cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of physical activity and cumulative plantar tissue stress among subjects with and without diabetes mellitus and a history of recurrent plantar ulcers

Abstract Objectives. To compare the amount of weight-bearing activity and estimates of cumulative plantar tissue stress between subjects with and without diabetes mellitus and a history of recurrent plantar ulcers. Design. Cross-sectional study with matched groups. Background . Weight-bearing activity among individuals with diabetes is likely to influence the amount of mechanical trauma accumulated by plantar tissues, yet activity levels have not been accounted for in previous measurements of plantar tissue stress or predictions of plantar tissue injury. Methods. Study groups included subjects with diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, either with or without a history of recurrent plantar ulcers, and non-diabetic control subjects ( n =10 per group). Pressure on the plantar foot was assessed as subjects walked at their preferred speed in the shoes they reported wearing most often each day. Physical activity was monitored over seven consecutive days using an accelerometer. The product of mean daily strides and forefoot pressure-time integral was used to estimate daily cumulative stress on the plantar forefoot. Results . Subjects with diabetes and a history of recurrent plantar ulcers were 46% less active than subjects without diabetes (mean (SD)=2727 (1345) versus 5037 (2624) strides/day, P =0.04), and accumulated 41% less daily stress on the forefoot than non-diabetic and diabetic control subjects without a history of plantar ulcers (mean (SD)= 210 (134) versus 354 (118) and 354 (148) MPa s/day respectively, P =0.03). Conclusions. Subjects with diabetes and a history a previous ulcers may be susceptible to plantar tissue injury even at relatively low levels of cumulative tissue stress. Relevance . Changes in weight-bearing activity following plantar tissue injury in patients with diabetes may influence plantar tissue adaptation and the risk of ulcer recurrence.
An ion grouping method for calculating the Madelung constant for the sodium chloride lattice

Abstract A method has been developed for calculating the Madelung constant for a sodium chloride lattice. In this method, a reference ion is selected and all other ions are placed in groups around the reference ion. To include ions in all locations, seven types of groups are necessary. Recursion formulas are obtained to compute the effect of each group of ions and the Madelung constant is computed from the total effect produced by all the groups. A total of 29 cubical shells of ions around the reference ion were used in the calculation. The computation produces an oscillating function which alternately goes above and below the actual Madelung constant as the computation is expanded to include each successive shell of ions. A numerical method is described to obtain the average value of the oscillating function. A value of the Madelung constant of 1.74759 results from the abbreviated calculation.
Endogenous opiates: 1992.

Abstract This paper is the fifteenth installment of our annual review of research concerning the opiate system. It includes papers published during 1992 involving the behavioral, nonanalgesic, effects of the endogenous opiate peptides. The specific topics this year include stress; tolerance and dependence; eating; drinking; gastrointestinal and renal function; mental illness and mood; learning, memory, and reward; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; seizures and other neurological disorders; electrical-related activity; general activity and locomotion; sex, pregnancy, and development; immunological responses; and other behaviors.
Transesophageal Echocardiography Findings of an Infected Quadricuspid Aortic Valve with an Anomalous Coronary Artery

We describe a patient with severe aortic regurgitation in whom transesophageal echocardiography coupled with cardiac catheterization and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a quadricuspid aortic valve, anomalous coronary artery, and aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva.
Effect of dietary copper on vanadate toxicity in chicks.

The addition of copper to a corn-soybean diet at levels of 200 mg/kg and above lessened the growth-retarding effect of vanadate for chicks. This interaction between vanadate and copper was evident in bothad libitum-fed chicks and chicks in which feed consumption was restricted to approximately equal amounts. The ameliorating effect of copper was not accompanied by changes in the femur levels of vanadium nor by changes in the hepatic or renal glutathione concentrations. Zinc added at 515 mg/kg of diet had no effect on the toxicity of vanadium. Sodium sulfate added at a level to supply the same amount of sulfate, as supplied by 500 mg/kg copper sulfate, was without effect on the vanadate-induced growth depression. The underlying mechanism of the interaction of copper and vanadium is not known, but it does not lie in changes in feed consumption or organ burdens of vanadium, as represented by the femur vanadium concentrations.
A comparative evaluation of the leading advanced flotation technologies

A comparative evaluation has been conducted using three leading advanced flotation technologies, which utilize different types of bubble-particle attachment environment. Based on a statistical evaluation of the test data the Packed-Column technology, which provides a near plug-flow flotation environment due to the presence of corrugated packing material in the cell, produced the best separation performance due to its ability to support an extremely deep froth zone. However, because of the absence of an air sparging system and the consequent larger bubbles, the froth carrying capacity was the mininum with the Packed-Column technology. On the other hand, the throughput capacity achieved by the Jameson Cell technology, which has a self air-inducing co-current system that provides an intimate bubble-particle attachment environment characterized by an extremely high air fraction and ultrafine bubbles, was found to be maximum. The Microcel™ technology achieved its maximum carrying capacity while providing a high energy recovery with a reasonably low reagent consumption.
Gas dispersion models

Abstract The safety professional in the oil and petrochemical industry is continually involved in decision making in the areas of plant/facility siting, equipment layout and spacing for cross-country pipelines, isolation and emergency shutdown engineering, land use and urban development in the vicinity of existing parts, wells or pipelines, emergency preparedness planning and disaster evacuation procedures. In many instances an effective way to assist in these decisions is to generate quantitative assessments of the risks and hazards associated with each available option. Expressions such as ‘rupture exposure radius’, ‘hazard impact zone’, ‘risk transect’, and ‘risk contour plot’ are frequently used to convey safety related concerns. Quantitative risk assessment commences by considering an imaginary, but plausible, incident involving accidental loss of containment of a toxic and/or flammable material. A numerical estimate of the unwanted consequences of this incident is then made on the basis of properties of the substance released, rate of release (instantaneous or continuous), rate of vaporization, and transport and dispersion of the vapour under given meteorological conditions. Mathematical modelling of these physical phenomena becomes an essential input to this process. In the aftermath of Bhopal, Mexico City, and Chernobyl, the number of available models has grown. The primary purpose of the paper is to provide background information on the practical uses of gas dispersion models. It does not provide an evaluation of any of the available models.
RRE: A game-theoretic intrusion Response and Recovery Engine for process control applications

Preserving the availability and integrity of process control systems in the face of fast-spreading intrusions requires advances not only in detection algorithms, but also in automated response techniques. In this presentation, we propose a new approach to automated response called the Response and Recovery Engine (RRE). Our engine employs a game-theoretic response strategy against adversaries modeled as opponents in a two-player Stackelberg stochastic game. RRE applies attack-response trees to analyze undesired security events and their countermeasures using Boolean logic to combine lower-level attack consequences. In addition, RRE accounts for uncertainties in intrusion detection alert notications. RRE then chooses optimal response actions by solving a partially observable competitive Markov decision process that is automatically derived from attack-response trees. Experimental results show that RRE, using Snort's alerts, can protect large networks for which attack-response trees have more than 500 nodes.
DRAFT STATE UTILITY POLE SAFETY PROGRAM FOR ALABAMA

The Code of Federal Regulations [23 CFR 645.209(k)] requires highway agencies to work with utility companies to initiate corrective measures to utility facilities that are found to be likely to cause injury to motorists. The contribution that a reduction in utility pole-related crashes could make to the overall highway safety effort in Alabama was studied, and methods of accomplishing such reductions were examined. A review of the programs of nearby states with utility pole safety programs shows that they address utility pole safety principally during state department of transportation (DOT) construction projects. Crash data investigations showed that a specific utility pole safety program would have a small effect on overall roadway safety in Alabama. Additionally, there is strong competition for safety funds. After examination of the situation for Alabama DOT-controlled roads, the limitation of pole remediation projects to active construction projects or to any sites that can be positively identified through the normal cost-benefit studies used for safety projects was endorsed.
Polysomes and Protein Synthesis in Cells Infected with a DNA Virus

In HEp-2 cells infected with herpes simplex virus the rate of protein synthesis at first decline, is stimulated between 4 and 8 hours after infection, and progressively and irreversibly declines from 9 to 16 hours later. The increase and decrease in rates coincide with corresponding changes in the amounts of cytoplasmic polysomes and amounts of labeled amino acids in nascent peptides bound to polysomes. The data indicate that (i) early and late inhibition and intervening stimulation of protein synthesis are due to the corresponding breakdown and formation of polysomes, and (ii) the bulk of viral proteins is probably made on cytoplasmic polysomes.
Dilemmas in cardiothoracic surgical education

The needs of the trainee relative to the two subdivisions of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac and general thoracic surgery, are very different. The student of cardiac surgery needs a basic general education in surgery, to reiterate Dr Edward D. Churchill’s pointed differentiation from an education in general surgery [2]. He or she requires broad comprehension of physiological and biochemical principles related to surgery, knowledge and experience in the complexities and complications attendant upon major surgery, and proficiency in basic surgical skills. He or she is then ready to embark, as are other single-organ surgeons-brain surgeons and eye surgeons-upon an educational program for the acquisition of the specialized knowledge-anatomical, pathological, and physiological, as well as the broad and complex spectrum of management problems and technical skills-that relate to cardiac surgery. The trainee in general thoracic surgery must acquire additionally broad competence in the special fields of cervical surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and vascular surgery. We are thus describing a complete training in
A system for computer music performance

A computer music performance system (CMPS) is a computer system connected to input devices (including musical keyboards or other instruments) and to graphic and audio output devices. A human performer generates input events using the input devices. The CMPS responds to these events by computing and performing sequences of output actions whose intended timing is determined algorithmically. Because of the need for accurate timing of output actions, the scheduling requirements of a CMPS differ from those of general-purpose or conventional real-time systems.This paper describes the scheduling facilities of FORMULA, a CMPS used by many musicians. In addition to providing accurate timing of output action sequences, FORMULA provides other basic functions useful in musical applications: (1) per-process virtual time systems with independent relationships to real time; (2) process grouping mechanisms and language-level control structures with time-related semantics, and (3) integrated scheduling of tasks (such as compiling and editing) whose real-time constraints are less stringent than those of output action computations.
Measurement of Solute Transport in the Endothelial Glycocalyx Using Indicator Dilution Techniques

A new method is presented to quantify changes in permeability of the endothelial glycocalyx to small solutes and fluid flow using techniques of indicator dilution. Following infusion of a bolus of fluorescent solutes (either FITC or FITC conjugated Dextran70) into the rat mesenteric circulation, its transient dispersion through post-capillary venules was recorded and analyzed offline. To represent dispersion of solute as a function of radial position in a microvessel, a virtual transit time (VTT) was calculated from the first moment of fluorescence intensity-time curves. Computer simulations and subsequent in vivo measurements showed that the radial gradient of VTT within the glycocalyx layer (Delta VTT/Delta r) may be related to the hydraulic resistance within the layer along the axial direction in a post-capillary venule and the effective diffusion coefficient within the glycocalyx. Modeling the inflammatory process by superfusion of the mesentery with 10(-7) M fMLP, Delta VTT/Delta r was found to decrease significantly from 0.23 +/- 0.08 SD s/microm to 0.18 +/- 0.09 SD s/microm. Computer simulations demonstrated that Delta VTT/Delta r is principally determined by three independent variables: glycocalyx thickness (delta), hydraulic resistivity (K(r)) and effective diffusion coefficient of the solute (D(eff)) within the glycocalyx. Based upon these simulations, the measured 20% decrease in Delta VTT/Delta r at the endothelial cell surface corresponds to a 20% increase in D(eff) over a broad range in K(r), assuming a constant thickness delta. The absolute magnitude of D(eff) required to match Delta VTT/Delta r between in vivo measurements and simulations was found to be on the order of 2.5 x 10(-3) x D(free), where D(free) is the diffusion coefficient of FITC in aqueous media. Thus the present method may provide a useful tool for elucidating structural and molecular alterations in the glycocalyx as occur with ischemia, metabolic and inflammatory events.
An unprecedented chemical transformation: the oxidation of alkanes to alkyl dimethyl phosphates

Abstract Treatment of alkanes under GifIV conditions [FedCl2.4H2O (cat.), Zn0, and O2 in pyridine-acetic acid] in the presence of trimethylphosphite afforded alkyl dimethyl phosphates; 13C-NMR experiments showed that the phosphates are formed from the reaction between the intermediate alkyl hydroperoxide and trimethyl phosphite in the presence of an iron catalyst.
An analysis of re-entry flight measurements of shock layer microwaveradiation

Free-flight radiometer measurements of shock layer microwave radiation at a frequency of 2235 Mcycles/sec are analyzed from a gas-dynamic viewpoint. From these measurements, which were carried out during the re-entry of a spherical nose, 9° cone at a nominal velocity of 18,000 fps, an effective plasma temperature is defined. Although a cursory examination of the data indicates general agreement with flowfield calculations, effective temperatures as much as 1500°K higher than the equilibrium stagnation temperature were obtained in the vicinity of the sphere-cone junction. Possible mechanisms which would account for these high-temperature values are considered; and it is proposed that it is the electron temperature overshoot in the stagnation region, coupled with a nearly frozen expansion from these conditions and around the body, that produces the observed excessive plasma temperatures. Theoretical calculations of the effective plasma noise temperature for the stagnation point antenna are also presented, and reasonable agreement is obtained. LTHOUGH the general nature of the flowfield around a blunt hypersonic vehicle is now well known, there still are many details which are not understood. This is particularly true of the physico-chemical phenomena that are present in the flow and the coupling of the associated processes with the fluid mechanic phenomena; and there is thus considerable research still in progress. This work is both of a theoretical and experimental character, and in the latter category includes free-flight as well as laboratory measurements. The present investigation is an outgrowth of a free-flight experimental program being conducted by the Electro-Science Laboratory of The Ohio State University. This program is designed for ballistic re-entry communication studies, and the details of the particular experiment to be discussed here will be summarized in the next section. Much of the data obtained have been from measurements of signal attenuation and reflection. However, the second vehicle in the test series was instrumented specifically for measurements of shock layer microwave radiation at a frequency of 2235 Mcycles/sec. This radiation is the result of Bremsstrahlung emission and is associated with the electron temperature of the gas. The data obtained from this flight experiment thus provides an opportunity to look at the thermal characteristics of the electrons in the flow; and it is the analysis of this data that is the subject of this paper. As noted, the details of the free-flight experiment itself and the data will be discussed in the next section. This will be followed in Sec. Ill by a discussion of the nature of the shock layer surrounding the vehicle in terms of the electron characteristics. Finally, in Sec. IV comparisons will be made between the free-flight microwave radiation measurements and
Development of a diffuser/nozzle-type micropump based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) principle

This paper reports a research effort to microfabricate a nozzle-diffuser type of micropumps based on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) principle using LIGA technologies. The micropump is driven using the Lorentz force and can be used to deliver electrically conductive fluids. The major advantage of a MHD-based micropump is that it does not contain any moving parts. It may have potential applications in medicine delivery, biological and biomedical studies. Prototypes of MHD micropumps have been fabricated and tested. Significant bubble generation was observed due to electrolysis effect. These bubbles made the flow two-phase one and resulted in flow rate reduction. To overcome bubble generation, a new generation of MHD micropumps is currently under development. This new, diffuser/nozzle type of the MHD micropumps is based on the similar design as widely used in the diffuser/nozzle pumps with diaphragm.
A Survey of Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and Hubble Space Telescope Sight Lines through High-Velocity Cloud Complex C

Using archival Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data, we have assembled a survey of eight sight lines through high-velocity cloud Complex C. Abundances of the observed ion species vary significantly for these sight lines, indicating that Complex C is not well characterized by a single metallicity. Reliable metallicities based on [O I/H I] range from 0.1 to 0.25 Z☉. Metallicities based on [S II/H I] range from 0.1 to 0.6 Z☉, but the trend of decreasing abundance with H I column density indicates that photoionization corrections may affect the conversion to [S/H]. We present models of the dependence of the ionization correction on H I column density; these ionization corrections are significant when converting ion abundances to elemental abundances for S, Si, and Fe. The measured abundances in this survey indicate that parts of the cloud have a higher metallicity than previously thought and that Complex C may represent a mixture of Galactic fountain gas with infalling low-metallicity gas. We find that [S/O] and [Si/O] have a solar ratio, suggesting little dust depletion. Further, the measured abundances suggest an overabundance of O, S, and Si relative to N and Fe. The enhancement of these α-elements suggests that the bulk of the metals in Complex C were produced by Type II supernovae and then removed from the star-forming region, possibly via supernova-driven winds or tidal stripping, before the ISM could be enriched by N and Fe.
An outbreak of a hemorrhagic disease in white-tailed deer in Kentucky.

In 1971, an outbreak of a hemorrhagic disease occurred in captive and free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Clinical signs and gross pathological lesions were consistent with those of epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue, as were serological and histopathological findings for samples sent to other laboratories. The infection rate among the 104 captive deer was 88-92%, and that among the free-ranging Park deer appeared to be similar. Mortality was negligible in the Park deer, but 65 (62%) of the captive deer died. The deaths were bimodally distributed over a 36-day period, and the mortality rate decreased from 97-100% for deer clinically ill during the first 17 days of the outbreak to 58% for deer first exhibiting clinical signs on day 16 or later. Mortality was equal in males and females, but less in yearlings than among fawns or adults. Winter mortality among survivors of the initial outbreak was associated with low ambient temperatures a...
Higher education and occupational attainment in segmented labor markets: Recent evidence from the United States

Recent research on education and occupational attainment has opened up new areas for study. Employing the bilateral or segmented theory of labor markets, this research has begun to reveal both the complexity and variability of schooling's impact upon the diverse work careers of differing groups in society. Specific attention is paid to recent studies of the effect of educational origins upon the work careers of individuals in professional and business—managerial occupations in the United States. Among professional occupations not only do college origins matter but their impact is greater among graduates of low social status backgrounds than among those of high status origins. Implications for our understanding of the role of higher education in social stratification is explored with specific reference to current theories of educational sponsorship.
The production of phage chromosome fragments and their capacity for genetic transfer.

Molecules of DNA isolated from bacteriophage λ break in half, but no further, when subjected to the appropriate amount of hydrodynamic shear. The half-molecules can be separated from whole molecules by zone sedimentation in a sucrose gradient. The phage particles produced by bacteria exposed to λ DNA and active “helper” phage reveal the genes carried into the bacterium by the DNA. Whole molecules of λ DNA appear to be the entire phage chromosome since they carry genes from all parts of the recombination map: m6, m5, h, s, i and mi. One of the two half-molecules produced by shear breakage of λ DNA is capable of transferring s, i and mi, but not m6, m5 or h. Since this incomplete complement is a continuous segment of the linkage map of λ, it is argued that the sequence of genes on the recombination map is the same as the sequence of the nucleotides or blocks of nucleotides which correspond to each of the genes in a molecule of λ DNA.
The ischemic and postischemic effect on the uptake of neutral amino acids in isolated cerebral capillaries.

The uptake of some neutral amino acids was investigated in cerebral microvessels isolated from brains of gerbils subjected to bilateral cerebral ischemia with and without various periods of recovery. A transiently increased capillary uptake of3H-isoleucine,14C-cycloleucine and3H-phenylalanine was found in both conditions.
Modulation of p36 gene expression in human neuronal cells

Abstract p36 is a calcium/lipid-binding phosphoprotein that is expressed at high levels in proliferating and transformed cells, and at low levels in terminally differentiated cells, such as CNS neurons. The calcium-dependent binding to membrane phospholipids, and its capacity to interact with intermediate filament proteins suggest that p36 may be involved in the transduction of extracellular signals. The present work examines p36 gene expression in the mature CNS, primary primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), and transformed PNET cell lines. p36 immunoreactivity was not observed in normal adult human brain, but low levels of the protein were detected by Western blot analysis. Following acute anoxic cerebral injury, the mean levels of p36 protein were elevated two-fold, and injured neurons exhibited increased p36 immunoreactivity. This phenomenon was likely to have been mediated by post-transcriptional mechanisms since there was no corresponding change in the level p36 mRNA. p36 immunoreactivity was detected in 8 of 9 primary PNETs, and in 3 of 3 neurofilament-expressing PNET cell lines. The levels of p36 protein in PNET cell lines were 5-fold higher than in adult human brain tissue. Although p36 gene expression was generally high in proliferating PNET cells, the levels of p36 mRNA and protein were not strictly correlated with DNA synthesis. Instead, p36 gene expression was modulated in both proliferating and non-proliferating PNET cell cultures by treatment with 50 mIU/ml of insulin, 100 mM ethanol, or 5 μM retinoic acid. The frequent discordances observed experimentally and in vivo between p36 mRNA and p36 protein expression suggest that the steady-state levels of p36 protein in neuronal cells may be regulated primarily by post-transcriptional mechanisms.
Selective gas-phase capture of explosives on metal β-diketonate polymers

A variety of metal beta-diketonate polymers were assessed for gas-phase selective retention of nitro aromatic, nitrate ester, and peroxide explosives. The La(III) complex of p-di(4,4,5,5,6,6,6-heptafluoro-1,3-hexanedionyl)benzene [La(dihed)] showed 13-42 times the retention for the nitro aromatic compounds compared to a control column (identical column but lacking the 5% loading of the metal beta-diketonate polymer). Nitrate esters, the peroxide explosive triacetone triperoxide, and the taggant 1,4-dimethyl-1,4-dinitrobutane were too strongly retained to elute from the La(dihed) column; however, these compounds could be eluted from the less retentive Cu(dihed) or Zn(dihed) columns. A Kovats index of 2124 for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) on the La(dihed) column compared to 1662 on the control illustrates the excellent discrimination against nonpolar hydrocarbons, the principal matrix interference expected in air samples. A proof-of-principle experiment demonstrated analysis of an extrapolated 47 part-per-trillion (ppt) (v/v) of TNT in an air extract concentrate.
Pollutant emission rates from indoor combustion appliances and sidestream cigarette smoke

Particulate and gaseous emissions from indoor combustion appliances and smoking can elevate the indoor concentrations of various pollutants. Indoor pollutant concentrations resulting from operating one of several combustion appliances, or from sidestream tobacco smoke, were measured in a 27-m3 environmental chamber under varying ventilation rates. The combustion appliances investigated were gas-fired cooking stoves, unvented kerosene-fired space heaters, and unvented natural-gas-fired space heaters. Results showed elevated levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and suspended particles from one or more of the pollutant sources investigated. Our findings suggest that, of the sources examined in this study, nitrogen dioxide from combustion appliances and particles from sidestream cigarette smoke are the most serious contaminants of indoor air, if we use existing standards and guidelines as the criteria. An emission rate model was used to quantify the strengths of the pollutant sources, which are reported in terms of the mass of pollutant emitted per energy unit of fuel consumed (in the case of gas and kerosene appliances) and per mass of tobacco combusted (in the case of smoking).
China's interest in a revaluation of the yuan 1

This paper aims to illustrate how an equilibrium exchange rate of the Yuan would contribute to China's achievement of non-inflationary full employment – defined as internal balance by James Meade in 1951, as well as the balance of international payments. In terms of Meade's model, China currently has both excess demand and a payments surplus, so that it would benefit from revaluation, which helps curb internal inflation and the external foreign surplus simultaneously. For China, specifically, revaluation would support combating price increases and facilitate a shift of resources into consumption and raising living standards. The paper also examines three common reasons advanced by groups in favor of avoiding appreciation of the RMB, finding none of them theoretically or empirically convincing. The pursuit of both growth/employment and price stability objectives makes China unable to afford having an undervalued exchange rate.
Roadside Alligators and the UMTRI Tire Debris Survey

Roadside alligators (also known as tire debris) are those unsightly shreds or fragments of rubber occasionally found on the nation's highways. The typical road user misunderstands the nature, extent, and contributing factors precipitating their formation. During the summer of 2007, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute conducted a national tire debris survey that involved the collection of 85,000 pounds of rubber and that provided 300 casings and 1,196 debris items for subsequent failure analysis. This paper discusses tire debris within the context of roadside litter, presents the tire debris survey methodology, and discusses the survey results. Overall, where the original equipment tread or retread status could be determined, original equipment accounted for 60%, and retreads accounted for 40% of the tire casings tested. For tire fragments, the status was 21% (original equipment) and 79% (retread). There was also a strong similarity for these same tire items in the ranking of proba...
Is a federal mandate the answer? If so, what was the question?

This article questions whether advocacy efforts in gifted education have been misguided over the years by overemphasis on achieving a federal mandate. We begin by reviewing common legal arguments for attaining special legal rights for gifted children. Next, using a Creative Problem Solving framework, we reframe the mess as “the general state of availability of gifted and talented programs,” and review a growing body of literature that indicates that opportunities vary widely according to geographic and economic conditions and largely as a function of local autonomy over gifted education programming decisions. From these data, we arrive at a new problem statement: “In what ways might we develop policies to create more equitable and adequate distribution of opportunities for gifted children?” Our focus is on the importance of state financial solutions to existing inequities.
Social Responsibility as an Ethical Imperative in Performance Improvement.

The relationship between social responsibility, ethics, and performance improvement has not been seriously or rigorously addressed in related literature or in professional dialogue. Examining the issue of social responsibility as an ethical imperative within PI as a profession demands an understanding and rigorous examination of the profession's theoretical foundations and the worldviews of its professionals.
Accessibility and usability: Green space preferences, perceptions, and barriers in a rapidly urbanizing city in Latin America

Green spaces are one important indicator of urban quality of life. Yet urban green space research is often carried out in industrialized nations, with relatively little known about green space use and preferences in rapidly urbanizing cities in developing countries. With high levels of urbanization and widening inequalities in many Latin American cities, it is necessary to evaluate green space situated within cultural and geographical contexts. In this study, green space usability was explored by examining preferences, perceptions, and access barriers of parks and urban green space using on-site individual semi-structured interviews and systematic observations of behavior among a purposive sample of urban residents. We sought to determine whether certain sectors of the urban population have access to green space in close proximity of their homes and localized patterns of use in (municipal) urban parks and neighborhood parks. The revitalization and construction of urban parks in the last decade in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was found to reduce access barriers for residents by providing more desirable and safer public spaces for leisure and recreation. However, gender disparities were found in terms of usage and we document unequal distribution of larger and more desirable green spaces throughout sectors of the city, so that not all urban residents are experiencing such benefits. Results highlight the potential importance of designing green spaces to serve as equalizers in urban areas characterized by social and spatial inequalities.
Integrated barcode chips for rapid, multiplexed analysis of proteins in microliter quantities of blood

As the tissue that contains the largest representation of the human proteome [1], blood is the most important fluid for clinical diagnostics [2, 3, 4]. However, although changes of plasma protein profiles reflect physiological or pathological conditions associated with many human diseases, only a handful of plasma proteins are routinely used in clinical tests. Reasons for this include the intrinsic complexity of the plasma proteome [1], the heterogeneity of human diseases and the rapid degradation of proteins in sampled blood [5]. We report an integrated microfluidic system, the integrated blood barcode chip that can sensitively sample a large panel of protein biomarkers over broad concentration ranges and within 10 min of sample collection. It enables on-chip blood separation and rapid measurement of a panel of plasma proteins from quantities of whole blood as small as those obtained by a finger prick. Our device holds potential for inexpensive, noninvasive and informative clinical diagnoses, particularly in point-of-care settings.
Community Organization and Gang Policy Response

Analysis of agency response networks in 21 urban areas reveals that the adoption of policy responses is significantly related to social network location. In the 1988 National Youth Gang Intervention and Suppression Program survey, agency representatives were asked to list agencies with which regular contact was maintained in the process of dealing with the youth gang problem. Policy response is measured by the adoption of four policy responses: (1) making staff training available, (2) having a policy for dealing with youth gang problems, (3) having a policy in writing, and (4) attempting to influence legislation on the youth gang problem. Rasch modeling supports the scalability of the four items. The STRUCTURE program is used to identify elements of network structure within each community-specifically cliques and equivalence structures. A generalized linear model analysis of variance of the policy response scale reveals that structural equivalence and clique membership account for 54% of the variation in policy response. An examination of clique means indicates that network structure may retard as well as enhance policy response adaptations. In policy terms, this finding suggests that network structure should be mobilized by those who wish to develop a unified, national-level response to youth gang problems at the local level.
Adaptive IP/optical OFDM networking design

A new networking approach based on IP/optical OFDM technologies is proposed, providing an adaptive mechanism of bandwidth provisioning and pipe resizing for dynamic traffic flows. A comparison study is presented to demonstrate its advantages.
Application of chemo-rheology to establish a process window for a new solventless system to manufacture pre-pregs and laminates for electronic applications

The most common commercial processes for manufacturing pre-pregs for electronic applications use solvent-based epoxy systems. Solvents are environmentally unfriendly and contribute to voids in the pre-preg and laminate. Voids cause product variability, which is a major source of scrap in board shops. In this paper, we use chemo-rheological and kinetic measurements to identify a potential epoxy-based resin system for a solventless process that is based on injection pultrusion. Differential scanning calorimetry and rheological data show that the candidate system does not react appreciably without catalyst up to temperatures of 170 °C or with catalyst at temperatures <110 °C. The system solidifies at temperatures <105 °C. The overall viscosity of the resin system is dependent on the temperature, degree of cure, and filler content. Kinetic rate and viscosity rise expressions to be used in process modeling and optimization have been developed. A preliminary process window for the process is established. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 601–610, 2001
Reply to Schier

We apologise for not having cited the article by Schier et al. [1] in our publication [2]. We regret this error which happened owing to the fact that Dr Haecker did the literature search for our article before publication of the above mentioned paper [1]. We are sorry for this. However, we obtained written permission by Dr Bahr to use his CT-scans showing the vacuum bell applied in a patient suffering from pectus excavatum. We stated in the legend to these figures that these pictures were provided by Dr Bahr (p. 558). To the best of our knowledge, Dr Bahr was also noted at the homepage of Mr Klobe (www.trichterbrust.de) to be the author of these pictures and Dr Bahr declared again that he was the owner of these pictures. We regret that Professor Schier was not informed that his co-author Mr Klobe read our manuscript before submission. We offered the co-authorship of our article to Mr Klobe but he refused to be cited as a coauthor in any medical paper due to the fact that he is a technical engineer. However, wementioned his name (p. 559) and his homepage in our article [2] where interested readers can obtain further information regarding his construct. We stated in our article that Dr Bahr and Professor Schier did the initial tests to investigate the use of vacuum chest wall lifter children suffering from pectus excavatum (p. 558). It was the aim of our study to evaluate our first experience using the vacuum bell use in our setting. We did not state that we were the first to use this old method as we are aware that this treatment modality has been described several decades ago, and we mentioned this fact in our article. This fact was also described at the homepage of Mr Klobe. Finally, we do not fully understand why Professor Schier states in his letter: ‘We do not want this to continue. . .’ as our article was published with the knowledge of both of his co-authors.
The Role of Oceans and Sea Ice in Abrupt Transitions between Multiple Climate States

The coupled climate dynamics underlying large, rapid, and potentially irreversible changes in ice cover are studied. A global atmosphere‐ocean‐sea ice general circulation model with idealized aquaplanet geometry is forced by gradual multi-millennial variations in solar luminosity. The model traverses a hysteresis loop between warm ice-free conditions and cold glacial conditions in response to 6 5Wm 22 variations in global, annual-mean insolation. Comparison of several model configurations confirms the importance of polar ocean processes in setting the sensitivity and time scales of the transitions. A ‘‘sawtooth’’ character is found with fasterwarmingandslowercooling,reflectingtheopposingeffectsofsurfaceheatingandcoolingonupper-ocean buoyancy and, thus, effective heat capacity. The transition from a glacial to warm, equable climate occurs in about 200 years. In contrast to the ‘‘freshwater hosing’’ scenario, transitions are driven by radiative forcing and sea ice feedbacks. The ocean circulation, and notably the meridional overturning circulation (MOC), does not drive the climate change. The MOC (and associated heat transport) collapses poleward of the advancing ice edge, but this is a purely passive response to cooling and ice expansion. The MOC does, however, play a key role in setting the time scales of the transition and contributes to the asymmetry between warming and cooling.
A changing paradigm in quality

Intense competition in the marketplace is forcing a change in the paradigm in quality. It has sensitized customers to new and higher level of expectation. Thus the focus of quality has begun to shift from product defects to product functions. Competition is also demanding fast response to market. Because the traditional approach of assessing, monitoring, and controlling uncertainty involves activities that are reactive, sequential, and occurring late downstream, it is not responsive. It is therefore giving way to the robust design approach of anticipating and accommodating uncertainty so that proactive activities can be conducted concurrently and early at the design stage. The design of a van-seat latching-mechanism is used to highlight this changing focus and approach in quality. >
Dynamic Theoretical Analysis of the Distributed Stochastic and Distributed Breakout Algorithms

The distributed constraint satisfaction problem is often used to model real-world situations and find agent-based solutions. A number of methods have been developed to solve these problems, including the well-known DSA and DBA algorithms. In many real scenarios, however, the problems are not static. This forces practitioners to adapt these protocols to solve dynamic distributed constraint satisfaction problems (DynDCSP). Surprisingly, despite long-running study of the problem, practically all analysis of DynDCSP algorithms has been experimental in nature. This work presents a new theoretical assessment of the DSA and DBA algorithms, leveraging a mapping of DynDCSP instances to a physical thermodynamics model to develop a deeper understanding of the algorithms' behavior.Here, we assess the static versions of DSA and DBA, but focus on examining their rates of convergence, not just their final convergence points, as a means of understanding how they will perform in dynamic settings. We develop various theoretical approaches to show how the algorithms' convergence rates are affected by problem density and tightness, and examine the impact that problem size has on an algorithm's performance. Finally, we show the accuracy of our analytical predictions through comparison with experimental results.
Densification and Sintering Kinetics in Sintered Silicon Nitride

The sintering sequence of Y2O3-Al2O3-doped Si3N4 was investigated with respect to the relationship between densification, α→β transformation, and microstructural development. Quenching studies were performed to reveal these interactions during a complete sintering cycle. Isothermal studies were conducted to examine the sintering kinetics and compared to Kingery's liquid-phase sintering model. The bulk density increased to ≥90% of theoretical density with only minor transformation taking place. Major transformation occurred in a late sintering stage and was accompanied by the development of elongated grains. The kinetic order of the densification process, taking into account an appropriate correction, was larger than any of the rate exponents predicted by the Kingery model, indicating that other single or mixed mechanisms were active.
The Effects of Continuous and Intermittent Distractors on Cognitive Performance and Attention in Preschoolers

We investigated the effects of different amounts of distraction on preschoolers’ task performance and attention. Children 3.5 and 4 years of age completed problem-solving tasks in one of three conditions: no distraction, intermittent (periodic) distraction, or continuous distraction. The results revealed differential effects of the distractors at the different ages. The younger group was susceptible to any kind of distraction; task performance and attention were equally impaired during both distraction conditions. The older group was less susceptible to external distraction, with task performance and attention most impaired in the continuous distraction condition. The results are discussed in terms of the relevance of the amount of competition for attentional focus present in distractors and the development of executive functions in early childhood.
Analysis of noise reduction in redundant expansions under distributed processing requirements

We considered signal reconstruction with redundant expansions under distributed processing in noisy environments. Redundant expansions have the ability to reduce noise corrupting the coefficients, but distributed processing schemes are not able to take full advantage of the redundancy present. We apply frame theory and a generalization called "frames of subspaces" to find conditions when distributed reconstruction suffers no loss in noise reduction ability, and we bound performance loss in more general cases.
Neuroantigen-specific Th2 cells are inefficient suppressors of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by effector Th1 cells

We have identified a method of polarizing polyclonal populations of activated T helper cells toward either the Th1 or Th2 phenotype using different short-term in vitro culture conditions. Since the Ag used was an encephalitogenic peptide for SJL/J mice, the pathogenic potential of these cell populations was tested in an adoptive transfer model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Th1 cells reproducibly caused severe EAE, whereas highly polarized Th2 cells did not. Furthermore, highly polarized Th2 cells did not suppress EAE caused by Th1 cells. The anti-inflammatory cytokines made by Th2 cells may simply fail to inhibit tissue destruction mediated by differentiated Th1 cells at the effector phase of the disease. It is also possible that highly polarized Th2 cells may be inefficient at crossing the blood-brain barrier, which may limit their suppressive potential. In contrast, incompletely skewed T cell populations that produced high levels of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines were consistently only weakly encephalitogenic. Therefore, disease inhibition by Th2 cytokines may best be accomplished by intervention at earlier points preceding development of differentiated Th1 cells.