cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization-Based Seated Posture Prediction Considering Contact With Environment

People can spend much of everyday completing seated tasks. Therefore it is important to understand postures needed to complete seated tasks, and the associated environmental contacts. This paper presents a method to predict seated postures and the general forces needed in order to support resulting postural configurations. This study uses optimization techniques to predict human posture based on a 56 degree of freedom (DOF) 50th percentile female human model. The support reaction forces (SRFs) are predicted using joint torques and the zero-moment point (ZMP) formulation derived from the Lagrangian recursive dynamics. The SRFs are applied at points on the body based on center of pressure (COP) locations gathered from pressure mapping experiments. The specific application points include the two feet, the two thighs, and back. Multiple seated orientations based on an experimental study found in published literature are simulated. When comparing these simulation results to the literature data, a good correlation can be established, which provides an initial validation of the proposed methods.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Reaction of N-acylphosphoramidic acid with alcohols☆

Abstract The reactions of N-benzoylphosphoramidic acid and its p -methyl- and p -nitro-substituted derivatives with alcohols in the presence of organic bases result in the phosphorylation of the alcohol. The dependence of the phosphorylation upon base concentration and structure has been investigated. Several mono- and diesters of N-benzoylphosphoramidic acid have been prepared and some of their chemical properties are reported.
“Explosive” processes in recidivism and other reinforcement models of learning

An 'explosive' stochastic process features an intensity function that decays exponentially in the absence of occurrences and increases in jumps following each occurrence. Two such processes are examined and some transient and steady-state probabilities are obtained. The possible application of these models to criminal recidivism, habit and addiction, and other models of reinforcement are described and the difficulties of statistical inference are discussed.
A mesocosm evaluation of processed drill cuttings for wetland restoration

Abstract Many areas of coastal Louisiana are experiencing rapid wetland loss, largely due to an elevated rate of relative sea-level rise. Efforts to restore these deteriorated wetlands often include some form of sediment addition for successful rehabilitation. The earthen materials generated during petrochemical exploration (drill cuttings) may prove to be an ancillary sediment source for restoration efforts, while also reducing the load of oil-field waste. This study assessed two differently processed drill cuttings (DC-A and DC-B), dredge spoil and topsoil (control) in conjunction with three hydrologic regimes and five vegetative conditions ( Spartina alterniflora , Spartina patens , Spartina cynosuroides , Avicennia germinans , and an unvegetated control) at four salinity levels to determine sediment characteristics and capacity for supporting wetland plant growth. The DC-A and the dredge treatments demonstrated similar soil physico-chemical characteristics, which fell within acceptable ranges, and were comparable to the control in supporting plant growth. DC-B under fresh conditions demonstrated a high interstitial pH (∼11.0) that became ameliorated (∼8.3) under all saline conditions. Plant photosynthetic response was minimal in DC-B under fresh conditions, but comparable to the control under saline conditions. These results are promising and warrant further evaluations under a wider range of environmental conditions prior to field implementation.
THE PARADOX OF DEVIANCE IN ADDICTED MEXICAN AMERICAN MOTHERS

Two aspects of mothering—using drugs during pregnancy and giving up the rearing of one's children—are the focus of this analysis of 58 addicted Chicana mothers who spent their adolescent years in barrio gangs. From a traditional stance, such women were doubly deviant, since they violated gender-role prescriptions by joining a barrio gang and by becoming involved in heroin and street life. Half of these women added to this deviance by using heroin during pregnancy, and 40 percent relinquished at least one of their children. This article explores what distinguishes these classically “bad mothers” from addicts who maintain some degree of conventionality in their mothering. We found that Mexican gender-role traditionalism is not the only influence on these women. Many came from cholo or underclass families with a tradition of street involvement. In addition, their involvement in gang and heroin worlds may influence their behavior as mothers. We found that women who used drugs during pregnancy were more likely...
Structural effects on trends in the deposition and dissolution of metal-supported metal adstructures

A simple thermodynamic formalism is combined with Density Functional Theory calculations to determine periodic trends in the reversible deposition/dissolution potentials of admetals on a variety of transition metal substrates. For each admetal/substrate combination (81 in total), the deposition/dissolution potential shift (referenced to the corresponding potential of the admetal in its bulk, elemental form) is calculated for isolated adatoms, for dimers, and for more extended kink structures. Clear periodic trends are found for the potential shifts across the space of different admetals and substrates. In addition, for the significant majority of these admetal/substrate systems, the structural effects are found to be a strong function of the local coordination number of the metal atoms, thereby verifying an important assumption that has been widely used in semiempirical models of deposition and dissolution.
Hydrocarbons in age-dated sediment cores from two basins in the Southern California Bight

Abstract The distributions of hydrocarbons in sediment cores dated by 210 Pb (1845–1977) from San Pedro and San Nicolas Basins in the Southern California Bight have been determined by gas Chromatographic and combined gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. The chromatograms of the hydrocarbons contain peaks of resolved alkanes and cycloalkanes, as well as an unresolved complex mixture which decrease in content with increasing depth in both of the cores. The concentrations of o,p' and p,p' -DDE are highest in the top 50 mm of the San Pedro core section. The 45–50 mm segment of this core was deposited in the 1945–1950 period when DDT (the precursor of DDE compounds) came into common use. The relatively high content of hydrocarbons and DDE in this core is attributable to the proximity of the site to the San Pedro Harbor which receives petroleum residues from shipping, sewage outfalls and industrial effluents. The presence of only traces of DDE throughout the San Nicolas core, and the low hydrocarbon content are explainable by the greater distance of this basin from anthropogenic inputs and probably a greater rate of degradation of deposited organic matter during bioturbation. δ 13 C, δ 15 N and electron-spin resonance analyses of kerogens and humic substances in these cores, indicate that most of this organic matter in these sediments is of a marine origin.
Reconsidering the Internet as an HIV/STD Risk for Men Who Have Sex with Men

Previous studies linking online sexual partnerships to behavioral risks among men who have sex with men (MSM) may be subject to confounding and imprecise measurement of partnership-specific risks. We examined behavioral risks associated with having only online, only offline, or both online and offline partners in the past year, the confounding effects of multiple partnerships, and partnership-specific risks among a sample of MSM from New York City recruited offline in 2008. Overall, 28% of 479 participants had an online partner in the past year, but most of those (82%) also had an offline partner. Having an online partner was associated with past-year unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and other risks, but not after controlling for multiple partnerships. There were slightly higher levels of risk within offline partnerships, but differences were largely attributable to MSM who had both offline and online partners. Last sex partners met offline were more likely to be HIV-serodiscordant and engage in concurrent substance use with the participant. This suggests that online partnerships may not be an independent cause of behavioral risks, but a marker for risks occurring independent of Internet use.
Vibrational overtone induced elimination reactions within hydrogen-bonded molecular clusters : the dynamics of water catalyzed reactions in CH2FOH . (H2O)n

The dynamics of the light initiated OH-overtone induced elimination reactions CH2FOH·(H2O)n + hν → HF + CH2O + n(H2O), n = 1–3, are studied using classical trajectory simulations where the ab initio potential energy surface is computed “on-the-fly”. Hydrogen bonding to the water is found to lower the barrier to reaction by over 20 kcal mol−1 and modifies the mechanism to a concerted multiple H-atom transfer process. The reaction process is found to occur on a rapid timescale, <100 fs, and involves the hydronium ion as an intermediate. An essential aspect of dynamics is the successful competition of reaction with energy dissipation through water evaporation from the cluster.
Mechanical Characteristics of Dilated Polytetraflouroethylene Used for Transluminally Placed Endovascular Grafts

= 6 for each size). The dilated PTFE segments were evaluated for leakage, further dilation, structural changes (with electron microscopy), and changes in wall thickness occurring after 24 hours of perfusion at pressures of 300–350 mmHg. Both 3- and 4-mm thinwalled PTFE could be dilated to five times their initial diameter before rupture occurred. Three-millimeter grafts dilated to 12- and 4-mm grafts dilated to 14 mm remained resistant to leakage at perfusion pressures up to 350 mmHg. When 3-mm grafts were dilated to 15 mm, the PTFE leaked saline at a rate of 20.3 ± 9.3 cc per hour at 300 mmHg. pressure. Four-millimeter grafts dilated to 16- and 20-mm diameters leaked saline at 8.4 ± 7.8 and 52.8 ± 22 cc per minute, respectively, at the same pressure. No grafts were found to increase in diameter after 24 hours of pressure perfusion. Electron microscopy revealed that PTFE node size was significantly smaller in dilated grafts than in undilated grafts, but there was no significant change in internodal distance. This data suggests that thinwalled PTFE can be dilated to large diameters and retain sufficient strength to resist supraphysiologic pressures. Long-term studies are needed to determine the late structural integrity of dilated PTFE.
A maximum strain criterion for electric-field-induced fatigue crack propagation in ferroelectric ceramics

Crack growth behavior in ferroelectric ceramics was examined under purely electrical and purely mechanical loading conditions. While cracks grew under mechanical loading along the plane of the maximum tensile stress, crack growth under electrical loading tended to be intergranular and the direction of the crack growth was found to vary greatly with geometric arrangements of applied electric field, remnant polarization and crack orientation. When both the applied field and remnant polarization were perpendicular to the crack plane, the crack propagated straight ahead on the original plane. However, for other electrical configurations, cracks were driven to propagate on the planes inclined up to 90° from the original crack plane. Analysis of the electromechanical conditions in the specimens indicated that the crack preferred to propagate on the plane of the maximum principal strain, thus satisfying a maximum strain criterion.
Small- and Large-Scale Field Tests of Erythrosin B for House Fly Control in Caged Layer Chicken Houses

The xanthene dye, erythrosin B, was evaluated as a surface spray for control of the house fly, Musca domestica , in breeding areas under caged layer chickens. A weekly spraying of an aqueous solution of erythrosin B directly on chicken manure reduced house fly populations up to 94% in small-scale tests and 89% in a large-scale test. Larvae of the associated beneficial species, the soldier fly, Hermetia illucens , were not reduced by erythrosin B treatment. Approximately 80% of the erythrosin B was not recoverable from the manure after one wk.
Frozen Storage of Ground Turkey

Abstract Ground turkey was prepared from fresh turkeys and from turkeys that had been in frozen storage for six or ten months. The ground turkey was prepared commercially, packed in two types of plastic tubes that differed in oxygen permeability, and held at −12 to −29° C. for two, four, and eight months. None of these variables affected the peroxide value, color or odor of the products when tested immediately after storage. The flavor and the total aerobic bacterial count varied slightly but not in a consistent pattern that could be related to the variables. Samples of products after frozen storage were reground and held refrigerated for three days under simulated market condition. One lot that had been prepared from frozen turkeys supported more microbial growth under these conditions than did its counterpart that had been made from fresh turkeys. In general, the stability of the ground turkey under simulated market conditions was not significantly affected by the imposed experimental variables. This study supports the view that turkey can be held in coarse-ground form at freezer temperatures for at least 6 months as a means of supply control. However, it is implicit in these conclusions that the turkeys, whether fresh or frozen, must be processed and stored using good manufacturing practices.
Diffusion lengths in amphoteric GaAs heteroface solar cells

Minority-carrier diffusion lengths in amphoteric GaAs:Si were investigated. Electron and hole diffusion lengths in p- and n-type, respectively, were determined to be 13 microns and 7 microns. Preliminary efficiency measurements on heteroface structures based on amphoteric GaAs:Si p-n junctions indicated that these devices should make excellent solar cells.
Reduced-intensity conditioning with combined haploidentical and cord blood transplantation results in rapid engraftment, low GVHD, and durable remissions

We conducted a 45 patient prospective study of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) and transplantation of unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB) and CD34+ stem cells from a haploidentical family member. Median age was 50 years; weight was 80 kg. Fifty-eight percent had active disease. Neutrophil engraftment occurred at 11 days (interquartile range [IQR], 9-15) and platelet engraftment at 19 days (IQR, 15-33). In the majority of patients, early haploidentical engraftment was replaced by durable engraftment of UCB by 100 days, with regular persistence of minor host and/or haplo-hematopoiesis. Percentage of haplochimerism at day 100 correlated with the haplo-CD34 dose (P = .003). Cumulative incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 25% and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 5%. Actuarial survival at 1 year was 55%, progression-free survival (PFS) was 42%, nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 28%, and relapse was 30%. RIC and haplo-cord transplantation results in fast engraftment of neutrophils and platelets, low incidences of aGVHD and cGVHD, low frequency of delayed opportunistic infections, reduced transfusion requirements, shortened length of hospital stay, and promising long-term outcomes. UCB cell dose had no impact on time to hematopoietic recovery. Therefore, UCB selection can prioritize matching, and better matched donors can be identified rapidly for most patients. This study is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov as NCI clinical trial no. NCT00943800.
Comparative morphology and evolution of cheek pouches in rodents.

There are two types of cheek pouches in extant rodents. Internal cheek pouches are evaginations of the oral cavity deep to M. platysma and M. sphincter colli profundus, and have evolved independently in some species of the superfamilies Sciuroidea and Muroidea. External, furlined cheek pouches open lateral to and separate from the oral cavity, (also deep to M. platysma and M. sphincter colli profundus), and occur in all species of the families Geomyidae and Heteromyidae. The presence of external, furlined cheek pouches is a synapomorphy for the superfamily Geomyoidea. The posterior retractor muscle of the pouch is derived from facial musculature in sciurids, from trapezius musculature in cricetids, and from both facial and trapezius muscle groups in the Geomyoidea. Differences also exist in the musculature associated with the pouch opening. In the Sciuridae and Cricetidae, the M. buccinatorius muscle group acts as a sphincter to control the size of the pouch opening. In the Geomyoidea, the size of the opening is controlled by the M. orbicularis sacculi in concert with a slip of the M. Platysma myoides. Thin sections and scanning electron micrographs of the pouch tissue reveal the presence of dermal papillae in Phodopus sungorus but not in a close relative, Mesocricetus auratus. All members of the subfamily Cricetinae have a peninsula of highly folded tissue projecting anteriorly from the posteromedial pouch wall. This folding allows for expansion of the pouch walls when food is stored in the pouch.
Parasitic Reactions between Alkyls and Ammonia in OMVPE

The parasitic reactions between ammonia and commonly used alkyls have been studied in a horizontal OMVPE reactor. The results indicate that parasitic reactions between TMA1 and NH3 is severe, leading to the necessity to grow A1N at low reactor pressure. On the other hand, parasitic reactions between TMGa+NH3 and TMIn+NH3 are not significant and it is possible to grow GaN and GaInN at any reactor pressure.
Taurine inhibition of metal-stimulated catecholamine oxidation.

Taurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid) is a sulfur containing amino acid that is present in mammalian tissues in millimolar concentrations10. Taurine is involved in a diverse array of biological functions which include: osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, neuromodulation, bile salt conjugation, and calcium modulation10. A role for taurine in cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms has been observed under a number of conditions3,17,21,25. Although taurine appears to have little intrinsic reactivity with oxidizing species1, its high concentration may still allow it to directly scavenge free radicals. Furthermore, taurine may bind reactive quinones involved in redox cycling and indirectly inhibit free radical formation11,22. Taurine could also moderate the effects of free radical damage by blunting the ability of prooxidants to increase intracellular free calcium10. The biosynthesis of taurine generates intermediates (hypotaurine and cysteamine) that also have free radical scavenging properties1,10,25. The synthesis of taurine also utilizes cysteine which is an excitatory amino acid that undergoes autoxidation reactions13. Taurine is present in tissues that contain high concentrations of catecholamines which are known to be cytotoxic and increase oxidative stress8,9,16,20. Taurine content declines in brain and peripheral tissues in aged rodents4. The age-related decline in tissue taurine content could increase the susceptibility of cells to free radical-mediated damage. Catecholamines are known to undergo autoxidation reactions to generate free radicals (H2O2, hydroxyl, superoxide) and cytotoxic quinones8,11,22. The oxidation of catecholamines is catalyzed by metals such as iron13. Iron-stimulated autoxidation of catecholamines is thought to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases26. One study has reported that chronic treatment with l-dopa caused a 13% decline in brain taurine content23. At present, it is unclear whether taurine under in vivo conditions serves as a scavenger for reactive quinones and free radicals derived from catecholamine autoxidation.
A combinatorial characterization of the Bethe and the Kikuchi partition functions

The partition function contains valuable information about a graphical model. Unfortunately, the exact partition function is very often intractable, and so suitable approximations are desirable, two of them being the (fractional) Bethe approximation and the (fractional) Kikuchi approximation. We present combinatorial characterizations of these partition function approximations based on counting valid configurations in finite graph covers of the graphical model. These combinatorial characterizations are in contrast to the original, analytical, definitions of these partition function approximations. On the one hand, these combinatorial characterizations allow us to get insights why the resulting partition function estimates can be very useful if the graphical model is chosen suitably, on the other hand, they show why these partition function estimates differ in general from the correct partition function value.
The quest for a ‘better mousetrap’

Percutaneous coronary intervention has been limited by the diminution of acute luminal gain over time. The limitations of conventional balloon angioplasty spawned a variety of different devices, all with the hope of identifying a device that would durably preserve acute luminal gains with an excellent safety profile. To date, the evolutionary victor in this search appears to be the drug-eluting stent. Commercially available drug-eluting stents have demonstrated durable long-term results.1 Despite this, questions concerning both the long-term efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents have persisted, be it catch up restenosis or late stent thrombosis.2 Thus, the quest for the ideal device continues. Byrne and colleagues report a randomized trial of three limus agent-eluting stents with biodegradable or permanent polymer coating (the ISAR-TEST-4 Study).3 This study of >2600 patients is the largest randomized trial of a biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stent to date, and compares a novel biodegradable polymer-based, rapamycin-eluting stent with the two leading limus-based drug-eluting stents, sirolimus (Cypher) and everolimus (Xience). As such, it builds on the experience of other major randomized trials, observational studies, and registries utilizing biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stents.2,4–6 Combined, this provides an expanding platform by which to study and develop what may potentially prove to be the next iteration of coronary drug-eluting stent technology. The appeal of a biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stent is readily evident. Drug-eluting stents were developed utilizing antiproliferative agents to inhibit the neoimtimal hyperplasia that results from bare …
Control of the Rheological Properties in Solutions of a Polyelectrolyte and an Oppositely Charged Surfactant by the Addition of Cyclodextrins

Addition of ionic surfactants to aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes, having charge opposite to that of the added surfactant, can result in pronounced effects on the system viscosity and can lead...
Infant manual exploration of composite substrates.

Everyday environments, even small regions within reach, vary dramatically in terms of material composition. Adapting one’s manual behavior to such transitions can be considered to be an important element of skilled action. To investigate the origins of this ability, we presented 8-month-olds (n = 24) and 10-month-olds (n = 24) hard or soft objects on a composite tabletop substrate that was half rigid and half flexible. Results indicated infants explored the objects selectively and geared their manual behaviors, with or without an object in hand, to the particular substrate they contacted. More broadly, the study suggests that infant manual exploration is flexible even in the face of abrupt transitions in material structure. Such flexibility may support early attempts at problem solving and tool use.
Comparison of conventional, confocal, and two-photon microscopy for detection of microcrystals within luminescence-based oxygen sensor films

Luminescence-based oxygen sensors, particularly those based on platinum-group complexes are of growing analytical importance. Commercial applications include aerodynamic studies of cars and aircraft in wind tunnels, monitoring of oxygen concentration during fermentation processes and in bioreactors, measurement of biological oxygen demand, and fluorescence detection and imaging of oxygen in blood, tissue, cells and other biological samples. Significant problems in the design and manufacture of polymer-supported, luminescence-based oxygen sensors include the observed non-linearity of the Stern-Volmer calibration plot and the multiexponentiality of measured lifetime decays, both of which are attributed primarily to heterogeneity of the sensor molecule within the polymer matrix. It will be shown that conventional, confocal, and two-photon fluorescence microscopy are invaluable tools with which microcrystals of the sensor molecule can be detected within sensor films. The design of the imaging systems, the measurement methods, and the results will be compared for the three approaches. As a result of the reduction in blur intensity and the minimization of photobleaching, two-photon microscopy provided the easiest and most effective method of microcrystal detection. The implications of the results in the rational design and mass production of luminescence-based oxygen sensors is discussed.
Applying the plan-do-study-act model to increase the use of kangaroo care

Aim To increase the rate of participation in kangaroo care within a level III neonatal intensive care unit. Background Preterm birth typically results in initial separation of mother and infant which may disrupt the bonding process. Nurses within the neonatal intensive care unit can introduce strategies that will assist parents in overcoming fears and developing relationships with their infants. Kangaroo care is a method of skin-to-skin holding that has been shown to enhance the mother–infant relationship while also improving infant outcomes. However, kangaroo care has been used inconsistently within neonatal intensive care unit settings. Methods The Plan-Do-Study-Act Model was used as a framework for this project. Plan-Do-Study-Act Model uses four cyclical steps for continuous quality improvement. Based upon Plan-Do-Study-Act Model, education was planned, surveys were developed and strategies implemented to overcome barriers. Results Four months post-implementation, the use of kangaroo care increased by 31%. Conclusions Staff surveys demonstrated a decrease in the perceived barriers to kangaroo care as well as an increase in kangaroo care. Application of Plan-Do-Study-Act Model was successful in meeting the goal of increasing the use of kangaroo care. Implications for Nursing Management The use of the Plan-Do-Study-Act Model framework encourages learning, reflection and validation throughout implementation. Plan-Do-Study-Act Model is a strategy that can promote the effective use of innovative practices in nursing.
Some comments on the hazard gradient

Abstract For random variables T1,…,Tn, the gradient of R(t) = −log P {T 1 > t 1 ,…,T n > t n } is called the hazard gradient. Some properties of this multivariate version of the hazard rate are demonstrated, and some examples are given to show the usefulness of the hazard gradient in characterizing distributions or families of distributions.
Aesthetic refinements in genioplasty: the role of the labiomental fold.

The vast majority of patients requesting aesthetic enlargement of their chins have a class II skeletal deformity secondary to a small mandible. Class II skeletal patterns are frequently associated with abnormalities of lower face height, which, in turn, affect labiomental fold morphology.Of 68 patie
Research and development of K-12 learning games via the undergraduate student

There is an increasing amount of specific research on children's interactive learning games and the fascination of video games. "The fact that children spend considerable amounts of time playing computer games is a phenomenon that has not gone unnoticed by educators" [Robertson and Good 2005]. This paper explores how an undergraduate Computer Graphics program can take advantage of current research while considering the k-12 curricula. The current traditional-undergraduate population consists of a vast reservoir of potential insights and curricula should be developed to take advantage of these insights. These students are one of the first groups of students where most have had technology available to them throughout there educational careers. This area is just newly explored and will take time to understand how it can actually enhance classroom activity and whether these technologies can be successfully integrated into the classroom.
The Efficiency of Light-Directed Synthesis of DNA Arrays on Glass Substrates

New methods based on photolithography and surface fluorescence were used to determine photodeprotection rates and stepwise yields for light-directed oligonucleotide synthesis using photolabile 5‘-(((α-methyl-2-nitropiperonyl)oxy)carbonyl)(MeNPOC)-2‘-deoxynucleoside phosphoramidites on planar glass substrates. Under near-UV illumination (primarily 365 nm) from a mercury light source, the rate of photoremoval of the MeNPOC protecting group was found to be independent of both the nucleotide and length of the growing oligomer (t1/2 = 12 s at 27.5 mW/cm2). A moderate dependence on solvent polarity was observed, with photolysis proceeding most rapidly in the presence of nonpolar solvents or in the absence of solvent (e.g., t1/2 = 10−13 s at 27.5 mW/cm2). In solution, the photolysis rate was linearly dependent on light intensity over the range 5−50 mW/cm2. Average stepwise yields for the synthesis of dodecamer oligonucleotides were in the range of 92−94%, using monomers based on N6-(phenoxyacetyl)-2‘-deoxyadenos...
The role of stand history in assessing forest impacts

Air pollution, harvesting practices, and natural disturbances can affect the growth of trees and forest development. To make predictions about anthropogenic impacts on forests, we need to understand how these factors affect tree growth. In this study the effect of disturbance history on tree growth and stand structure was examined by using a computer model of forest development. The model was run under the climatic conditions of east Tennessee, USA, and the results compared to stand structure and tree growth data from a yellow poplar-white oak forest. Basal area growth and forest biomass were more accurately projected when rough approximations of the thinning and fire history typical of the measured plots were included in the simulation model. Stand history can influence tree growth rates and forest structure and should be included in any attempt to assess forest impacts.
Predictors of outcome in exposure-based cognitive and behavioral treatments for phobic and anxiety disorders in children*

This study examined predictors of exposure-based cognitive and behavioral treatments for phobic and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Children's so-ciodemographics, diagnostic characteristics (e.g., number of diagnoses), treatment format (i.e., individual, group), child symptoms assessed from the perspective of the child and parent (e.g., anxiety, fear), parent symptoms, and marital adjustment were examined. The best predictors of treatment outcome were depression and trait anxiety in the child, and several psychological symptoms in the parent (e.g., depression, hostility, paranoia). Parent symptoms were less effective predictors with older children and with group treatment. The results are discussed with respect to previous research findings as well as potential treatment implications.
Residual Stress and Distortion Modeling of Electron Beam Direct Manufacturing Ti-6Al-4V

In this work, a finite element model is developed for predicting the thermo-mechanical response of Ti-6Al-4V during electron beam deposition. A three-dimensional thermo-elasto-plastic analysis is performed to model distortion and residual stress in the workpiece and experimental in situ temperature, and distortion measurements are performed during the deposition of a single-bead-wide, 16-layer-high wall built for model validation. Post-process blind hole–drilling residual stress measurements are also performed. Both the in situ distortion and post-process residual stress measurements suggest that stress relaxation occurs during the deposition of Ti-6Al-4V. A method of accounting for such stress relaxation in thermo-elasto-plastic simulations is proposed where both stress and plastic strain are reset to 0, when the temperature exceeds a prescribed stress relaxation temperature. Inverse simulation is used to determine the values of the absorption efficiency and the emissivity of electron beam–deposited, wir...
Interaction of proflavine with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylated papain.

Abstract Interaction of proflavine with papain, modified by hydroxynitrobenzylation of Trp-177 (HNB-papain), is characterized by a dissociation constant about twice that of proflavine's binding to native papain. Kinetic analyses revealed that proflavine's activation of papain-catalyzed hydrolysis of benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester persists with the HNB-enzyme; however, hydroxynitrobenzylation of papain precludes proflavine's inhibition of benzoyl-L-arginine p -nitroanilide (BzArgNan) hydrolysis. Yet, proflavine noncompetitively inhibits hydrolysis of BzPheValArgNan by both native and HNB-papain to about the same extent. Thus, proflavine appears to reduce nonproductive binding of smaller substrates, but may also interfere with conformational repositioning necessary for anilide hydrolysis.
Mutagenicity of tetranitroazoxytoluenes: a preliminary screening in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA100NR

Abstract Tetranitroazoxytoluenes are polynitroaromatic compounds that can be produced during the microbial reduction of the explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The three major tetranitroazoxytoluenes were synthesized and tested in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA100NR. All compounds were mutagenic in TA100 but not in TA100NR, indicating the need for nitroreductase activity to induce mutagenicity. The most active chemical was 4,4′,6,6′-tetranitro-2,2′-azoxytoluene (2735 rev/μmol) followed by 2′,4,6,6′-tetranitro-2′,4-tetranitro-2′,4-azoxytoluene (929 rev/μmol) and 2,2′,6,6′-tetranitro-4,4′- azoxytoluene (320 rev/μmol). These chemicals were more active than the aminodinitrotoluenes (298 rev/μmol for 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene and 115 rev/μmol for 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene) and only 4,4′,6,6′-tetranitro-2,2′-azoxytouene was more active than the parent compound, TNT (1022 rev/μmol).
The body size of the New Zealand orb‐weaving spider Waitkera waitakerensis (Uloboridae) is directly related to temperature and affects fecundity

. Waitkera waitakerensis occupies lowland forests of New Zealand's North Island, where temperatures decrease in a southwestward direction. The mean annual temperatures of 18 collecting sites, as extracted from GIS data, are directly related to the first femur length of adult females. Neither site elevation nor phylogeny affected spider size or other variables examined. The direct relationship between spider body size and environmental temperature followed a pattern observed in other terrestrial arthropods with a univoltine life cycle and can probably be explained by the longer growing season of warmer regions. Egg diameter was uniform across the species. Site temperature and female first femur length were each directly related to the number of eggs deposited in egg sacs. The date of egg sac collection was inversely related to egg number, suggesting that clutch size declines during the reproductive season. Females deposit eggs beneath a triangular platform and then cover them with a lower silk sheet. The area of this upper platform and the volume of the egg sac were each directly related to egg number, but not to female first femur length. The depth of the lower covering was not related to egg number or to spider first femur length. This suggests that spiders use information about the volume of eggs in their abdomens to construct an egg sac whose volume will accommodate the volume of eggs to be laid and that females do so principally by adjusting the size of the sac's upper triangular platform.
Coronary Pressure-Flow Regulation in the Stunned Myocardium

In this study, we used a swine model to study coronary autoregulation in the stunned myocardium. In 18 domestic swine, the left anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and flow to this artery controlled via an extracorporeal perfusion circuit. Stunning was induced by reducing pump flow to approximately 25% of the baseline value for 15 minutes followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. This ischemia/reperfusion protocol reduced systolic shortening to approximately 50% of control, at 1 hour of reperfusion. Neither the slope of the coronary pressure-flow relation (0.41 +/- 0.19 vs 0.48 +/- 0.26 mL/100 g per min per mmHg) nor an autoregulation index (0.43 +/- 0.16 vs 0.30 +/- 0.32) was significantly changed at 1 hour reperfusion (p > 0.05) compared to baseline. These findings argue against the hypothesis that the mechanical dysfunction of the stunned myocardium is due to suboptimal perfusion caused by poor coronary autoregulation.
Systemic karyomegaly with primary pulmonary presentation.

Summary Systemic karyomegaly is a distinct disorder characterized by progressive renal failure and enlarged, bizarre renal tubular epithelial cells. We report the first case of systemic karyomegaly with primary pulmonary presentation and present the first detailed characterization of the karyomegalic cells in lung tissue. A 33-year-old woman was evaluated for chronic and progressive restrictive lung disease, ultimately necessitating single-lung transplantation. Her post-transplant course was marked by graft dysfunction, respiratory decline and renal failure culminating in her death 97 days post-transplant. At autopsy, karyomegalic cells were identified in her kidneys, prompting a careful examination of her native lung and other tissue. Karyomegalic cells were identified in the alveolar epithelium and airway walls. Viral studies were negative. DNA ploidy studies revealed an abnormal ploidy status of the karyomegalic cells. The identification and characterization of systemic karyomegaly with symptomatic lung involvement expands the differential diagnosis for relatively young patients presenting with interstitial lung disease.
Ignition in 40 kW co-axial turbulent diffusion oxy-coal jet flames

This paper is directed towards understanding how composition of the coal transport medium (primary CO2 and O2) affects the observed ignition stand-off distance in 40 kW co-axial turbulent diffusion, oxy-coal flames, supported in a specially designed combustion test rig, rated at 100 kW. First, a methodology to define and quantify the observed ignition stand-off distance in laboratory combustor scale turbulent pulverized coal jets was developed and is described in detail. Results are presented in the form of probability density profiles of the measured stand-off distance, as obtained from replicate runs each consisting of six thousand photoimages. Several probability density functions showed multi-modal behavior representing semi-stable attached flames. Special tests in which the transport fluid only was interchanged between N2 and CO2, led to additional qualitative insight into ignition of coal in practical, turbulent diffusion flames. Results show that flame stability is affected by primary PO2 , secondary preheat temperature, secondary PO2 , and transport medium. Increasing secondary PO2 can stabilize the flame with zero PO2 in transport stream. The results presented in this paper can also provide a basis for validation of future detailed simulations of this process.
Daytime alertness in subjective and objective insomnia: Some preliminary findings

Daytime performance and alertness were examined in two groups of patients with disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) and a control group of self-described good sleepers. Individuals complaining of disturbed sleep that was verified by polysomnographic indices (objective DIMS) and a group with complaints of disturbed sleep in the absence of objective findings (subjective DIMS) were compared with normal sleepers. Nocturnal polysomnographic recordings documented increased sleep latencies and decreased sleep efficiencies for the objective DIMS group and essentially normal sleep for the subjective DIMS group. However, the subjective DIMS group showed impaired daytime vigilance compared with both the objective DIMS and control groups. Additionally, the subjective DIMS group demonstrated an atypical daytime alertness and a tendency toward lowered arousal during vigilance task performance. Insomniacs without clear objective findings of disturbed sleep, therefore, showed decrements commonly seen following sleep loss or sleep disturbance, whereas insomniacs with evidence of disturbed nocturnal sleep did not differ from the control group in terms of waking function.
Drought tolerance in US maize

Jensen. S.D. and Cavalieri, A.J., 1983. Drought tolerance in US maize. Agric. Water Manage., 7: 223–236. Soil water deficits, especially when accompanied by excessively high temperatures, are probably the most common yield limiting factors in maize production. Hybrid yield test programs have emphasized mean yield as the main criterion for advancement. An important component of that mean is the stability of yield across a range of environments. Regression analysis allows us to quantify yield stability, and was used to evaluate 339 commercial maize hybrids grown in the U.S.A. under a variety of conditions. Considerable variation existed among hybrids studied. Hybrids studied had b values equal to, significantly above, and significantly below 1.0. In addition, for each b value, hybrids existed with above and below average yields. The number of replicates necessary to obtain precision in estimates of b values was necessarily large (+0.05 units required 372 replicates). Variation in hybrid response between geographical regions of the country was considerable, as was that between different years of testing. Many plant breeders feel that stress resistance and high yield are negatively correlated; however, this negative relation is not always the case as correlation of mean yield and b value was not high (r = 0.37 overall). Breeding programs which include use of physiological and morphological traits, control of water stress, side-by-side stress and nonstress selection programs and extensive testing should result in increased efficiency in developing genotypes which perform well under water deficit. Incorporation of the regression analysis technique in evaluating field data will allow identification of hybrids with the performance desired under droughts of various types.
Modeling of transient ultrasonic wave propagation using the distributed point

Transient ultrasonic waves in a fluid medium generated by a flat circular and a point-focused transducer of finite size are modeled by the distributed point source method (DPSM). DPSM is a Green's-function-based semi-analytical mesh-free technique which is modified here to incorporate the transient loading from a finite-sized acoustic transducer. Conventional DPSM solves acoustic problems in steady-state frequency domain. Here, DPSM is extended to the time domain without the fast Fourier transform (FFT) but using the Green's function in the time domain. This modified method is denoted t-DPSM. Harmonic point sources of DPSM are replaced by time-dependent point sources in t-DPSM. Generated t-DPSM results are compared with the finite element (FE) results for both focused and flat circular transducers. The developed method is used to solve the transient problem of wave scattering by an air bubble in a fluid as the bubble is moved horizontally or vertically from the focal point of the focused transducer. The received energy signal is compared for different eccentricities.
Cutaneous metastasis of endometrial carcinoma

Five cases of endometrial carcinoma with cutaneous metastases are reported. Cutaneous metastases of endometrial carcinoma are uncommon. There are no other cases reported in the literature. In 91 autopsy cases only one example (1%) could be found. The appearance of subcutaneous nodules is evidence of widespread dissemination and a harbinger of early demise.
Responses of cerebral arterioles to kainate.

Neurons release nitric oxide in response to glutamate. Glutamate acts via activation of different receptor subtypes, including N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate receptors. This study examined the hypothesis that kainate produces dilatation of cerebral arterioles that is dependent on the formation of nitric oxide. Diameters of cerebral arterioles were measured by means of a closed cranial window in anesthetized rabbits. Kainate, quisqualate, acetylcholine, and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) were applied locally in the cranial window. We also examined whether kainate elicited direct vascular effects by the use of isolated cerebral arteries in vitro. Under control conditions, topical kainate (100 mumol/L) increased the diameter of arterioles by 20 +/- 5% (mean +/- SE), 27 +/- 7%, and 31 +/- 7% at 3, 5, and 9 minutes of application, respectively. After topical application of L-NNA (300 mumol/L), kainate dilated cerebral arterioles by 8 +/- 4%, 9 +/- 5%, and 8 +/- 6% at 3, 5, and 9 minutes, respectively (P < .05 versus the control response). In contrast, quisqualate (100 and 300 mumol/L) did not alter the diameter of cerebral arterioles. In rings of the middle cerebral artery studied in vitro, kainate had no effect on vascular tone, which suggests that cerebral vessels lack receptors for kainate. Thus, cerebral vasodilator effects of kainate do not appear to be due to the direct effect of the excitatory amino acid on cerebral vessels. These findings suggest that kainate produces dilatation of cerebral arterioles in vivo that is mediated by release of nitric oxide from an extravascular source.
Effect of optical rotation on low-angle light-scattering patterns

Abstract : The effect of optical rotation of the environment is calculated for the H(V) and V(V) low-angle light scattering patterns of two-dimensional spherulites. As with the effect of birefringence, the change in the H(V) pattern is greater than that on the V(V). With increasing optical rotation contribution, the patterns lose their characteristic shape and become more circular. (Author)
Interrater reliability of students using hand and pinch dynamometers.

OBJECTIVE. We sought to analyze the interrater reliability of occupational therapy students using standard hand-strength instruments. METHOD. Seventy-three healthy students, faculty, and staff members from a midwestern university participated in this study. Each participant completed three trials for both grip and pinch strength bilaterally. Two student raters independently scored each trial. RESULTS. The interrater reliability of the grip and pinch strength trials was determined using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) one-way random effects model (1,1). The ICC for the Jamar dynamometer ranged from .996 to .998 (p < .05). The ICC of the pinch gauge ranged from .949 to .990 (p < .05). CONCLUSION. This study demonstrated that occupational therapy students can be reliable raters after being trained and tested for competency. To improve psychometric properties for instruments commonly used in the profession, students can participate in collecting normative data for hand-held dynamometry