theories de la vertu offrent une approche des phenomenes motivationnels familiers qui s'avere indissociable de la theorie de l'action, de la responsabilite et de la normativite
SODIUM AZIDE AFFECTS METHYLENE BLUE CONCENTRATION IN Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

— Since 1974, the quenching effect of azide (N3-) has been widely used to infer participation of excited singlet oxygen (1O2) as a major reactive species in microbial photodynamic action studies. We report herein that N3- causes a rapid, concentration-dependent release of at least one heterocyclic aromatic photosensitizer, methylene blue, from Salmonella typhimurium. A similar phenomenon of lesser magnitude was also observed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This process may account in part for the azide photoprotective effects in vivo.
Two molecular transitions influence cardiac sodium channel gating

Sodium channels from diverse excitable membranes are very similar in their structure, yet surprisingly heterogeneous in their behavior. The processes that govern the opening and closing of sodium channels have appeared difficult to describe in terms of a single, unifying molecular scheme. Now cardiac sodium channels have been analyzed by high-resolution single-channel recordings over a broad range of potentials. Channels exhibited both complex and simple gating patterns at different voltages. Such behavioral diversity can be explained by the balance between two molecular transitions whereby channels can exit the open state.
Ignition of ammonium perchlorate composite propellants by convectiveheating.

A comprehensive experimental study was made of the ignition of ammonium perchlorate propellants in a shock-tube apparatus. Test variables were: 1) heat flux, 2) test-gas temperature, 3) test-gas velocity, and 4) pressure. Convective heat fluxes at the propellant surface were varied over the range of about 20 to 160 cal/cm sec. The experimental results showed that, in the range of conditions used, ignition characteristics of ammonium perchlorate propellants are in agreement with those predicted by thermal ignition theory. However, for propellant samples with surface irregularities, the thermal ignition process is accelerated at low test-gas velocities by external-flux-augmenting exothermic reactions among decomposition products at the surface. These decomposition products are produced at local hot spots resulting from two-dimensional Convective heating of protrusions and other surface imperfections. The experimental data indicate that the key reaction in the ignition process is the low-temperature thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate.
Life-skills knowledge: A survey of foster adolescents in three placement settings

Abstract A survey of life-skills knowledge among foster adolescents was conducted in three placement settings; foster family homes, group homes/institutions, and apartments. Within the apartment sub-group, two types of apartments were compared; cluster-site and scattered-site. The study group consisted of 534 older adolescents in state care. A 50-item multiple-choice inventory was used to gauge life-skills knowledge. Adolescents in scattered-site apartment placements scored highest, followed by youths in foster family placements. Youths in group home/institutional placements scored lowest. The results suggest a need to improve life-skills preparation in group home/ institutional settings, to target minority males for life-skills enhancement in all placement settings, and whenever possible to utilize apartment placements to supplement foster home, group home, and institutional placements.
Theory of Stochastic Dipolar Recoupling in Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance†

Dipolar recoupling techniques in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) consist of radio frequency (rf) pulse sequences applied in synchrony with magic-angle spinning (MAS) that create nonzer...
A comparison of aminopeptidases from excised human buccal epithelium and primary cultures of hamster pouch buccal epithelium

— Aminopeptidase activity associated with human buccal tissue and primary cultures of hamster buccal epithelium homogenates was assayed fluorometrically using 4-methoxy-2-naphthyl-amides of leucine, alanine, and arginine. Kinetic parameters, Km and Vmax. for all substrates were estimated. Aminopeptidase parameters for human tissue were similar to those for the in-vitro system and reported literature values for rodent buccal tissue aminopeptidases. Aminopeptidases of both tissues were also found to be similarly sensitive to typical inhibitors, bestatin and puromycin. Overall results suggest that appropriate in-vitro systems derived from animal tissues may be useful in assessing the role and localization of peptidases associated with buccal tissue.
Analysis of Coarsely Grouped Data from the Lognormal Distribution

Abstract A missing information technique is applied to blood lead data that is both grouped and assumed to be lognormally distributed. These maximum likelihood techniques are extended from the simple lognormal case to obtain solutions for a general linear model case. Various models are fitted to the data, and likelihood ratio statistics are computed to test for significance of various parameterizations. The techniques are applied to a data set of over 130,000 blood lead values collected by the city of New York. The data, collected from 1970 to 1976, are part of a large-scale screening program and have implications for the current ambient air lead standard.
Commentary: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Burd, L., & Kerbeshian, J. (2013). Commentary: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 2 (3), 3-6. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.173 ( http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.173 ) Alcohol use is now the third leading risk factor for worldwide global disease burden, in terms of disability adjusted life years (Lim et al., 2012). In the developed world, about 40% of women of childbearing age drink alcohol, and many are drinking at or around the time of conception (Maier & West, 2001; Paintner, Williams, & Burd, 2012a). Rates of alcohol use among women are increasing across much of the world. Current prevalence estimates suggest that several hundred thousand individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are born each year (May, Gossage, & Kalberg, 2009). This is especially tragic in light of the fact that we have effective prevention methods as well as office-based interventions for prenatal alcohol exposure.
Sensitivity To Variability in Food Amount: Risk Aversion Is Seen in Discrete-Choice, But Not in Free-Choice, Trials

A number of studies have observed that animals experiencing positive energy budgets tend to prefer alternatives offering constant amounts of food over those offering variable amounts of food, i.e. they tend to be risk averse. This observation, and the related finding that small animals experiencing negative energy budgets have been observed to prefer alternatives variable in food amount (i.e. to be risk prone), has often been explained by the hypothesis that animals choose the alternative with the highest expected utility. The present study examined if short-term differences in expected energy intake created by delays until when food is next available influence risk sensitivity in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Norway rats were presented with choices between two feeding sites, one offering constant amounts of food, one offering variable amounts of food. In one treatment, rats could only sample one feeding site per daily trial (discrete-choice trials), in a second, they could sample both sites within a trial (free-choice trials), and in a third, they could sample the second-choice site after an imposed delay of 30 s. In the free-choice treatment, rats were indifferent to variability in food amount whereas in the discrete-choice treatment rats displayed a significant preference for the constant alternative. Therefore, the sensitivity the rats showed toward variability in food amount was influenced by the rats' expected energy intake in the period after visiting the first-choice patch. Rats in the free-choice with delay treatment displayed risk indifference just as those in the free-choice treatment did, however, indicating that differences in expected energy intake over a 30-s interval did not influence risk sensitivity.
The Relation between Friction and Wear for Boundary-Lubricated Surfaces

A relationship between friction and mechanical wear for lubricated surfaces is derived in the form Z2/3=k(f-f1) where Z is the wear per unit sliding distance, f the friction coefficient, and k and f1 are constants. Experiments are described in which the metal transfer and the loose wear were measured, and satisfactory agreement with the derived equation obtained.
Excretion of collagen derived peptides is increased in women with stress urinary incontinence.

Aims The objective of this study was to demonstrate that weakened pelvic floor support of the lower genitourinary tract in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is due to increased collagenolysis. When fibrillar collagen is degraded, pyridinium (PYD) crosslinks are released and excreted in the urine. Degradation of collagen also results in peptide fragments of various lengths which are excreted in the urine. Degradation of mature fibrillar collagen and collagen which has not been crosslinked can be assessed independently by measurement of both PYD and collagen-derived peptides in the urine. Methods Twenty-four hour urine collections were obtained from women with SUI (n = 23) and women without urinary incontinence (n = 39). Urinary PYD concentration was assayed by ELISA. The urinary concentration of helical peptide α1 (I) 620–633 fragments derived from collagen was assayed by competitive enzyme immunoassay. Values were normalized to creatinine. Results The mean urine PYD concentration for women with SUI (110.8 ± 19.7 nM/mM creatinine) was not significantly different than that for women without SUI (85.2 ± 13.7 nM/mM creatinine). The mean urine concentration of helical peptide α1 (I) 620–633 for women with SUI (0.80 ± 0.13 μg/mg creatinine) was significantly (P < 0.02) higher than that for women without SUI (0.49 ± 0.06 μg/mg creatinine). Conclusions These data suggest that collagenolytic activity in women with SUI is elevated compared to continent controls, as measured by urinary helical peptide α1 (I) 620–633 excretion. The lack of difference in urinary PYD excretion between the two populations suggests that the increased collagenolytic activity in women with SUI, compared to continent controls, is restricted to uncrosslinked collagen. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:198–203, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The timing of complications impacts risk of readmission after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery

Background Readmission is frequent in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery. Medicare began penalizing hospitals recently for excess readmission for specific diagnoses, including some operative procedures. We sought to define the incidence and risk factors for readmission after HPB surgery. Study design Elective HPB resections were selected from the 2011 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) dataset. Risk factors associated with readmission were assessed using modified Poisson univariate and adjusted regression models. Results We identified 5,081 patients; 2,980 underwent pancreatic resection and 2,101 had a hepatectomy. Median age was 62 (interquartile range, 52–70), 53% of patients were women; 74% were non-Hispanic white; and 31% were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 2, and 64% were ASA class 3. About 75% of cases had a malignant diagnosis on final pathology. Of all these patients, 16.2% were readmitted within 30 days of operation. The strongest risk factors for readmission on multivariable analysis were minor (risk ratio [RR], 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47–3.97; P Conclusion Outpatient complications were by far the strongest risk factor for readmission. Decreasing complications as well as improving outpatient case management to prevent and treat postdischarge complications hold considerable promise in the efforts to decrease readmission.
Endothelium as a gatekeeper of fatty acid transport

The endothelium transcends all clinical disciplines and is crucial to the function of every organ system. A critical, but poorly understood, role of the endothelium is its ability to control the transport of energy supply according to organ needs. Fatty acids (FAs) in particular represent a key energy source that is utilized by a number of tissues, but utilization must be tightly regulated to avoid potentially deleterious consequences of excess accumulation, including insulin resistance. Recent studies have identified important endothelial signaling mechanisms, involving vascular endothelial growth factor-B, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and apelin, that mediate endothelial regulation of FA transport. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which these signaling pathways regulate this key endothelial function.
Soy fatty acid oxidation with sodium hypochlorite monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The oxidation process of soy fatty acids by sodium hypochlorite with ruthenium trichloride catalyst was examined at different temperatures and active chlorine:fatty acid molar ratios. 1H and 13C distortionless enhancement by polarized transfer nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques were used to monitor oxidation of the double bonds in unsaturated lipids by measuring the peak integration ratio of double-bond peaks:methylene-methyl peaks. This NMR monitoring technique proved to be an excellent means to quantify double-bond reactions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify mono- and diacid products, separated by hexane/methylene chloride extraction, as well as other oxidation products. While the presence of ruthenium catalyst increased the initial rate of oxidation, it also catalyzed the decomposition of hypochlorite, decreasing the available reactive chlorine, resulting in a delay in complete oxidation. A 9:1 molar ratio of active chlorine to fatty acids completely oxidized all double bonds of soy fatty acids. However, the yield of low-molecular-weight monoacid oxidation products was only 17%, indicating the probable formation of hydroxy fatty acids.
A Highly Efficient Multicore Floating-Point FFT Architecture Based on Hybrid Linear Algebra/FFT Cores

FFT algorithms have memory access patterns that prevent many architectures from achieving high computational utilization, particularly when parallel processing is required to achieve the desired levels of performance. Starting with a highly efficient hybrid linear algebra/FFT core, we co-design the on-chip memory hierarchy, on-chip interconnect, and FFT algorithms for a multicore FFT processor. We show that it is possible to to achieve excellent parallel scaling while maintaining power and area efficiency comparable to that of the single-core solution. The result is an architecture that can effectively use up to 16 hybrid cores for transform sizes that can be contained in on-chip SRAM. When configured with 12MiB of on-chip SRAM, our technology evaluation shows that the proposed 16-core FFT accelerator should sustain 388 GFLOPS of nominal double-precision performance, with power and area efficiencies of 30 GFLOPS/W and 2.66 GFLOPS/mm2, respectively.
Learning from Our Mistakes: Quality Grand Rounds, a New Case-Based Series on Medical Errors and Patient Safety

In this issue, with the paper by Chassin and Becher, Annals launches a new series, “Quality Grand Rounds.”
Influence of Extractives on the Analysis of Herbaceous Biomass

The consequences of extracting switchgrass, corn stover, and fescue feedstocks with either 95% ethanol or hot water prior to the chemical characterization of the feedstock have been determined. Glycans (glucan and xylan), Klason lignin, acid soluble lignin, uronic acids, acetyl groups, protein, and ash analyses were done on each feedstock. Extraction with 95% ethanol or hot water significantly reduced the measured Klason lignin values of all the feedstocks. Ethanol extractions reduced the apparent glucan content of two of the feedstocks, fescue and switchgrass. Extractions with hot water reduced the apparent glucan content of all the feedstocks. The apparent content of other components in the feedstock, such as ash and protein, was also reduced as a result of doing solvent extractions. The results indicate that more accurate estimates of the true lignin and cellulose content of a feedstock are obtained if extractives are removed from the feedstock prior to the analysis. However, in some cases the analysis...
The Determination of X-Ray Line Shapes by a Double Crystal Spectrometer

As a result of a new mathematical analysis of the action of the double crystal spectrometer, a method of using the instrument has been found which makes it possible to determine the spectral energy distribution of an x-ray line and to calibrate the instrument without any previous knowledge of the diffraction patterns of the crystals.
Genre Theory and the Practice of Readers Theatre.

Examining definitions and current practice in Readers Theatre, this essay proposes that the interaction of the principles of synecdoche and metonymy organizes a number of conventions, suggests coherent paths to continued innovation, and provides a basis for a Readers Theatre aesthetic.
Amicus Curiae Briefs and the U.S. Supreme Court: When Liberal and Conservative Groups Support the Same Party

AbstractI examine patterns of amicus curiae participation before the U.S. Supreme Court for six terms, OT2007–OT2012. I explore the interesting phenomenon of liberal and conservative group participation on the same side of a case, and I hypothesize that when this occurs, the Court is more likely to vote in favor of the party supported by these groups. I control for the impact of other factors that may influence the Court to side with a party, including the party is the U.S.; the U.S. appears as amicus curiae for that party; number of amicus briefs on behalf of the party relative to its opponent; and the ideological direction of the decision in the court below that is on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Aspects synchroniques et diachroniques de l’hiatus : le cas du déterminant /la/ en créole haïtien

Le determinant postpose /la/ du creole haitien se prononce [a] en position postvocalique, par ex., [maladla] ‘le malade’, mais [papaa] ‘le papa’. Nikiema 1999 soutient qu’il ne peut s’agir d’un processus d’effacement de /l/ du fait que les langues naturelles manifestent generalement une tres forte tendance a eviter les hiatus et, qu’en plus, le creole haitien cree lui-meme des glissantes de transition dans des formes telles que [laplija] (< [laplia] < [laplila]) ‘la pluie’. Bien que les langues cherchent souvent a se defaire des hiatus, il est tout aussi vrai qu’elles en produisent continuellement des nouveaux a la suite de chutes de consonnes intervocaliques de toutes sortes. Par consequent, toute analyse de l’alternance /l/ ~ ∅ qui repose sur 1’effacement consonantique ne saurait etre ecartee d’office car la creation d’hiatus est manifestement un phenomene usuel et naturel.
Design and testing of track-following controllers for dual-stage servo systems with PZT actuated suspensions

This paper discusses the design and testing of two track-following controllers for dual-stage servo systems in hard disk drives. The first controller is designed using the μ-synthesis multivariable robust optimal controller design methodology. The second is designed using classical single-input-single-output (SISO) frequency shaping design techniques, based on sensitivity transfer functions decoupling of the dual-stage actuator. The controllers were implemented and tested on a disk drive with a PZT actuated suspension based dual-stage servo system. The position error signal (PES) for the servo system was obtained by measuring the slider displacement using an LDV and injecting simulated track runout. In the experiment, both designs achieved a track-mis-registration (TMR) less than 10 nm.
Organizational Stressors and Police Performance

Abstract This study examines the impact organizational stressors have on police performance. Evidence on police stress is mixed whether or not the nature of police work is inherently stressful. A growing body of research suggests police officers are no more stressed than other groups and police work is not especially stressful. Instead, organizational stressors may be a greater source of stress due to various structural arrangements, policies and practices. This cross-sectional study uses survey data (n = 461) from two large urban police departments in Michigan and New Jersey. Multiple regression predicts lower performance as perceived stressors increase and paired-sample t test reveals organizational stressors are significantly different from operational stressors. The results imply the need for structural changes in police organizations. Future research should examine police performance in smaller and mid-size police agencies as well as suburban and rural agencies and widen the participant pool to include superior officers and civilian personnel.
Coil Optimization Method for Electromagnetic Induction Systems

Electromagnetic induction systems have proven to be very effective in detecting subsurface metallic and magnetic objects. Such systems often employ separate transmit and receive coils, and thus it is desirable for the transmit and receive coils in these systems to have minimal mutual coupling. It is also desirable for the product of the fields generated by the transmit and receive coils to be as large as possible to maximize the detection depth. We demonstrate that a pair of spiral coils can be optimized to achieve these desired properties. A mathematical representation is chosen for the coils, which allows the coil pair to be optimized using an iterative convex method, which, due to its convexity, is very fast. We then present results showing a pair of nonuniformly wound spiral coils created with this optimization.
A high resolution transmission electron microscopy study of SiC-coated graphite fiber-aluminum composite

Abstract An SiC-coated graphite fiber-aluminum composite was processed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of silicon carbide followed by aluminum pressure infiltration. A high resolution transmission electron microscopy study of this composite was carried out, with emphasis on a detailed characterization of the interface structures. Pitch-55 graphite fiber structure was analyzed in both the core and skin regions and it resembles that of turbostratic graphite. The SiC coating deposited by the PECVD technique was fully amorphous. The graphite fiber-SiC interface was characterized as sharp. Pressure infiltration of aluminum into fibers of low initial temperature (621 K) suppressed almost completely formation of a reaction zone between the aluminum and SiC. A mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the components of this composite leads to dislocation generation in the aluminum matrix. These observations allowed for a detailed evaluation of the processing techniques used, and structural details of the interfacial regions will serve at the same time as a basis for modelling interface properties.
Social Support, Physiological Processes, and Health

Social relationships serve important functions in people's everyday lives. Epidemiological research indicates that supportive relationships may also significantly protect individuals from various causes of mortality, including cardiovascular disease. An important issue is how social support influences such long-term health outcomes. In this article, we review evidence indicating that social support may influence mortality via changes in the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems. These data suggest that it may be worthwhile to incorporate social-support interventions in the prevention and treatment of physical health problems.
Phase‐shifted distributed feedback laser with linearly chirped grating for narrow linewidth and high‐power operation

Phase‐shifted distributed feedback laser with linearly chirped grating (PS‐CG‐DFB) was analyzed. The field distribution, threshold gain difference between the lasing mode and the next lowest threshold gain mode, linewidth of the lasing mode, and output power of PS‐CG‐DFB were self‐consistently calculated under different injection levels. It is found that the lasing mode pattern and the carrier concentration distribution are ‘‘locked’’ at high injection level due to the strong interaction between carriers and photons. The chirped grating compensates the spatial hole burning effect to the mode stability and makes the mode stable in the whole injection region.
Does perceived unfairness affect charitable giving? Evidence from the dictator game

Abstract We use a modified version of the dictator game to study whether perceived unfairness affects giving. To earn money, dictators first had to take a test. Our treatment group had participants taking tests of different difficulty levels while the control group had all participants taking a test of the same difficulty level. We found that participants who were in an environment where everyone faced the same challenge to earn money were less generous than participants in an environment where some people had an advantage while others had a disadvantage.
The second triannulenylene: tri-[8]annulenylene.

Room-temperature dehydrohalogenation of bromocyclooctatetraene (BrC8H7) with potassium tert-butoxide followed (after a couple of minutes) by alkali metal reduction was used to generate the anion radical of tri-[8]annulenylene [(C8H6•-)3] in HMPA. EPR analysis reveals that the odd electron is primarily located in one of the three eight-membered ring systems, which is rendered planar. Excellent agreement was obtained between spin densities predicted by B3LYP/6-31G* calculations and those observed. The neutral tri-[8]annulenylene system has a propensity toward polymerization, but it can be isolated for NMR and mass spectral analysis via the I2 oxidation of the anion radical. The NMR analysis reveals that two of the eight-membered rings are bent above the plane of the benzene ring and the other is bent below. Tri-[6]annulenylene (triphenylene) is the only other known member of the triannulenylenes.
Electrochemical Determination of the Diffusion Coefficient of Hydrogen Through an LaNi4.25Al0.75 Electrode in Alkaline Aqueous Solution

Metal hydrides are being used as electrodes in nickel/metal-hydride batteries because of their ability to store large quantities of hydrogen and because of their many advantages over conventional lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries. The performance of a metal hydride electrode is determined by both the kinetics of the processes occurring at the metal/electrolyte interface and the rate of hydrogen diffusion within the bulk of the metal. The constant potential and constant current discharge techniques were used to determine the hydrogen diffusion coefficients in an LaNi{sub 4.25}Al{sub 0.75} electrode. The values obtained were 2.97 {times} 10{sup {minus}11} and 3.30 {times} 10{sup {minus}11} cm{sup 2}/s, respectively. The advantages and disadvantages of these two techniques are discussed.
Matxuf: On-line, real time derivative method for neutron spectrum unfolding

Abstract An improved fast-neutron spectrum unfolding code, MATXUF, based upon the derivative method, has been written for unfolding NE-213 liquid scintillation proton recoil data. The new code incorporates improvements suggested by R. H. Johnson and utilizes approximations and corrections used in the DUFOLD derivative unfolding code. The results indicate that significant improvement over previously written derivative unfolding codes can be obtained. In addition to these improvements, this method can be used to generate an “unfolding matrix” for real time, on-line unfolding of experimentally measured data. The ability to perform real time unfolding has been demonstrated using a PDP-11 mini-computer based system.
Spatial and temporal control of the degree of cure in polymer composite structures

This paper describes current efforts to apply spatially and temporally localized microwave processing techniques to ensure uniformity of material properties in polymer composite materials. In large polymer composite structures, high temperatures caused by exothermic resin cure can degrade the mechanical properties of the composite. In this work, resin cure temperature data was obtained during microwave processing from a series of thermocouples embedded at various lateral locations relative to the microwave source and uniformly through the thickness of the composite structure. Using this temperature information, the potential for localized microwave-accelerated cure to reduce the occurrence of material degradation from resin over-temperature was evaluated. In addition, a theoretical model is presented that helps elucidate the influence of the microwave parameters on the temperature profile.
Depression in Inner City African American Youth: A Phenomenological Study

Depression can at times be under-identified, and misdiagnosed, especially in youth from under-represented ethnic and racial groups who live in urban environments. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological methodology to examine the subjective experience of depression among clinically diagnosed inner city African American adolescents, aged 13–17 years. Five super-ordinate themes emerged from the study analysis including, (a) the depth of depression, (b) life events and experiences as “root base”, (c) the emotional sense of self, (d) the survival self, and (e) the healing self. Findings also demonstrated the essence of the lived experience of being depressed as including both externalizing and internalizing strategies for coping. The adolescents described depression as a part of life and did not describe suicide as a solution, suggesting the need to consider that these constructs may lead to a more informed understanding and identification of depression among African American youths. Methodological limitations and recommendations for future research are addressed.
An Analytic Workbench Perspective to Evolution of System of Systems Architectures

Abstract The development of a large group of interdependently operating systems, or ‘System of Systems (SoS)’, presents significant challenges across technical, operational and programmatic dimensions. Trades between cost, schedule, performance, and associated spectrum of risks, are essential during analysis of alternatives for both individual systems and the SoS architecture as a whole. The large number of decision variables involved, ubiquitous uncertainty and complex interactions that exist between systems creates analysis problems that go well beyond the immediate mental faculties of decision-makers. Often times, the decisions made focus on localized development at the systems level with little consideration for cascading effects on the bigger SoS picture. Hence, the process of evolving SoS architectures requires tools that provides the SoS practitioner with meaningful analytical quantifications of the SoS tradespace. In the defense arena, existing tools for such trades, have been guided by policies set forth in the Defense Acquisitions Guidebook (DAG) (5000 series) and the System Engineering Guide for System of Systems (SoS-SE), but are lacking an analytic perspective towards more informed decision-making. This paper discusses a multidisciplinary effort, funded by the DoD's Systems Engineering research Center (SERC), to establish an analytic workbench of computational tools to facilitate better-informed decision-making on SoS architectures. The work is motivated by the idea that SoS practitioners possess relevant information and archetypal questions that reflect desired outcomes at the SoS level. These archetypal, technically -driven queries are mapped to relevant methods that can provide analytical outputs to directly support SoS acquisition and architectural decisions. The applicability and respective value-added of each method in addressing various archetypal measures are presented.
Analytical and preparative separation of the enantiomers of pyrazole phenyl ether herbicides on three chiral stationary phases

Abstract Chiral pyrazole phenyl ethers (PPE) are highly active herbicides which are resolved by direct high-performance liquid chromatography on commercially available chiral stationary phases derived from N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl derivatives of α-amino acids or amines (Whelk-O 1). The chromatographic data for a series of PPEs is presented and the structure-enantioselectivity comparisons are made for three different chiral stationary phases. Chromatographic resolution obtained is suitable for determination of enantiomeric purities and, in some cases, for preparative resolution of the enantiomers. By collection of material from repetitive chromatographic runs using an automated preparative system, suitable quantities for whole plant biological evaluation of both enantiomers of 2-[5-[[4-chloro-1-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]oxy]-2-nitrophenoxy]-N-methyl-butanamide were obtained in greater than 99% enantiomeric purity.
Hydrogen/deuterium exchange-LC-MS approach to characterize the action of heparan sulfate C5-epimerase

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans regulate a number of biological functions in many systems. Most of the functions of HS are attributed to its unique structure, consisting of sulfated and non-sulfated domains, arising from the differential presence of iduronyl and glucuronyl residues along the polysaccharide chain. A single glucuronyl C5-epimerase enzyme acts on HS precursors, converts glucuronyl residues into iduronyl residues, and modulates subsequent biosynthetic steps in vivo. Previously, the ratios of non-sulfated epimers within the polysaccharide chain have been calculated by resolving radiolabeled GlcA-(A)Man(R) and IdoA-(A)Man(R) disaccharides using a tedious paper chromatography technique. This radioactive assay, based on measuring either the release or incorporation of (3)H at C5 carbon of uronyl residues of (3)H-labeled HS precursor substrate, has been in use over three decades to characterize the action of HS C5-epimerase. We have developed a non-radioactive assay to estimate the epimerase activity through resolving GlcA-(A)Man(R) and IdoA-(A)Man(R) disaccharides on high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with hydrogen/deuterium exchange upon epimerization protocol-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (DEEP-LC-MS). Utilizing this new, non-radioactive-based assay, DEEP-LC-MS, we were able to determine the extent of both forward and reverse reactions on the same substrate catalyzed by C5-epimerase. The results from this study also provide insights into the action of C5-epimerase and provide an opportunity to delineate snapshots of biosynthetic events that occur during the HSPG assembly in the Golgi.
Variability of metals in reservoir sediment from two adjacent basins in the central Great Plains

Reservoir-sediment cores were used to investigate sediment quality in two adjacent basins in the central Great Plains. A total of 18 metals were analyzed to determine and compare concentration magnitudes and trends within and between the two basins. Temporal patterns (bottom to top of core) and ranges in metal concentrations were similar between the two basins; spatial patterns (upstream to downstream), however, showed no similarities. Sediment quality was assessed for eight metals that have federally established sediment-quality guidelines. Of the eight metals, several had concentrations that exceeded threshold effect levels for aquatic organisms. However, the concentrations were less than established probable effect levels. For both basins, increasing trends were indicated for As, Sr, and Se. The trends may be related to both natural conditions and increased irrigation activities in both basins.
Laboratory Measurements of Iron L-Shell Emission: 3→2 Transitions of Fe XXI-XXIV between 10.5 and 12.5 Å

Using the electron beam ion trap EBIT-II facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we have measured the iron L-shell spectrum between 10.5 and 12.5 A for Fe XXI-XXIV with a spectral resolution of ~30 mA. The relative line intensities of strong 3 → 2 transitions for each charge state are measured as functions of electron energy and compared to distorted wave (DW) calculations. The contributions of resonant processes, namely, resonant excitation (RE) and spectroscopically unresolved dielectronic recombination (DR) satellites, are investigated. The RE contributions are shown to be less than the experimental and theoretical uncertainties for plasma in collisional ionization equilibrium. The unresolved DR satellites, however, enhance the emissivities of almost all lines, some by as large as 15%, consistent with our earlier measurements for Fe XXIV. The DW results agree with our measurements to better than 20% under the condition of collisional ionization equilibrium. The line emissivities in the widely used spectral synthesis model, MEKAL, are also compared to our measurements and are found to be discrepant at a greater than 20% level for some lines.
Environmental Analysis in Human Evolution and Adaptation Research

Human evolution and ecology analyses argue that environment is a major factor influencing biological and sociocultural adaptation, but they rarely analyze environmental properties. Multiple problems of perspective and method can arise from the normative and nondynamic environmental descriptions which pervade these analyses. This paper examines human adaptation frameworks to identify theoretical guidelines for environmental description in ways appropriate to available theories of biocultural evolution or congruent with known ecosystem qualities. Concepts and terminology are given for describing the spatial and temporal properties characteristic of ecosystems and central to hypotheses about ecological adaptation. These include: patchiness and grain; stability and resilience; persistence and recurrence; and predictability, constancy, and contingency. Field experience, theory, and the qualities of ecosystems themselves suggest that detailed, historical (long-term) environmental analysis is necessary to determine the role of ecological factors in human evolution and adapation.
Design for verification for asynchronously communicating Web services

We present a design for verification approach to developing reliable web services. We focus on composite web services which consist of asynchronously communicating peers. Our goal is to automatically verify properties of interactions among such peers. We propose a design pattern that eases the development of such web services and enables a modular, assume-guarantee style verification strategy. In the proposed design pattern, each peer is associated with a behavioral interface description which specifies how that peer will interact with other peers. Using these peer interfaces we automatically generate BPEL specifications to publish for interoperability. Assuming that the participating peers behave according to their interfaces, we verify safety and liveness properties about the global behavior of the composite web service during behavior verification. During interface verification, we check that each peer implementation conforms to its interface. Using the modularity in the proposed design pattern, we are able to perform the interface verification of each peer and the behavior verification as separate steps. Our experiments show that, using this modular approach, one can automatically and efficiently verify web service implementations.
Meta-Analysis: The Effect of Steroids on Survival and Shock during Sepsis Depends on the Dose

In randomized trials done before 1989, high-dose glucocorticoids reduced survival in patients with sepsis. In randomized trials done after 1997, a 5- to 7-day course of physiologic hydrocortisone d...
A new surface interpolation technique for reconstructing 3-D objects from serial cross sections

A method for automatically reconstructing a three-dimensional object from serial cross sections is presented. The method combines the techniques of dynamic elastic contour interpolation, spline theory, and quadratic-variation-based surface interpolation. In the proposed method, the initial description of the object is formed by applying the elastic interpolation algorithm to generate a series of intermediate contours between each pair of consecutive cross sections. After this, preliminary processing for surface computation is carried out by mapping the contours into the domain of the surface function and then using spline functions to calculate the initial surface values. Based on the output from preliminary processing, the quadratic-variation-based surface interpolation algorithm is applied to calculate the final surface representation. Since the presented methods take the continuity of high-order derivatives into consideration, smooth and complete surface of a 3-D object can be reconstructed. >
The anatomy of sorrow: a spiritual, phenomenological, and neurological perspective

There is considerable controversy, both within and outside the field of psychiatry, regarding the boundaries of normal sadness and clinical depression. Furthermore, while there are frequent calls for a "pluralistic", comprehensive approach to understanding depression, few writers have tried to integrate insights from the spiritual, philosophical, and neurobiological literature. The author proposes that such a synthesis is possible, and that our understanding of ordinary sorrow and clinical depression is enriched by drawing from these disparate sources. In particular, a phenomenological analysis of sorrow and depression reveals two overlapping but distinct "lifeworlds". These differ in the relational, temporal, dialectical, and intentional realms. Recent brain imaging studies are also beginning to reveal the neurobiological correlates of sorrow and depression. As we come to understand the neurobiology of these states, we may be able to correlate specific alterations in "neurocircuitry" with their phenomenological expressions.
Sibling placement in foster care and adoption: An overview of international research

This article reviews 17 studies from several countries which address definitions and descriptions of sibling groups in care, characteristics of children placed together or separately, and outcomes of sibling placements. Most studies examining outcomes suggest that joint sibling placements are as stable as, or more stable than, placements of single children or separated siblings and that children do as well or better when placed with siblings. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.