cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Data Sheets for A=160

Abstract The experimental results published before May 2021 from the various reaction and decay studies leading to nuclides of Z=59 to Z=75, 160Pr, 160Nd, 160Pm, 160Sm, 160Eu, 160Gd, 160Tb, 160Dy, 160Ho, 160Er, 160Tm, 160Yb, 160Lu, 160Hf, 160Ta, 160W, 160Re in the A=160 mass chain have been reviewed. These data are summarized and presented, together with adopted level schemes and properties. This work is intended to supersede the previous evaluation of the A=160 nuclides by C.W.Reich (2005Re18), which was published in Nuclear Data Sheets 105, 557 (2005).
Glutamine Protects Neuronal Function Against Hypoxia in vitro

Cerebral ischemia/hypoxia is an important pathological condition which is a common and often fatal complication of heart failure and stroke. Our better, though incomplete, understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition, increased the interest in the potential of pharmacological protection of brain tissue against oxygen deprivation. Recently, we analyzed the ventricular drainage fluid from head-injured and acutely hydrocephalic patients as well as lumbar spinal fluid taken during routine myelography for the presence of free amino acids. Among the 13 amino acids that showed a 2–4 fold increase in the impaired patients as compared to the lumbar spinal fluid of normalsl, the increase in glutamine levels to above 1 mM was the most impressive (unpublished results). The present in vitro study was undertaken to determine the role of glutamine, if any, in brain trauma.
Effect of Number of Soil Strength Measurements on Reliability of Spread Footing Designs

One of the primary objectives of using load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is to produce designs that consistently reach some established target reliability. Achieving this objective is challenging in geotechnical applications because variability and uncertainty in design input parameters vary substantially from site to site and with different quantities of site characterization. Analyses were performed to simulate spread footing design by using different numbers of undrained shear strength measurements. Results revealed that the likelihood was high of over- or underestimating both the mean value of a design parameter and the uncertainty in the mean value when small numbers of measurements were considered. The analyses also revealed that LRFD methods that prescribed constant resistance factors frequently produced underreliable designs when small numbers of measurements were considered. The percentage of underreliable designs decreased when increasing numbers of measurements were used. However, this decreasing percentage of underreliable designs was accompanied by an increasing percentage of overreliable designs rather than an increasing percentage of designs that achieved the target probability of failure within practical limits. In contrast, LRFD methods prescribing resistance factors that depended on uncertainty in design parameters tended to produce a consistently low percentage of underreliable designs when more than five measurements were used. As greater numbers of measurements were considered, such methods produced increasing percentages of designs that practically achieved the target probability of failure and decreasing percentages of overreliable designs.
Designing multi-level studies: sampling voters and electoral contexts

Every two years in the US, 435 congressional elections take place that scholars study using data from the National Election Studies (NES) survey of the American electorate. With a focus on sampling, this article explores two issues: (1) How best to design a national election study if the aim is to understand voting behavior within and across subnational contexts; and (2) How, by comparison, the existing NES surveys have been designed. Although our arguments specifically address how one should sample individuals and congressional districts in the US, our conclusions apply to any situation where one is sampling micro-level units nested within diverse and influential macro-level contexts.
Testing digital watermark resistance to destruction

Digital watermarking is the steganographic technique used to discourage the unauthorized distribution of digital media such as text, audio, still images, and video. Artists, publishers and any other individual or business that has a commercial interest in preventing illegal copies of their work are in need of a way to achieve this. There are commercial techniques available on the Internet (like Steganos) and other techniques that are being researched. A desirable watermark is undetectable and can always be recovered. The ability to be recoverable is of concern, since if the watermark is easily destroyed it is useless. This paper investigates three known steganographic algorithms with respect to their robustness against four image processing operations: filtering, bitplane removal, DCT compression, and quantization. It is found that those steganographic algorithms often fail to recover the watermarks after the four image processing operations are performed.
Microclimate and substrate quality controls on nitrogen mineralization in a New England high salt marsh

New England high salt marsh primary productivity is limited by N, but variation in plant N availability across salt marsh vegetation zones has not been quantified. To investigate this, we measured in situ net N mineralization rates throughout the growing season in three zones of a Maine high salt marsh, Juncus gerardii, Spartina patens, and mixed perennial forb. We also measured microclimate factors (soil temperatures and moistures) and substrate quality parameters (soil organic matter, soil total nitrogen, soil C:N ratio) to see if either related to differences in net N mineralization. To determine the relative importance of substrate quality and microclimate, we measured N mineralization of the different soil types in the laboratory, holding microclimate parameters constant. We also investigated the relative importance of microclimate and substrate statistically, with principal components analysis and multiple regression. In situ net N mineralization rates were significantly higher in the forb zone than in graminoid zones, but graminoid zone N mineralization rates did not vary significantly from each other. Soil temperatures, moistures, carbon, and nitrogen were all significantly higher in the forb zone than in graminoid zones, but C:N ratio did not vary significantly across zones. Principal components analysis and multiple regression revealed that microclimate was a more significant predictor of total N mineralized over the course of the growing season than was substrate quality. In contrast, when microclimate conditions were held constant, forb zone N mineralization was still significantly higher than that of graminoid zones, suggesting that substrate quality does exert some control on this process. Thus, both microclimate and substrate quality appear to influence N mineralization rates across vegetation zones of this Maine salt marsh.
Needle Detection and Tracking in the TIPS Endovascular Procedure

The TIPS procedure is an endovascular operation guided by biplane fluoroscopy. The goal is to pass a needle from the hepatic vein through the liver into the portal vein. We are developing a software for real-time, 3D guidance of the procedure. This paper discusses means of automatically defining the needle from biplane fluoroscopic views.
“Organic is More of an American Term … We Are Traditional Farmers”: Discourses of Place-based Organic Farming, Community, Heritage, and Sustainability

The following study looks at how traditional, organic, cooperative farmers starting a new farming cooperative in the US Southwest communicate about their farming as a set of (sustainable) cultural practices. The study draws on environmental communication theory, the theory of the coordinated management of meaning, and Vandana Shiva’s three-tiered economic model to construct a communication-based framework through which to view farmers’ stories about sustainability. This framework is productive, showing how some Nuevo Mexicano farmers (and others) orient toward farming, sustenance, and human-nature relationships through community, family, heritage, and education. Moreover, in addition to a conceptualization of sustainability as specific practices for nurturing and enduring in environments, communities, and organizations/institutions, sustainability can be understood as embedded ecocultural and historical experience with cross-cultural parallels in land-based communities. This study advances the eth...
Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices in Response to Different Clostridium difficile Diagnostic Methodologies

We evaluated treatment decisions and antimicrobial use related to 2 testing algorithms for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Our findings suggest that a 2-step testing algorithm using rapid polymerase chain reaction confirmatory testing leads to decreased unnecessary anti-CDI antimicrobial use. In addition, a significant proportion of patients with confirmed CDI were not treated according to recommended guidelines.
Making monetary policy: objectives and rules

What is it that monetary policy-makers do and how do they do it? The simple answer is that a central banker moves interest rates in order to maintain steady real growth and stable prices. In this essay, I examine the issues that arise in framing the problem faced by monetary policy-makers. I begin with a discussion of how, over the past decade or so, central banks have been made more independent and more accountable. The result has been the virtual elimination of the inflation bias problem that is caused by political interference in the monetary policy process, and better overall macroeconomic performance. The essay proceeds with an example of a formal version of the policymakers' problem, describing their objectives and the information they need to formulate a policy rule. I conclude with a discussion of a simple versus complex policy rules, the impact of uncertainty on policy-making, and how central bankers use formal modelling in making their day-to-day decisions. Copyright 2000 by Oxford University Press.
Teaching about Human Rights in the Elementary Classroom Using the Book A Life Like Mine: How Children Live around the World

This article considers human rights education at the elementary school level in the United States. It explores some of the benefits of including human rights education in the elementary curriculum and provides suggestions on how to incorporate it. The article focuses on a discussion of the book A Life Like Mine: How Children Live around the World and concludes with a United Nations simulation unit plan structured around this book.
TOTAL IONIZATION IN NITROGEN BY HEAVY IONS OF ENERGIES 25 TO 50 kev

The total ionization produced by ions stopped in nitrogen gas has been measured in the energy range 25-50 keV. The measurements were made using an ion accelerator for producing the incident particles and a cylindrical ionization chamber with a differentially pumped open window. The following ions were studied: ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{C}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$. The average energy loss per ion pair, $W$, ranges from 34.6 eV for 25-keV protons to 115.2 eV for 25-keV argon ions. A calculation indicates that a large part of the variation of $W$ with initial ion energy and atomic species may be attributed to the variation of the energy ultimately going into the kinetic energy of the atoms of the gas.
Influence of route of administration on therapeutic ratio of atropine in sham-fed dogs.

Salivary and gastric secretory inhibition were studied simultaneously in 3 sham-fed dogs using atropine by 3 methods of administration.
(+)-3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine [(+)-3-PPP] but not (-)-3-PPP produces (+)-N-Allynormetazocine-like (SKF 10,047) discriminative stimuli

Abstract In rats trained to discriminate the prototypic sigma receptor agonist, (+)-N-Allylnormetazocine [(+)-NANM/SKF 10, 047], from saline, the (+)- but not the (-)-isomer of 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine (3-PPP) produced (+)-NANM-like discriminative stimuli. (+)-3-PPP binds stereo selectively to the (+)-NANM binding site, but not to the phencyclidine binding site. Additionally, phencyclidine was found to produce (+)-NANM-like discriminative stimuli. Akthough the 3-PPP isomers were shown to produce changes in central dopaminergic activity (Hjorth et al . Life Sci. 37 , 673, 1985), the discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-3-PPP are apparently not mediated via the dopaminergic system. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that apomorphine did not produce (+)-NANM-like discriminative stimuli. These stimuli are thus non-dopaminergic and may be due to the (+)-3-PPP actions at the sigma binding site. However, it is possible that (+)-NANM, PCP, and (+)-3-PPP may have common non-sigma pharmacologic properties that account for the similar disriminative stimulus properties of these compounds.
Supersonic impinging jet noise reduction using a hybrid control technique

Abstract Control of the highly resonant flowfield associated with supersonic impinging jet has been experimentally investigated. Measurements were made in the supersonic impinging jet facility at the Florida State University for a Mach 1.5 ideally expanded jet. Measurements included unsteady pressures on a surface plate near the nozzle exit, acoustics in the nearfield and beneath the impingement plane, and velocity field using particle image velocimetry. Both passive control using porous surface and active control with high momentum microjet injection are effective in reducing nearfield noise and flow unsteadiness over a range of geometrical parameters; however, the type of noise reduction achieved by the two techniques is different. The passive control reduces broadband noise whereas microjet injection attenuates high amplitude impinging tones. The hybrid control, a combination of two control methods, reduces both broadband and high amplitude impinging tones and surprisingly its effectiveness is more that the additive effect of the two control techniques. The flow field measurements show that with hybrid control the impinging jet is stabilized and the turbulence quantities such as streamwise turbulence intensity, transverse turbulence intensity and turbulent shear stress are significantly reduced.
Clinical and preclinical evidence for the neurotrophic effects of mood stabilizers: implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of manic–depressive illness

Recent neuroimaging studies have demonstrated regional central nervous system volume reductions in mood disorders, findings that are complemented by postmortem observations of cell atrophy and loss. It is thus noteworthy that lithium and valproate have recently been demonstrated to robustly increase the expression of the cytoprotective protein bcl-2 in the central nervous system. Chronic lithium not only exerts neuroprotective effects in several preclinical paradigms but also enhances hippocampal neurogenesis. Valproate robustly promotes neurite outgrowth and activates the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, a signaling pathway utilized by many endogenous neurotrophic factors. Consistent with its preclinical neurotrophic/neuroprotective effects, chronic lithium treatment of patients with manic-depressive illness increases brain N-acetylaspartate (a putative marker of neuronal viability and function) levels, an effect that is localized almost exclusively to gray matter. To determine if lithium was producing neuropil increases, quantitative three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging studies were undertaken, which revealed that chronic lithium significantly increases total gray matter volume in the human brain of patients with manic-depressive illness. Together, these results suggest that a reconceptualization about the optimal long-term treatment of recurrent mood disorders is warranted. Optimal long-term treatment for these severe illnesses may only be achieved by the early use of agents with neurotrophic/neuroprotective effects, irrespective of the primary, symptomatic treatment.
Costs to implement an effective transition-to-parenthood program for couples: Analysis of the Family Foundations program

The transition to parenthood involves many stressors that can have implications for the couple relationship as well as the developmental environment of the child. Scholars and policymakers have recognized the potential for interventions that can help couples navigate these stressors to improve parenting and coparenting strategies. Such evidence-based programs are scarcely available, however, and little is known about the resources necessary to carry out these programs. This study examines the costs and resources necessary to implement Family Foundations, a program that addresses the multifaceted issues facing first-time parents through a series of pre- and post-natal classes. Costs were determined using a 6-step analytic process and are based on the first implementation of the program carried out through a five-year demonstration project. This assessment demonstrates how overall costs change across years as new cohorts of families are introduced, and how cost breakdowns differ by category as needs shift from training group leaders to sustaining program services. Information from this cost analysis helps clarify how the program could be made more efficient in subsequent implementations. We also consider how results may be used in future research examining economic benefits of participation in the program.
Orientational Order in Amorphous Packings of Ellipsoids

We perform Monte Carlo simulations of the pouring of hard ellipsoids into a three-dimensional container. Both oblate and prolate ellipsoids of revolution are examined. Oblate ellipsoids pack so that their symmetry (semi-minor) axes are preferentially aligned with the direction of gravity, and their orientational alignment increases with increasing aspect ratio. Conversely, for prolate ellipsoids, the symmetry (semi-major) axes tend to lie within the plane perpendicular to gravity. The ellipsoids form novel packings that we call "oriented glasses". No translational order is present: the packings are amorphous, but still exhibit long-range orientational order. In addition, the density of the packings is not a monotone function of the aspect ratio, and exhibits a global maximum for slightly elongated particles.
On some simple single server models of dynamic storage

We consider models of queue storage, where items arrive accordingly to a Poisson process of rate λ and each item takes up one cell in a linear array of cells, which are numbered {1, 2, 3,...}. The arriving item is placed in the lowest numbered available cell. The total service rate provided to the items is the constant μ (with ρ = λ/μ), but service may be provided simultaneously to more than one item. If there are N items stored and each is serviced at the rate μ/N, this corresponds to processor sharing (PS). We analyze two models of this type, which have been shown to provide bounds on the PS model. We shall assume that (1) the server works only on the left-most item, or (2) on the two rightmost items. The set of occupied cells at any time is {i1, i2,...,iN} where i1
Attributes that Differentiate Children Who Sip Alcohol from Abstinent Peers

Sipping alcohol during childhood may be a marker of differentiation as regards children’s future risk of underage drinking; yet very little is known about alcohol use when it occurs among elementary school-aged children. The purpose of the present study is to examine alcohol sipping behavior in a sample of third-grade school children to learn whether sipping is associated with attributes that could increase children’s likelihood of further underage drinking. We collected telephone interview data from 1,050 mothers and their third grade children (mean age 9.2 years; 48.2 % male) residing in the Southeastern United States. The majority of mothers were White non-Hispanic (69.02 %) or Black non-Hispanic (21.3 %); most (85 %) lived in households shared with fathers or other adult caretakers. We hypothesized that children who sip alcohol would score lower than abstinent peers on indicators of competence and score higher on indicators of exposure to alcohol-specific socialization by parents and peers. A multivariate model controlling for frequency of parent alcohol use and demographic covariates showed that children who had sipped alcohol were significantly less likely than abstinent peers to affirm indicators of competence and significantly more likely to affirm indicators of exposure to alcohol specific socialization by parents and by same age peers. These preliminary findings suggest that developmental attributes associated with risk of underage drinking begin to differentiate at least as young as middle childhood. Research is needed to test prospectively for continuity between alcohol risk attributes present in middle childhood and future alcohol use.
Raman spectroscopic observation of dehydrogenation in ball-milled LiNH2–LiBH4–MgH2 nanoparticles

In situ Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor the dehydrogenation of ball-milled mixtures of LiNH2–LiBH4–MgH2 nanoparticles. The as-milled powders were found to contain a mixture of Li4BN3H10 and Mg(NH2)2, with no evidence of residual LiNH2 or LiBH4. It was observed that the dehydrogenation of both of Li4BN3H10 and Mg(NH2)2 begins at 353 K. The Mg(NH2)2 was completely consumed by 415 K, while Li4BN3H10 persisted and continued to release hydrogen up to 453 K. At higher temperatures Li4BN3H10 melts and reacts with MgH2 to form Li2Mg(NH)2 and hydrogen gas. Cycling studies of the ball-milled mixture at 423 K and 8 MPa (80 bar) found that during rehydrogenation of Li4BN3H10 Raman spectral modes reappear, indicating partial reversal of the Li4BN3H10 to Li2Mg(NH)2 transformation.
Grid sensitivity analysis

Abstract This paper presents a method to compute the sensitivities of displacements and natural frequencies to the changes in grid locations. The sensitivities are computed within msc/nastran using the semi-analytical method via a DMAP program. New software was developed to assist in the selection of design variables and plot the spatial variation of the sensitivities on the finite element model. Two example problems demonstrate the technique.
Influences of Age at Final Beak Trim on the Productive Performance of Commercial Layers

Abstract Two commercial egg-type strains were beak-trimmed at 10, 10 and 63, or 10 and 84 d. There were no interactions between strain and beak trimming treatment. Pullet feed consumption was significantly reduced within the 14-d period following beak trimming at 63 or 84 d. Total pullet feed consumption (1 to 126 d) was significantly lower among birds trimmed twice than among those trimmed only at 10 d. At 126 d, body weight of pullets trimmed at 10 and 84 d or 10 and 63 d was significantly less than that of those trimmed only at 10 d. Pullet mortality was not significantly influenced by beak trimming treatments. No significant effects of beak trimming treatments on layer mortality, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion, or egg quality were detected. Layer feed consumption was significantly greater among birds beak trimmed at 10 d than among those trimmed at 10 and 84 d. Most of the effects associated with beak trimming treatments can be attributed to the influence that beak trimming had on feed consumption.
Economic Evaluation of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine in the United States: A Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Model with Visual Basic Application

Economic Evaluation of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine in the United States: A Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Model with Visual Basic Application
Turbo coded trellis-based constructions for data embedding: channel coding with side information

A host of emerging applications in multimedia and communications are connected to the problem of channel coding with side information (CCSI). In CCSI, side information about the transmission channel is present at the sender but not at the receiver. The goal of this paper is to bridge the gap between practical code constructions and the theoretical capacity bounds. Specifically, we present a new turbo-coded trellis-based code construction that appears to be very promising: for the Gaussian CCSI problem at a transmission rate of 1 bit/channel use, our proposed approach comes within 2.72 dB of the information-theoretic capacity established by M. Costa (see IEEE Trans. on Information Theory, vol.29, p.439-41, 1983).
On the probabilities of correct or incorrect majority preference relations

While majority cycles may pose a threat to democratic decision making, actual decisions based inadvertently upon an incorrect majority preference relation may be far more expensive to society. We study majority rule both in a statistical sampling and a Bayesian inference framework. Based on any given paired comparison probabilities or ranking probabilities in a population (i.e., culture) of reference, we derive upper and lower bounds on the probability of a correct or incorrect majority social welfare relation in a random sample (with replacement). We also present upper and lower bounds on the probabilities of majority preference relations in the population given a sample, using Bayesian updating. These bounds permit to map quite precisely the entire picture of possible majority preference relations as well as their probabilities. We illustrate our results using survey data.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Chemical Modification of Polystyrene through CxFy+ Beam Deposition

The chemical modification of polystyrene through the deposition of a beam of polyatomic fluorocarbon ions (C3F5+ and CF3+) at experimental fluences is studied using classical molecular dynamics simulations with many-body empirical potentials. To facilitate these simulations, a new C−H−F potential is developed on the basis of the second-generation reactive empirical bond-order potential for hydrocarbons developed by Brenner. Lennard-Jones potentials are used to model long-range van der Waals interactions. The incident energy of the ion beam is 50 eV/ion, and it is deposited normal to the surface. The simulations illustrate the important differences in the chemical interactions of these polyatomic ions with the polystyrene. The CF3+ ions are predicted to be more effective at fluorinating the polystyrene than C3F5+ ions, and the dissociation of the C3F5+ ions produce long-lived precursors to fluorocarbon thin film nucleation.
Comparison of autoantibody specificities between traditional and bead‐based assays in a large, diverse collection of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and family members

Diverse clinical presentations of SLE create significant diagnostic difficulties. However, the common feature of autoantibodies has been shown to associate with select clinical features (1). Previous work has found that autoantibodies are often present in SLE patient sera years before diagnosis and prior to their associated clinical symptoms (2, 3). Detection of autoantibodies contributes to SLE classification (4, 5), and some may be used to monitor the potential for disease flare (6, 7). Prevalence of autoantibodies varies among self-reported ethnic groups. Compared with European-Americans (EA), African-American (AA) SLE patients have a higher prevalence of autoantibodies targeting Sm and nRNP proteins (8–11). Autoantibody cluster analysis provides additional information about clinical symptom associations or genetic risk; however, studies to date have either relatively small patient cohorts (12–15) or use historical antibody data measured by a variety of detection methods (16). A few studies examining the prevalence of autoantibodies in blood relatives of SLE patients have shown that low levels of SLE specific autoantibodies were detectable in clinically healthy relatives (17–19). Although autoantibodies remain paramount in lupus diagnosis and management, detection of lupus specificities vary significantly between clinically available assays. To date, detailed evaluations of newer methodologies in large multi-ethnic SLE and control collections are incomplete. Historical methods of immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion autoantibody testing require specially trained laboratory personnel and are becoming less available in many US markets. Based on variability in autoantibody detection across and within select methods, it has been difficult to consistently and accurately measure prevalence of autoantibodies in diverse SLE patient cohorts. Questions remain about the number of SLE patients that would be potentially missed based upon testing of fewer autoantibody specificities with newer methodologies; the frequency of specific autoantibody detection across different races; and if healthy SLE family members would have higher rates of autoantibody specificities when using these newer methods. Our primary objective was to examine prevalence, specificity, clustering and family aggregation of specific autoantibodies within a large cohort of SLE patients, unaffected relatives, and unaffected controls. Additionally, we sought to compare anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) results between a multiplex bead assay and classical detection methods (indirect immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion) in a large multi-ethnic cohort.
Blood Flow Changes In Transplantable Urothelial Tumors Treated With The Metallopurpurin, SnET2 And Light.

Changes in blood flow to transplantable bladder tumors growing in Fischer rats were measured after photodynamic therapy with the photosensitizer tin (II) etiopurpurin dichloride (SnET2) using the radioactive microsphere technique. As with the other photosensitizers, hematoporphyrin derivative and chloroaluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine, SnET2 and light caused a rapid decrease in tumor blood flow. This occurred when the vehicle for photosensitizer delivery was either an emulsion or a liposome. Systemic heparinization of animals did not alter changes in tumor blood flow.
Conservation Issues for Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes–Based Rotor Aeroelastic Simulations

AbstractAeroelastic simulations that are computed by coupling separate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structural dynamics (CSD) codes will include not only numerical errors in both the CFD and CSD methods, but also errors associated with the data exchange among the codes of the aerodynamic loads and moments and structural deflections. Whereas the numerical errors associated with the data interface have been investigated and quantified for fixed-wing applications, their effect has not been quantified for rotational applications, such as rotors and wind turbines, in which rigid body degrees of freedom cannot be separated from flexible motion of the blades. This paper provides a systematic analysis of the numerical errors introduced by the data interface for high-aspect ratio blades undergoing multibody dynamic motion including rotation. It is demonstrated that the failure to consider conservation of work or energy during the CFD-CSD data exchange can lead to a shift in the mean loading...
Service Learning and Civic Engagement

Outside work can complement what goes on in the classroom in ways that benefit both the community and students. Of course, AQ readers may have heard of tendentious programs and faculty ideologues, who channel student enthusiasm into partisan activism. Still, statistical survey analysis presented here by Mary Prentice suggests that participation in service learning can increase students’ civic engagement, when civic engagement is defined as more than just political action.Outside work can complement what goes on in the classroom in ways that benefit both the community and students. Of course, AQ readers may have heard of tendentious programs and faculty ideologues, who channel student enthusiasm into partisan activism. Still, statistical survey analysis presented here by Mary Prentice suggests that participation in service learning can increase students' civic engagement, when civic engagement is defined as more than just political action.
Temporal variation in foliar nutrient concentrations of pitch pine, loblolly pine and the pitch X loblolly hybrid

Abstract Although loblolly pine nutrition is well documented, there is little information available on the nutrition of the pitch X loblolly hybrid. The purpose of this study was to characterize the temporal variation of fascicle characteristics and foliar nutrient concentrations of the pitch X loblolly hybrid and compare this variation to that of its parent species, particularly loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The study was located on the Piedmont physiographic province of Virginia. Two plantations, Plantation 1 containing full-sib, F1 trees and Plantation 2 containing half-sib, F2 trees, were established. Five pitch X loblolly hybrid families, two pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) families, and one loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) family were selected from Plantation 1. Five hybrids, one pitch pine family, and four loblolly pine families were selected from Plantation 2. Foliage was sampled monthly from December 1988 through December 1989, and analyzed for total N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Fascicle length, fascicle weight and foliar nutrient data were analyzed. The hybrids generally had fascicle characteristics intermediate to those of the parent species. Collectively, the various crosses of the hybrid had foliar nutrient characteristics intermediate between the parent species, with few hybrid nutrient concentrations being significantly different from those of loblolly pine. Loblolly pine critical nutrient concentrations are adequate for diagnosing the nutritional status of most of the hybrid families. Some individual hybrid families may not nutritionally emulate loblolly pine and may require the use of individualized critical nutrient concentrations. Hybrid foliage should possibly be sampled in mid-summer to obtain maximum sensitivity to site or treatment difference, and in October through December for routine nutrient diagnoses.
Do children's omissions leave traces?

When English-speaking two-year-olds begin producing polysyllabic words, they often omit unstressed syllables that precede syllables with primary stress (Allen & Hawkins, 1980 ; Klein, 1981 ; Gerken, 1994 a). One proposed mechanism for these omissions is that children omit syllables at a phonological level, due to prosodic constraints that act on outputs. Under such accounts, it has been largely assumed that these syllables are simply missing, or deleted, from children’s outputs. The present research consists of a pair of experiments that tested this assumption by investigating the acoustic properties of utterances manifesting or lacking weak initial syllable omissions. In the two experiments, 33 two-year-old children were asked to imitate sentences like ‘He kissed Lucinda ’ (often reduced as expected to a disyllabic trochaic form, e.g. ‘He kissed _cinda ’) and ‘He kissed Cindy’. Durations of each child’s imitations were measured from the onset of the verb to the onset of the name, for each pair of sentences containing the reduced or unreduced disyllabic forms, for example, ‘kissed _cinda ’ vs. ‘kissed Cindy ’. Our results yielded a significantly longer duration for the verb-onset to name-onset portion of sentences containing reduced ‘_cinda ’-type names than for sentences with ‘Cindy ’-type names. This finding provides evidence that children do not completely delete weak syllables. Rather, the data from the phonetic analysis indicate that some prosodic trace exists of the omitted syllable.
Effects of Multiple Impacts and Size Distribution of Particles on Erosion Predictions Using CFD

Erosion equations are usually obtained from experiments by impacting solid particles entrained in a gas or liquid on a target material. The erosion equations are utilized in CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models to predict erosion damage caused by solid particle impingements. Many erosion equations are provided in terms of an erosion ratio. By definition, the erosion ratio is the mass loss of target material divided by the mass of impacting particles. The mass of impacting particles is the summation of (particle mass × number of impacts) of each particle. In erosion experiments conducted to determine erosion equations, some particles may impact the target wall many times and some other particles may not impact the target at all. Therefore, the experimental data may not reflect the actual erosion ratio because the mass of the sand that is used to run the experiments is assumed to be the mass of the impacting particles. CFD and particle trajectory simulations are applied in the present work to study effects of multiple impacts on developing erosion ratio equations. The erosion equation as well as the CFD-based erosion modeling procedure is validated against a variety of experimental data. The results show that the effect of multiple impacts is negligible in air cases. In water cases, however, this effect needs to be accounted for especially for small particles. This makes it impractical to develop erosion ratio equations from experimental data obtained for tests with sand in water or dense gases. Many factors affecting erosion damage are accounted for in various erosion equations. In addition to some well-studied parameters such as particle impacting speed and impacting angle, particle size also plays a significant role in the erosion process. An average particle size is usually used in analyzing experimental data or estimating erosion damage cases of practical interest. In petroleum production applications, however, the size of sand particles that are entrained in produced fluids can vary over a fairly broad range. CFD simulations are also performed to study the effect of particle size distribution. In CFD simulations, particle sizes are normally distributed with the mean equaling the average size of interest and the standard deviation varying over a wide range. Based on CFD simulations, an equation is developed and can be applied to account for the effect of the particle size distribution on erosion prediction for gases and liquids.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance from extramammary Paget's of the bladder.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The clinical significance and appropriate diagnostic evaluation of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGCUS) on cervicovaginal Papanicolaou test have not been well established. CASE: A 53-year-old woman with AGCUS underwent colposcopy, cervical biopsy, hysteroscopy, dilation and fractional curettage, and subsequently hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without abnormal findings. A repeat vaginal Papanicolaou test revealed malignant cells. Extramammary Paget’s disease and urothelial carcinoma in situ were subsequently determined to be the source of the abnormal cells interpreted as AGCUS. CONCLUSION: AGCUS may be associated with extramammary Paget’s disease and urothelial carcinoma. One should maintain a high index of suspicion for extragenital causes of persistent AGCUS.
Astrocytes increase the activity of synaptic GluN2B NMDA receptors

Astrocytes regulate excitatory synapse formation and surface expression of glutamate AMPA receptors (AMPARs) during development. Less is known about glial modulation of glutamate NMDA receptors (NMDARs), which mediate synaptic plasticity and regulate neuronal survival in a subunit- and subcellular localization-dependent manner. Using primary hippocampal cultures with mature synapses, we found that the density of NMDA-evoked whole-cell currents was approximately twice as large in neurons cultured in the presence of glia compared to neurons cultured alone. The glial effect was mediated by (an) astrocyte-secreted soluble factor(s), was Mg2+ and voltage independent, and could not be explained by a significant change in the synaptic density. Instead, we found that the peak amplitudes of total and NMDAR miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), but not AMPAR mEPSCs, were significantly larger in mixed than neuronal cultures, resulting in a decreased synaptic AMPAR/NMDAR ratio. Astrocytic modulation was restricted to synaptic NMDARs that contain the GluN2B subunit, did not involve an increase in the cell surface expression of NMDAR subunits, and was mediated by protein kinase C (PKC). Taken together, our findings indicate that astrocyte-secreted soluble factor(s) can fine-tune synaptic NMDAR activity through the PKC-mediated regulation of GluN2B NMDAR channels already localized at postsynaptic sites, presumably on a rapid time scale. Given that physiologic activation of synaptic NMDARs is neuroprotective and that an increase in the synaptic GluN2B current is associated with improved learning and memory, the astrocyte-induced potentiation of synaptic GluN2B receptor activity is likely to enhance cognitive function while simultaneously strengthening neuroprotective signaling pathways.
Growth of aligned Mo6S6 nanowires on Cu(111)

Abstract Based on density functional theory (DFT) predictions and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements we report the possibility of using the Cu(111) surface for growth of molybdenum sulfide nanowires (Mo 6 S 6 ). Strong substrate interactions coupled with small lattice mismatch lead to epitaxial growth of the nanowires parallel to a set of substrate high symmetry directions. We observe a propensity for creation of aligned and equally spaced arrays of nanowires and use DFT to elucidate interaction strength both in the absence and presence of the substrate.
Infectious Complications of Tattoos

Tattooing carries several medical risks, including the transmission of infectious diseases. We review the published literature on the transmission of hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Treponema pallidum, papillomavirus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and other organisms by tattooing. Education, through public health measures, should promote the prevention of infectious disease transmission. Particular populations who could benefit from education include prisoners, individuals involved with correctional facilities, youths, military personnel, and health care providers coming in contact with populations at risk for tattoos.
A lightweight yet sound-proof honeycomb acoustic metamaterial

In this letter, a class of honeycomb acoustic metamaterial possessing lightweight and yet sound-proof properties is designed, theoretically proven, and then experimentally verified. It is here reported that the proposed metamaterial having a remarkably small mass per unit area at 1.3 kg/m2 can achieve low frequency (<500 Hz) sound transmission loss (STL) consistently greater than 45 dB. Furthermore, the sandwich panel which incorporates the honeycomb metamaterial as the core material yields a STL that is consistently greater than 50 dB at low frequencies. The proposed metamaterial is promising for constructing structures that are simultaneously strong, lightweight, and sound-proof.
Programming pedagogy—a psychological overview

Can we turn novices into experts in a four year undergraduate program? If so, how? If not, what is the best we can do? While every teacher has his/her own opinion on these questions, psychological studies over the last twenty years have started to furnish scientific answers. Unfortunately, little of these results have been incorporated into curricula or textbooks. This report is a brief overview of some of the more important results concerning computer programming and how they can affect course design.
Pressure-tunable column selectivity for high-speed vacuum-outlet GC.

A pressure-tunable ensemble of two series-coupled capillary columns operated at subambient outlet pressure is described. The ensemble consists of a 4.5-m length of nonpolar dimethyl polysiloxane column followed by a 7.5-m length of polar trifluoropropylmethyl polysiloxane column. Air at an inlet pressure of 1.0 atm is used as carrier gas, and a vacuum pump is used to pull the carrier gas and injected samples through the column ensemble. Detection is provided by a photoionization detector operated at a pressure of 0.3 psia. Ensemble selectivity is controlled by means of an electronic pressure controller located at the junction point between the columns. The minimum pressure step size is 0.1 psi, and 50 different set-point pressures can be used, each one producing a different pattern of peaks eluting from the column ensemble. Measured ensemble retention factors for a set of target compounds produce straight lines when plotted versus the ratio of the calculated holdup time of the first column in the ensemble...
MR arthrography of partial thickness tears of the undersurface of the rotator cuff: an arthroscopic correlation.

Objective Partial thickness tears of the undersurface (articular surface) of the rotator cuff (RTC) have been recognized increasingly in recent years as a source of treatable shoulder pain in the athletic population. This study evaluated the efficacy of MR arthrography (MR-ARTH) in diagnosing these tears.
The effect of pressure and temperature on time-dependent changes in graphite/epoxy composites below the glass transition

Effects of pressure and temperature on time-dependent changes in physical/mechanical properties of graphite/epoxy composites were investigated. Samples were cut from the eight-ply-thick laminates of commercially used composites, post-cured, and then quenched to environments of various temperature and pressure. Time-dependent changes in their properties were analyzed by thermal and thermomechanical (dynamic mechanical) measurements. An increase in the glass-transition temperature was found to occur as a function of time. The rate of this process was enhanced by an increase in temperature and/or a decrease in pressure. An explanation was offered in terms of types and mechanisms of molecular events that occur in the glassy state. Time dependent decrease in free volume (and enthalpy) takes place but is not the sole mechanism responsible for the observed increase in Tg. After a certain period of time (which depends on T and P of the environment), additional crosslinking appears to take place.
Improving conspicuity in MPI by equalization of the “broad tails” of the MPI point spread function

The point spread function (PSF) in MPI has been found to be the derivative of the Langevin function. This PSF has noticeably longer “tails” than a single Gaussian. These tails of the PSF manifest as baseline blurring, which significantly decreases contrast and “glare” in MPI. Here, we develop a robust post-processing method to equalize (similar to deconvolution) the PSF, to essentially remove these tails. Fortunately we find this equalization method does not incur the enormous loss of SNR observed in conventional deconvolution.
Thermal and behavioral modeling of occupant-controlled heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems

Abstract Occupant-controlled heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems allow inhabitants of open-plan spaces some degree of control over their immediate microclimate. Typically, cooled air is supplied at floor or desktop levels. The amount and direction of air flow is under occupant control. Productivity increases have been attributed to this form of control. This paper proposes a simplified model of the thermal environment created by an occupant-controlled HVAC system and the behavior of the occupants within it. The thermal environment is characterized by individual nodes representing sub-areas of the conditioned space and a single well-mixed ceiling space above the occupied zone. Random processes are used to simulate the comings and goings of individual occupants and their HVAC control behavior. The model is used to identify the parameters which have the largest influence on the energy efficiency. Energy use of task HVAC with occupant sensors is found to be less than that of a conventional HVAC system by 13%. Individual HVAC control requires about 10% more energy than uniform temperature conditions.