cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infections in Child-care Facilities and Schools

1. ChrisAnna M. Mink, MD* 2. Sylvia Yeh, MD† 1. *Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif 2. †Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the common infectious agents that cause outbreaks in group settings for children. 2. Describe the approaches for preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases in child care and schools. 3. Discuss tactics for managing children after exposures to specific common pediatric pathogens. In the United States in 2006, approximately 54% of the 23.7 million children younger than 5 years of age attended a child-care facility, and 55 million children attended school from kindergarten through 12th grade. (1)(2) Children cared for in child-care settings have an increased rate of infectious diseases. (3)(4) Prevention and control of infectious diseases among children in out-of-home group settings is a concern for families, staff, health-care practitioners, and the community. Several factors influence the risks for introduction and spread of infections in child-care settings. These factors include the personal hygiene and health status of the caregivers and the children (as well as their ages) and the condition of the facility (eg, environmental sanitation, space and quality, food-handling practices, policies for attendance, and ratio of children to caregivers). The characteristics of the infectious agent also are important variables that determine its potential to spread in a group setting. These factors include the organism's infectivity for the population, methods available for prevention (eg, vaccination), ability of the microbe to survive in the environment, and the mode of transmission. Modes of transmission include respiratory, fecal-oral, and contact with blood or body fluids. Other potential sources of infection are animals and fomites. ### Mechanisms for Prevention The optimal strategy for controlling infectious diseases is prevention. Standard precautions (Table 1) should be used routinely in caring for children of all ages in all group settings. (3)(4) The critical role of hand washing cannot be overemphasized. Additional measures include preventive health care for attendees …
Influence of Virginiamycin on Energy Utilization When Turkey Poults Were Fed Ad Libitum or Restricted

Abstract An experiment was conducted with day-old turkey poults to study the influence of virginiamycin on energy utilization. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used, which included ad libitum or a 25% feed restriction and 0 or 22 ppm of virginiamycin. Virginiamycin in the diet significantly improved body weight, feed efficiency, and dietary energy utilization when poults were fed ad libitum or when feed was restricted. These data indicate that virginiamycin enhances the utilization of dietary energy by turkey poults.
Ethanol Enhances Hepatitis C Virus Replication through Lipid Metabolism and Elevated NADH/NAD+

Ethanol has been suggested to elevate HCV titer in patients and to increase HCV RNA in replicon cells, suggesting that HCV replication is increased in the presence and absence of the complete viral replication cycle, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we use Huh7 human hepatoma cells that naturally express comparable levels of CYP2E1 as human liver to demonstrate that ethanol, at subtoxic and physiologically relevant concentrations, enhances complete HCV replication. The viral RNA genome replication is affected for both genotypes 2a and 1b. Acetaldehyde, a major product of ethanol metabolism, likewise enhances HCV replication at physiological concentrations. The potentiation of HCV replication by ethanol is suppressed by inhibiting CYP2E1 or aldehyde dehydrogenase and requires an elevated NADH/NAD+ ratio. In addition, acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and concentrations of acetone that occur in diabetics enhance HCV replication with corresponding increases in the NADH/NAD+. Furthermore, inhibiting the host mevalonate pathway with lovastatin or fluvastatin and fatty acid synthesis with 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid or cerulenin significantly attenuates the enhancement of HCV replication by ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, as well as acetate, whereas inhibiting β-oxidation with β-mercaptopropionic acid increases HCV replication. Ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, and acetate increase the total intracellular cholesterol content, which is attenuated with lovastatin. In contrast, both endogenous and exogenous ROS suppress the replication of HCV genotype 2a, as previously shown with genotype 1b. Conclusion: Therefore, lipid metabolism and alteration of cellular NADH/NAD+ ratio are likely to play a critical role in the potentiation of HCV replication by ethanol rather than oxidative stress.
Atomic-scale mapping of thermoelectric power on graphene: role of defects and boundaries.

The spatially resolved thermoelectric power is studied on epitaxial graphene on SiC with direct correspondence to graphene atomic structures by a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) method. A thermovoltage arises from a temperature gradient between the STM tip and the sample, and variations of thermovoltage are distinguished at defects and boundaries with atomic resolution. The epitaxial graphene has a high thermoelectric power of 42 μV/K with a big change (9.6 μV/K) at the monolayer–bilayer boundary. Long-wavelength oscillations are revealed in thermopower maps which correspond to the Friedel oscillations of electronic density of states associated with the intravalley scattering in graphene. On the same terrace of a graphene layer, thermopower distributions show domain structures that can be attributed to the modifications of local electronic structures induced by microscopic distortions (wrinkles) of graphene sheet on the SiC substrate. The thermoelectric power, the electronic structure, the carrier con...
Optimal behavior and concurrent variable interval schedules

Behavior maintained with 2-component concurrent variable interval schedules of reinforcement (CONC VIVI) is described well by the matching law. Deviations from matching behavior have been handled by adding free parameters to the matching law equation. With CONC VIVI schedules there are infinitely many solutions to the matching law equation at each value of the procedural parameters. However, at each value of the procedural parameters, only one combination of durations of intervals spent in each VI component (dwell times) yields the combined maximum reinforcement rate. The equations that yield the optimal dwell times solution for CONC VIVI schedules are mathematically incompatible with the matching law. Optimal performance and matching coincide only when the parameter values of the two VI components are equal. It seems reasonable to use optimal behavior to assess performance in these schedules. Researchers have not compared optimal and empirical performances in CONC VIVI possibly because the equations for optimal dwell times (ODT) can be solved only numerically. We present a table of ODT for a wide range of VIs and changeover delays. We also derive a function m that can be used to compare matching data and the matching behavior predictions of optimization. We prove that 0.5<m<1.003502, and we describe some of the more nteresting properties of the function.
Synthesis and characterization of a series of fluorine-substituted phenylene-thienyl polymers for battery applications

Abstract A series of fluorine-substituted phenylene-thienyl-based monomers (1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-benzene (THB), 1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2-fluorophenylene (TFP),1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2,5-difluorophenylene (TF2P), and 1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylene (TF4P)) has been synthesized. Thin films of the polymers were deposited by controlled electropolymerization of the monomers, and the doping densities and cycling efficiencies were determined from electrochemical measurements. The polymers poly-1,4-bis(2-thienyl) -benzene (pTHB), poly-1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2-fluorophenylene (pTFP), and poly-1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-2,5-difluorophenylene (pTF2P) exhibited reversible p-doping and n-doping, with doping densities in the range 0.12 to 0.45 electrons per monomer unit. The cycling efficiencies were higher for p-doping than for n-doping, with values in the range of 99.58 to 99.70% charge retained per cycle.
Testing the Surge: Why Did Violence Decline in Iraq in 2007?

Why did violence decline in Iraq in 2007? Many policymakers and scholars credit the “surge,” or the program of U.S. reinforcements and doctrinal changes that began in January 2007. Others cite the voluntary insurgent stand-downs of the Sunni Awakening or say that the violence had simply run its course with the end of a wave of sectarian cleansing; still others credit an interaction between the surge and the Awakening. The difference matters for policy and scholarship, yet this debate has not moved from hypothesis to test. An assessment of the competing claims based on recently declassified data on violence at local levels and information gathered from seventy structured interviews with coalition participants finds little support for the cleansing or Awakening theses. Instead, a synergistic interaction between the surge and the Awakening was required for violence to drop as quickly and widely as it did: both were necessary; neither was sufficient. U.S. policy thus played an important role in reducing the v...
Chemical spray pyrolysis deposition and characterization of p-type CuCr1−xMgxO2 transparent oxide semiconductor thin films

Abstract A chemical spray pyrolysis technique for deposition of p-type Mg-doped CuCrO 2 transparent oxide semiconductor thin films using metaloorganic precursors is described. As-deposited films contain mixed spinel CuCr 2 O 4 and delafossite CuCrO 2 structural phases. Reduction in spinel CuCr 2 O 4 fraction and formation of highly crystalline films with single phase delafossite CuCrO 2 structure is realized by annealing at temperatures ⩾700 °C in argon. A mechanism of synthesis of CuCrO 2 films involving precursor decomposition, oxidation and reaction between constituent oxides in the spray deposition process is presented. Post-annealed CuCr 0.93 Mg 0.07 O 2 thin films show high (⩾80%) visible transmittance and sharp absorption at band gap energy with direct and indirect optical band gaps 3.11 and 2.58 eV, respectively. Lower (∼450 °C) substrate temperature formed films are amorphous and yield lower direct (2.96 eV) and indirect (2.23 eV) band gaps after crystallization. Electrical conductivity of CuCr 0.93 Mg 0.07 O 2 thin films ranged 0.6–1 S cm −1 and hole concentration ∼2×10 19 cm −3 determined from Seebeck analysis. Temperature dependence of conductivity exhibit activation energies ∼0.11 eV in 300–470 K and ∼0.23 eV in ⩾470 K region ascribed to activated conduction and grain boundary trap assisted conduction, respectively. Heterojunction diodes of the structure Au/n-(ZnO)/p-(CuCr 0.93 Mg 0.07 O 2 )/SnO 2 (TCO) were fabricated which show potential for transparent wide band gap junction device.
On the excitation of long nonlinear water waves by a moving pressure distribution

A study is made of the wave disturbance generated by a localized steady pressure distribution travelling at a speed close to the long-water-wave phase speed on water of finite depth. The linearized equations of motion are first used to obtain the large-time asymptotic behaviour of the disturbance in the far field; the linear response consists of long waves with temporally growing amplitude, so that the linear approximation eventually breaks down owing to finite-amplitude effects. A nonlinear theory is developed which shows that the generated waves are actually of bounded amplitude, and are governed by a forced Korteweg-de Vries equation subject to appropriate asymptotic initial conditions. A numerical study of the forced Korteweg-de Vries equation reveals that a series of solitons are generated in front of the pressure distribution.
Limited family structure and breast cancer risk.

To the Editor: In their study of limited family structure and breast cancer risk, Dr Weitzel and colleagues showed that women with early onset breast cancer and without a relevant family history may be at higher risk of carrying a BRCA mutation than is generally understood. However, we believe that the authors exaggerate the inadequacy of the BRCAPRO predictive model for women with limited family structure and that their proposed correction is subject to biases that make it unlikely to be validated with future data. By virtue of its mendelian construction, BRCAPRO properly accounts for family structure, family size, sex differences in penetrance, and missing data. It will predict the proportion of carriers correctly (ie, be calibrated), provided that the inheritance model and its parameters are correctly specified. The authors focus on individuals with early onset breast cancer and no family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Members of the adequate-family-structure group are at lower genetic risk than those in the limited-structure group because their family histories contain no cancers by design. Hence, the larger proportion of carriers observed among women with limited family structure is entirely expected and reassuring. However, the proportions of carriers observed within adequate-structure and limitedstructure families are close to their mean BRCAPRO probabilities—within 1 SD. Thus, a suggestion that BRCAPRO is not calibrated for single-case families is not statistically supported. The authors use logistic regression to claim that family structure helps predict carrier status even after accounting for BRCAPRO probability; we believe that this is not an appropriate analysis. BRCAPRO probability should have been parameterized as log-odds to be on the same scale as the response variable. When this parameterization is not used, the significance of BRCAPRO is artifactually diminished and the effect of other predictors (such as family structure) substantially overestimated. Also, the proposed correction results in a corrected probability index that can be negative or greater than 100%. Finally, the authors’ proposed correction was built to perform best on the specific data in this study. Despite this, the improvement is small and not statistically significant. Furthermore, the correction is not based on a theory of inheritance. For these reasons, we are skeptical about its ability to perform better than uncorrected BRCAPRO in subsequent validations.
An investigation of the N-demethylation of 3-deoxymorphine and the affinity of the alkylation products to μ, δ, and κ receptors

The N-demethylation of 3-deoxymorphine (1) was investigated using methyl chloroformate and hydrazine. 3-Deoxynormorphine (2) was obtained in 70% yield, and 3-deoxydihydronormorphine (3) was also obtained as a side product. The mu, delta, and kappa receptor binding affinity of a series of N-substituted 3-deoxynormorphines 6 and 7 and N-substituted 3-deoxydihydronormorphines 8-11 was also determined.
Design automation methodology for improving the variability of synthesized digital circuits operating in the sub/near-threshold regime

Ultra-low power digital circuit design using sub-threshold supply voltages has recently been popularized for energy-constrained systems, sensor networks and bio-sensor applications. The conventional method to improve digital circuit operation in the sub-threshold region is to design every logic cell manually, requiring complete re-design and re-characterization for every process node. This proposed work introduces a computational design automation that tests every cell in a standard cell library for proper operation in the sub-threshold region, eliminating cells that perform poorly. The result of this culling process is improved sub-/near-threshold operation for any standard cell library, improving delay, area, and energy. Monte-Carlo simulation results of a synthesized 90nm-CMOS Floating-Point Adder verifies improved mean timing delay (32%) and overall energy per computation (37%) of the culled standard cell library design over a regular synthesized design.
One Type of Security in Retrospect

The case for capitalizing large firms solely with ordinary shares (common stock) is extended by rebutting the arguments of Williams and Finlay (1983) that common stock is obsolete. An account of the historical origins of the supporting elements of the one-security plan is provided. Of the arguments and evidence to be presented, some will be recapitulations of points made earlier and some will be additional.
A phased approach to collision hazard analysis

Abstract An analysis tool is proposed which evaluates the hazard to operational satellites from neighboring breakup events. The debris cloud from a satellite fragmentation is modelled as three concentric, overlapping clouds. The evolution of this debris cloud is represented in three distinct phases which in turn determines the resulting collision hazard to satellites at risk. This model, SCREEN, provides an efficient and robust method for quantifying the hazard to operational satellites from the fragmentation of other space systems. Use of SCREEN shows that a time independent hazard assessment is sufficient for many satellite systems.
Error analysis of burst level modeling of active-idle sources

It is often not feasible to simulate high-speed networks at the packet level. One common technique for simulation speedup is to model traffic at coarser timescales, which we refer to as the abstract simulation. In this article, we analyze the sources for the accuracy degradation in abstract simulation. Specifically, we consider burst level modeling of active-idle sources and study a queue fed by such sources. The arrival rates vary during active periods. The burst level model assumes constant rates during each active period. Therefore, it can not track queue-length variations within an active period, which leads to the queue-length evaluation error. We study two scenarios. In the first scenario, the queue is always busy whenever the source is on. During each active period, the evolution of the queue length can be viewed as an integration process of the arrival rate. In this case, the error in the mean queue length shows nice properties. It is only determined by the traffic characteristics and does not change with the utilization. In the multiple-flow case, the error is the sum of the errors caused by abstraction on individual flows. We also show that the error does not propagate for tree-like networks or networks with probabilistic routing. In the first scenario, under very general conditions, burst level modeling does not cause significant underevaluation of the queue length. In the second scenario, the queue may empty during on periods of the source. We call these empty periods E intervals. We quantify the error in the mean queue length, which depends on the numbers, lengths, and positions of the E intervals. The burst level model significantly underevaluates the queue length if such intervals occur often. High utilizations, strong traffic burstiness at the active-idle level, and small arrival granularity tend to reduce such occurrences and the error in the mean queue length. This explains why these conditions favor traffic modeling at coarser timescales. Our findings are not limited to the specific traffic sources and the time-abstraction techniques. Instead, they shed light on the conditions needed for abstract models to deliver evaluation fidelity in a general context.
Negative-pressure wound therapy in the management of diabetic Charcot foot and ankle wounds

As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus continues to rise, innovative medical and surgical treatment options have increased dramatically to address diabetic-related foot and ankle complications. Among the most challenging clinical case scenarios is Charcot neuroarthropathy associated with soft tissue loss and/or osteomyelitis. In this review article, the authors present a review of the most common utilizations of negative-pressure wound therapy as an adjunctive therapy or combined with plastic surgery as it relates to the surgical management of diabetic Charcot foot and ankle wounds.
Open inferior vena caval anastomosis during bicaval heart transplantation

Performing a precise inferior vena caval (IVC) anastomosis during bicaval orthotopic heart transplantation can sometimes be challenging because of crowding of the operative field by the venous cannula and tourniquet. We performed bicaval orthotopic heart transplantation in 10 patients using an open IVC anastomotic technique with vacuum-assisted venous drainage. A long venous cannula was passed into the IVC through the femoral vein. The IVC anastomosis was performed after removing the IVC tourniquet under vacuum-assisted venous drainage. A precise edge-to-edge IVC anastomosis was successfully performed in all patients. This technique may result in greater anastomotic precision and improved outcomes.
Biodiversity loss in Appalachian headwater streams (Kentucky, USA): Plecoptera and Trichoptera communities

Government and academic studies indicate that many streams in the Appalachian Mountains have degraded biological communities stemming from a variety of regional landuses. Headwater stonefly (Plecoptera) and caddisfly (Trichoptera) assemblages were assessed between 1999 and 2004 in relation to pervasive landuse disturbances (coal mining and residential) in mountainous areas of eastern Kentucky, USA. Indicator metrics (richness, abundance, tolerance, and an observed/expected (O/E) null model) were compared among 94 sites with different land use pressures including least disturbed reference, residential, mining, and mixed mining and residential categories. Thirty-three stonefly species from 26 genera and 9 families were identified; Leuctra, Acroneuria, Haploperla, and Isoperla comprised the core genera that commonly decreased with disturbance. Caddisflies were represented by 48 species, 32 genera, and 14 families. Core caddisfly genera (Neophylax, Pycnopsyche, Rhyacophila, Lepidostoma, and Wormaldia) were extirpated from most disturbed sites. Species richness was significantly higher at reference sites and reference site mean tolerance value was lowest compared to all other categories; relative abundance of both orders was variable between disturbance groups. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (for riffle-dwelling stonefly and caddisfly genera) clustered reference sites distinctly from most other sites. The O/E index was highly correlated with individual habitat and chemical stressors (pH, conductivity) and on average, it estimated ~ 70% loss of common stoneflies and caddisflies across all disturbed landuse categories. Expected plecopteran and trichopteran communities were radically altered in streams draining mining and residential disturbance. Long-term impacts incurred by both landuses will continue to depress these vulnerable indigenous fauna.
Testing for agglomeration and dispersion

Abstract This article proposes a statistical test for determining whether agents in discrete locations are more agglomerated or disperse than predicted by independent random choice.
WE‐E‐J‐6C‐06: Proton Treatment Planning for Mobile Lung Tumors

Purpose: Traditional treatment planning methods may lead to lung proton treatment plans in which the apparent and actual dose distributions may be significantly different due to respiratory motion. We are developing strategies for designing compensator-based 3D proton treatment plans using 4D CTs (composed of 3D CTs at a sequence of respiratory phases) for mobile lung tumors and assessing the validity of these strategies using 4D dose computation methods. Method and Materials: 4D CTs for a population of lung cancer patients were used to obtain tumor targets and critical structures. The internal target volume (ITV) was the composite of target volumes on the 4D CT. For each patient, we evaluated four compensator design and planning strategies based on (1) the average CT obtained by averaging all phases of the 4D CT; (2) free breathing CT; (3) maximum intensity projection (MIP) CT; and (4) the average CT with the CT numbers inside the tumor volume replaced by the corresponding MIP CT numbers. For each strategy, the resulting apparent dose distribution was compared with the corresponding 4D dose distribution computed by deforming dose distributions of each phase to the reference phase and summing. Results: The composite 4D dose coverage of the target was significantly superior for method (4) while normal tissue doses were slightly higher though well below the limits. A seemingly conservative compensator design using MIP for the entire image, not just the target volume (Method 3), resulted in poor proximal target coverage due to over-estimation of the densities of intervening tissues. Conclusion: 3D proton plans based on the CT obtained by averaging the 3D CTs comprising the 4D CT, and with the CT numbers in the tumor volume replaced by the corresponding MIP CT numbers, is an effective approach to achieve good tumor coverage and acceptable normal tissue sparing.
Healing the Healer: Stress and Coping Strategies in the Field of Temporary Medical Work

Temporary medical workers provide a vital role for the medical profession. These individuals, however, occupy a unique work arrangement as professional-specific temporary workers. Temporary medical workers often find themselves bearing the burdens of both medical workers and temporary workers. In partnership with the largest medical temporary agency in the United States, we content analyzed the responses of 86 medical temporary workers, geared at uncovering the primary stressors and coping strategies this sample enacted. Our findings concluded that temporary medical workers experienced stressors associated with both their medical and temporary roles, although more stressors were associated with temporary work than with medical care. Participants also relied heavily on coping strategies that allowed them to avoid these stressors.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polymer Nanoparticle Collisions: Internal Reorganization and Translation−Vibration Coupling

The dynamics of collisions of polymer particles is discussed in some detail. Particular attention is paid to the development of inter- and intraparticle potentials and to the apparent oscillatory behavior in the center-of-mass separation coordinate for the two particles. It is shown that the center-of-mass separation coordinate is closely coupled to the other vibrational coordinates and that vibrations in the center-of-mass separation are coupled to the intraparticle reorganization. The high degree of coupling between the translational and vibrational motions leads to a large degree of translational to vibrational energy exchange and leads to a strong propensity of particle collisions to result in attachment and particle dimer formation.
Cardiovascular exercise intervention improves the primary antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in previously sedentary older adults

Based upon a prior cross-sectional study, we hypothesized that an aerobic exercise intervention in sedentary older adults would improve a primary T cell-dependent immune response. Participants were a subset of older subjects from a large, ongoing exercise intervention study who were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise (Cardio, n=30, 68.9+0.8 years) or flexibility/balance (Flex, n=20, 69.9+1.2 years) intervention. The intervention consisted of either three aerobic sessions for 30-60 min at 55-70% VO(2 max) or two 60 min flexibility/balance sessions weekly for 10 months. Eight months into the intervention, samples were collected before intramuscular administration of KLH (125 microg), followed by sampling at 2, 3, and 6 weeks post-KLH. Serum anti-KLH IgM, IgG1, and IgG2 was measured by ELISA. Physiological and psychosocial measures were also assessed pre- and post-intervention. While there was no difference in the anti-KLH IgG2 response between groups, Cardio displayed significantly (p<0.05) higher anti-KLH IgG1 (at weeks 2, 3, and 6 post) and IgM responses when compared to Flex. Despite cardiovascular intervention-induced improvement in physical fitness (approximately 11% vs. 1% change in VO(2 peak) in Cardio vs. Flex, respectively), we found no relationship between improved fitness and enhanced anti-KLH antibody responses. Optimism, perceived stress, and affect were all associated with enhanced immune response. We have shown for the first time that cardiovascular training in previously sedentary elderly results in significantly higher primary IgG1 and IgM antibody responses, while having no effect on IgG2 production.
Electrodeposition of Ni in Submicrometer Trenches

A survey of the effect of cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants on the rate and morphological evolution of nickel electrodeposition is presented. Attention is given to the prospect for void-free filling of submicrometer trenches. Cationic species such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) and cetyl-trimethyl-ammoniuin (CTA +) yield significant inhibition of nickel deposition. For a range of concentrations the single cationic surfactant systems exhibit hysteretic voltammetric curves that, when corrected for ohmic electrolyte losses, reveal an S-shaped negative differential resistance. Void-free bottom-up superconformal feature filling is observed when operating at potentials within the hysteretic regime whereby metal deposition begins preferentially in the most densely patterned regions of the wafer followed by propagation of the growth front laterally across the wafer surface. In contrast, at low overpotentials and concentrations, sulfur-bearing additives such as thiourea (TU) exert a depolarizing effect on nickel deposition and negligible hysteresis. When PEI and TU are both present, the suppression provided by PEI is diminished and feature filling leads to uniform deposition on the wafer scale. Suitable combinations of PEI and TU enable near void-free filling of ≥230 nm wide trenches with sloping (∼3.5°) sidewalls. Initial conformal growth is followed by geometric leveling once the deposits on the sloping sidewalls meet.
Vocal release time: a quantification of vocal offset.

Summary Objective To determine the vocal release time (VRT) for linguistically unconstrained voice offsets in a healthy young adult population. Study Design Sound pressure (SP) and electroglottographic (EGG) recordings were obtained for 57 female and 55 male subjects while producing multiple tokens of three tasks (sustained /ɑ:/, “always,” and “hallways”) at comfortable pitch and loudness. Methods SP and EGG signals were digitally time reversed and generalized sinusoidal models of the SP and EGG signals were obtained to compare rates of amplitude change. VRT was computed from the time lag of the cross-correlation function. Results Adjusted mean VRT values were significantly greater for females than for males. There was no systematic effect of age on VRT. However, 25–29-year old and >40 year old females showed shorter VRT values than the youngest female age group. Conclusions Normative data are presented for a new measure of the duration of vocal offset, VRT. Acquisition of this measure requires little user intervention, thereby minimizing effects of subjective decision making. Comparison with previously reported vocal attack time (VAT) values for the same population suggests phenomenological differences between linguistically and physiologically constrained voice onsets and unconstrained voice offsets.
Theory of fuzzy limits

Theory of limits is the base of the classical mathematical analysis (the calculus). In a similar way, theory of fuzzy limits, presented in this paper, is the base of neoclassical analysis, which is a new branch of fuzzy mathematics and extends possibilities provided by classical analysis. The concepts of a fuzzy limit of a sequence and a fuzzy limit of a function are introduced and studied.
Possibility of Solitions with Charge ± e/2 in Highily Correlated 1:2 Salts of Tetracyanoqutnodimethane (TCNQ)

Abstract Solitons with fractional charge ± e/2 might be experimentally realized in the highly correlated 1:2 salts of TCNQ if the quarter filled TCNQ chains of these compounds correspond to linear Hubbard chanins dominated by the on-site Coulomb repulsion. The low-teperature current carrying excitations of the TCNQ chains would consist of thermally activated pairs of such fractionally charged solitons. The addition of a single electron to a TCNQ chain would lead to the formation of two identical solitons with half-integer charge.
Photoinduced catalytic adsorption of model contaminants on Bi/Cu pillared montmorillonite in the visible light range

Abstract Montmorillonite K10 clay was pillared with BiCl 3 and Cu(NO 3 ) 2 to extend its applicability as catalytic adsorbent to degrade aqueous solution of anionic azo-dye methyl orange (MO) in the presence of visible light irradiation. The preparation of Bi/Cu-montmorillonite utilized benign precursors, mild reaction conditions and avoided the use of organic solvents. The as-prepared catalytic adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Surface morphology was evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with EDS. The solution phase photocatalytic activity was assessed by the degradation of a relevant concentration of MO and dichlorophenol (DCP) in the presence of visible light irradiation from 300 W metal halogen desk lamp. Bi/Cu-pillared montmorillonite completely destroyed and bleached MO (initial concentration of 160 mg L −1 after adsorption in the dark) and completely degraded DCP (initial concentration of 86 mg L −1 after adsorption in the dark) in 120 and 240 min, respectively. It was also observed that the most effective dosage for the removal of MO and DCP, respectively, was 1 g L −1 (98% and 95% removal efficiencies) followed by 0.5 (82% and 70%), 2 (80% and 70%) and 3 g L −1 (75% and 65%). The reaction rates at 1 g L −1 catalyst loadings were k d 2.1 × 10 −2 min −1 and 1.18 × 10 −2 min −1 for MO and DCP, respectively. Total organic carbon (TOC) decreased by 95 and 70% in 120 and 240 min of the treatment when MO and DCP, respectively, were introduced. Actual turnovers (ATON), turnover frequency (TOF) and quantum efficiency ( Q e ) for MO, which was selected as the representative target contaminant for the photo-induced adsorption process, were 12.5, 6.25 h −1 and 43.8%, respectively.
Genetic algorithms applied to the solution of hybrid optimal control problems in astrodynamics

Many space mission planning problems may be formulated as hybrid optimal control problems, i.e. problems that include both continuous-valued variables and categorical (binary) variables. There may be thousands to millions of possible solutions; a current practice is to pre-prune the categorical state space to limit the number of possible missions to a number that may be evaluated via total enumeration. Of course this risks pruning away the optimal solution. The method developed here avoids the need for pre-pruning by incorporating a new solution approach using nested genetic algorithms; an outer-loop genetic algorithm that optimizes the categorical variable sequence and an inner-loop genetic algorithm that can use either a shape-based approximation or a Lambert problem solver to quickly locate near-optimal solutions and return the cost to the outer-loop genetic algorithm. This solution technique is tested on three asteroid tour missions of increasing complexity and is shown to yield near-optimal, and possibly optimal, missions in many fewer evaluations than total enumeration would require.
Molecules that initiate or help stimulate the acrosome reaction by their interaction with the mammalian sperm surface.

This review deals with exogenous molecules that stimulate the acrosome reaction (AR) of mammalian sperm in vitro, presumably by acting at the sperm surface. Such molecules may exert their effect(s) by stimulating capacitation and/or by stimulation or initiation of the AR, and they are probably present at one of three putative in vivo sites (also discussed here) for the AR of a fertilizing sperm: the oviductal fluid, the cumulus oophorus matrix, and the zona pellucida. The molecules discussed include serum albumin, hydrolytic enzymes (particularly proteases); hormones including biogenic amines, estradiol, and arachiodonic acid metabolites; sulfur-containing β-amino acids; glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid; and a zona pellucida glycoprotein. Possible mechanisms to explain the effects of these molecules are also discussed. Several conclusions and suggestions are offered in this review: (1) There is more than one site for the AR of a fertilizing sperm in vitro, depending on experimental conditions and species, but the site(s) at which the AR of a fertilizing sperm occur(s) in vivo is/are still a matter of disagreement; (2) there are a number of molecules that can stimulate or initiate the AR in vitro, and such molecular duplication may also exist in vivo to ensure fertility; and (3) synergistic interaction between some of those exogenous molecules may occur in the stimulation of capacitation and the stimulation or initiation of the AR.
Cutaneous manifestations of systemic infection in children.

Abstract The child with rash and fever presents a particular challenge in the course of practice. Despite the development of many new diagnostic laboratory techniques over the past few decades, it is very often the morphology, distribution, and history of skin disease that allow the dermatologist or pediatrician to correctly evaluate and treat these patients. This review article emphasizes clinical clues that may aid in the diagnosis of a variety of bacterial, rickettsial, spirochetal, and viral infections in children. In addition, there have been a number of recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of several childhood illnesses with cutaneous manifestations. New information related to staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, Lyme disease, fifth disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and human T-cell lymphotropic virus infection is therefore included.
Ein Beitrag zur Ätzung von Fluorit-Spaltflächen

Die Atzmethode als Mittel zur Analyse von Versetzungsnetzwerken im Fluorit wird kritisch erprobt. Die Untersuchungen wurden an Spaltflachen von naturlichem und synthetischem Fluorit durchgefuhrt, wobei als Atzmittel Phosphorsaure, Schwefelsaure, Salzsaure, Salpetersaure, Amidoschwefelsaure, Borsaurelosung und Eisen(III)-chloridlosung mit unterschiedlichen Konzentrationen und bei verschiedenen Temperaturen verwendet wurden. Die Ergebnisse uber die Dichte der Atzgruben, die Korrelation der Angriffsstellen bei verschiedenen Sauren, die Exzentrizitat der Gruben, die Anordnung der Atzfiguren auf korrespondierenden Spaltflachen, die Erzeugung von Atzgruben an Mikroharte-Eindrucken und an Kleinwinkelkorngrenzen bestatigen, das die Atzgruben auf den Spaltflachen von Fluorit an den Austrittspunkten von Versetzungslinien entstehen. The etching method for the study of dislocation networks in fluorite was proved critically. Cleaved surfaces of natural and synthetic fluorite crystals were examined; the etchants used were phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfamic acid, aqueous solutions of boric acid and of FeCl3 at various concentrations and temperatures. The density of etch pits, the relation of the points of attack when different acids were used, the eccentricity of the pits, the arrangement of the etch pits on matching cleavage faces, the formation of the etch pits around microhardness indents and along small-angle grain boundaries confirm the conclusion that the etch pits on the cleaved surfaces of fluorite form at the points of emergence of dislocation lines.
Influence of surface additives (Na and O) on the adsorption and structure of NH3, on Ni(110)

Abstract The structure and kinetics of NH3 interacting with clean and sodium or oxygen-dosed Ni(110) have been studied using ESDIAD (electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution), LEED and thermal desorption spectroscopy. NH3 adsorbs in molecular form at 80 K. No azimuthal ordering is found for molecular NH3 on either clean or O-dosed Ni(110), but NH3 reacts with O above 200 K to form a surface species “inclined” along [001] azimuths, identified as OH(ad). Coadsorption of NH3 with Na causes a reorientation of the molecular axes of the NH3 bonded near Na.
General and illness-specific adjustment to cancer: Relationship to marital status and marital quality

This study examined the relationship between psychological adjustment of adults with cancer and two marital variables: married versus unmarried and high versus low marital quality. Eighty-six married and 46 unmarried adults with cancer completed general and illness-specific measures of psychological adjustment. In general, men and subjects with low marital quality reported more depression and anxiety, a less positive health care orientation, and more illness-induced family difficulties than did women and subjects with high marital quality; unmarried subjects reported more dysphoric thoughts and feelings related to the their illness than did married subjects; and unmarried men reported more disruption in work activities and extended family relationships than did unmarried females or married subjects. Moreover, a greater percentage of unmarried subjects and subjects with low marital quality reported clinically elevated levels of symptomatology compared to those with high marital quality. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Adolescent initiation of drug use: effects of prenatal cocaine exposure.

Abstract Objective To investigate the direct effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on adolescent drug use, while controlling for other predictors of adolescent use. Method Data are from a longitudinal study of PCE in which women and their offspring were assessed throughout childhood. Adolescents were interviewed at 15 years about their age at initiation of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. The sample consisted of 214 adolescents and their caregivers: 50% was of white ethnicity, and 50% African American. Results First trimester cocaine exposure significantly predicted earlier adolescent marijuana and alcohol initiation. The hazard of marijuana and alcohol initiation among exposed adolescents was almost two times greater than among nonexposed adolescents, adjusting for other significant factors. There were no differences in tobacco initiation. Other significant predictors of adolescent drug use were family history of alcohol problems, exposure to violence, and childhood maltreatment. Conclusions Cocaine exposure during early pregnancy was associated with initiation of marijuana and alcohol use. Exposure to violence, childhood maltreatment, and familial factors also predicted adolescent initiation, but did not mitigate the effects of PCE. The combination of these risk factors has significant implications for the development of later substance use, social, and psychiatric problems.
2015: now that our vision is clearer, we realize what is still fuzzy.

This year, our academy has largely focused on our “vision.” What has transpired caused me to recall when I received my first pair of eyeglasses. Many of you sitting in the room wear glasses. For those of you that wear eyeglasses – you probably have a story similar to the one I am about to share.
Social Guardianship and Social Isolation: An Application and Extension of Lifestyle/Routine Activities Theory to Rural Adolescents*

Although the overall crime rate dropped between 1993 and 2000, both adolescent violence and violent crime in rural areas has been on the rise. However, little research has been conducted on the determinants of rural violence using targeted regional samples of rural youth. This study examines the applicability of lifestyle/routine activities (RA) theory to a large sample of rural adolescents from Alabama. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that: (1) social guardianship reduces the risk of assault and robbery victimization; (2) blacks are less likely to be assault and robbery victims; and (3) males are less likely to be robbery victims. Social isolation at the individual level is also a strong risk factor for both robbery and assault victimization. The theoretical implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Free radicals, malonaldehyde and protein damage in lipid-protein systems.

The free radical concentration in lipid-protein mixtures with a low moisture content was monitored both during and after the time that the lipid actively absorbed oxygen. The data show that, in dry systems, the decay in radical content is followed by a rise in malonaldehyde protein fluorescence. Analysis of amino acid content at two distinctly different periods in the reaction substantiate the hypothesis that radicals and not aldehydes are a major cause of protein damage.
Low-sidelobe phased array characteristics using planar near-field scanning

A low-sidelobe phased-array antenna was investigated both theoretically and experimentally using the planar near-field scanning technique at a distance of less than one wavelength from the antenna aperture. The theory was applied to a monopole phased array, and it was shown that a theoretical V-dipole probe can accurately model the observed experimental array performance using a waveguide probe. The presence of nonpropagating grating lobes in the plane-wave spectrum has been observed using theory and measurements. Results indicate that the near-field sample spacing must be chosen such that aliases of the grating lobes do not appear in the visible space region. The theory presented can also be applied in the radiating near-field region and to other array thin-wire elements such as dipoles. >
Plasma Interaction With a Static Spatially Periodic Electromagnetic Field

Initial research on a static electromagnetic “force field” is presented. The force field consists of a planar sequence of magnetic cusps that are electrostatically plugged. Electrostatic plugging with applied potential variations that are similar to those applied to one side of a nested Penning trap allows a force field to reflect incident charged particles of either signs of charge. Experimental and computational results are reported.
Combining classifiers for multisensor data fusion

Learn++ was recently introduced as an ensemble of classifiers based incremental learning algorithm, capable of retaining formerly acquired knowledge while learning novel information content from new datasets without requiring access to any of the previously seen data. In this contribution, we discuss the conceptual similarity between incremental learning and data fusion, the latter also requiring learning from new data, albeit composed of a different set of features. Following the technical description of the algorithm, we present our recent promising results on a realworld data fusion application of non-destructive evaluation for pipeline defect identification.