cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Internal Wave Driven Dynamo in Accretion Disks

We present the results of recent work on a model of angular momentum transport in thin, ionized, accretion disks. In particular, we consider three physical effects, each of which can be represented in terms of a local MHD mode in such a disk. First, we discuss the generation and propagation of internal modes within accretion disks, pointing out certain features which make them particularly promising as the driving force behind a strong, fast dynamo in accretion disks. Second, we point ou that the magnetic shearing instability (MSI) first discussed by Velikhov, and more recently by Balbus and Hawley in the specific context of these disks, provides a natural saturation mechanism for any disk dynamo, leading to an approximate equality between the dimensionless viscosity and the ratio of the dynamo growth rate to the local shear. Third, we argue that magnetic buoyancy is largely suppressed by the turbulence generated by the shearing instability. This prevents it from removing magnetic flux from the disk any faster than random turbulent diffusion. We find that the dimensionless viscosity α scales as (H/r)4/3, where H is the disk height and r is its radius.
Effect of withdrawal of calcium and vitamin D supplements on bone mass in elderly men and women.

Background: Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D reduces bone loss and prevents fractures in elderly people, but it is not known whether any lasting benefit remains if the supplements are discontinued. Objective: The objective was to determine whether gains in bone mineral density (BMD) induced by calcium and vitamin D supplementation persist after supplement withdrawal. Design: Two-hundred ninety-five healthy, elderly men and women (aged ≥68 y) who had completed a 3-y randomized, placebo-controlled trial of calcium and vitamin D supplementation were followed for an additional 2 y during which no study supplements were given. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and biochemical variables related to calcium metabolism and bone turnover were measured. Results: In the 128 men, supplement-induced increases in spinal and femoral neck BMD were lost within 2 y of supplement discontinuation, but small benefits in total-body BMD remained. In the 167 women, there were no lasting benefits in total-body BMD or at any bone site. Consistent with the observations on BMD, the bone turnover rates in both men and women (as measured by serum osteocalcin concentrations) returned to their original higher concentrations within the same 2-y period. Conclusion: Discontinued calcium and vitamin D supplementation has limited cumulative effect on bone mass in men and women aged ≥68 y.
Should patients with chronic hepatitis C who have normal ALT levels be treated

Up to 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C have persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Reports from some studies indicate that patients with normal ALT levels are more likely to be female and nondrinkers. Patients with persistently normal aminotransferase levels often have mild disease on liver biopsy with little or no fibrosis, but a small number of patients may have substantial fibrosis or cirrhosis. Treatment with interferon monotherapy has been disappointing. Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin is controversial, but early clinical results have shown good response rates. Currently, therapy for chronic HCV patients with normal ALT levels should be based upon results from liver biopsy and preferably be done in the context of a clinical trial.
Effect of Folic Acid on Amino Acid Metabolism in Pyridoxine Unresponsive Homocystinurics

Plasma folate levels were measured in 3 homocystinurics and found to be <1 ng/ml (normal 5–10 ng/ml). All were on unrestricted, constant protein diets while 2 (A and B) were taking anticonvulsants for seizure control. Patient A had anemia (8.0 G% hemoglobin) and macrocytosis that responded to folic acid. B had macrocytosis but no anemia while C had neither. Plasma folate levels ranged from 14–20 ng/ml after therapy. Within 3 months of discontinuing folic acid in B and C their blood folates had fallen to 2.0 and 2.6 ng/ml. Plasma B12 levels and excretion of methyl-malonate were normal. Plasma and urine amino acids responded to folic acid as noted in the table: Methylation of homocystine to methionine requires folic acid. Many homocystinurics may increase methylation to methionine thereby requiring more folate and increasing glycine as a result of demethylation of serine. Some homocystinurics may require long-term folic acid supplementation (A and B) whereas others are unresponsive either biochemically or hematologically (C). (Supported in part by USPHS grants AM-02231 and HD-04837.)
Wrinkling and Free Vibration of Catenary-Supported Thin Membranes

This paper is concerned with the wrinkling and free vibration analysis of catenary supported membranes. In the development, the use is made of a two-variable-parameter (2VP) model for the thin-film membrane, and tensioned bar model for the catenary support. The entire membrane structure is assembled through reinforcement of a shear-free constraint between the membrane and the supporting catenary, which leads to a global dynamic equation governing the free vibration of the catenary-supported membrane. The natural frequencies and modes shapes of the membrane are then computed. The proposed modeling and solution technique is illustrated in a numerical example.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Using Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing to Measure Ground Surface Temperature in Thinned and Unthinned Forests

Abstract Studies of forest meteorology are often conducted at the stand level, but few studies examine temperature heterogeneity within stands. Differences in canopy structure, whether caused by species composition or disturbances, introduce variation in the amount of light reaching the forest floor, which in turn introduces variation in forest floor temperatures. Furthermore, in temperate latitudes, canopy openings cast light on the forest floor in complex patterns depending on the path of the sun throughout one day and throughout the season. We installed two temperature measurement devices in control, gap, and thinning treatments to capture both the time structure and spatial variability of forest floor temperature. We compared air temperatures measured by meteorological stations to spatially continuous ground surface temperatures measured along 760 m of fiber-optic cable. Using the principle of Raman spectra distributed temperature sensing, we inferred temperature at 1 m intervals along the fiber-optic...
Carcinoma of the breast in three siblings

Reported are three siblings, a sister and 2 brothers, who had breast cancer. The paternal grandmother of the proband was known to have had breast cancer. It is our belief that this report supports further the genetic etiology of certain breast cancers. The study examines the literature with regard to genetically transmitted female breast cancer and also implies a genetic etiology of male breast cancer. Of special interest is the fact that the female sibling had bilateral breast cancer during her premenopausal years and that one of the two brothers also developed his lesion at an early age, 41 years.
Effects of alkali-earth cations on sympathetic ganglion cells of the rabbit

Abstract The neurons of rabbit superior cervical ganglion were rapidly depolarized when the Na ions of the perfusing solution were replaced by Ba ions. This action of Ba was abolished by pretreating the ganglion with d-tubocurarine (10−5 g/ml) and atropine (10−6 g/ml). Ca and Mg ions when replaced for the Na ions did not provoke such a depolarization, whereas Sr ions elicited a slowly progressive depolarization. In a Na-free Ba solution, ganglion cells were able to produce prolonged action potentials (Ba spikes), but they were rendered inexcitable in a Na-free Ca, Sr, or Mg solution. The peak potential of Ba spikes was linearly proportional to the logarithm of [Ba]o. Tetrodotoxin (5 × 10−5 g/ml) and procaine (5 × 10−3 g/ml) did not noticeably alter the Ba spike. The results provide a characteristic difference of the mammalian ganglion cell membrane from the amphibian one, as the latter is excitable in Na-free media containing either Ca, Sr, or Ba ions.
DEVELOPING CULTURALLY COMPETENT MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS: GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH HISPANIC FAMILIES

As the Hispanic population of the United States continues to grow, so will the need for therapists who have been trained to work with Hispanic families. This content analysis of the available treatment literature generated several specific guidelines that can be used in training and evaluating culturally competent therapists. Guidelines included: Use family therapy, act as advocate for the family, assess immigration experience, assess acculturation, respect father, interview family subsystems separately, do not force changes, provide concrete suggestions, and warmly engage the family. Empirical and conceptual support for each guideline is discussed and several conclusions are made regarding culturally competent therapy with Hispanic families.
Hematological response of rabbits to chronic, repetitive, severe bleedings for the production of antisera

Abstract A study was undertaken to determine whether large amounts of blood (antiserum) could be rapidly removed from rabbits over a two-month period using a simple suction technique. It was found that half a blood volume could be rapidly removed each week (over 900 ml/rabbit/54 days)_without a single fatability. The rabbits efficiently replaced the essential components of their blood during the experimental period as shown by a study of their blood parameters. They moderately overcompensated in replacing some of their blood components after a 6-week rest period. The study demonstrates that rabbits are satisfactory (in lieu of larger animals) for supplying relatively large amounts of antisera.
A scalable memory interface for multicore reconfigurable computing systems

Embedded multicore devices require high performance with minimal power consumption; many systems use dedicated hardware units to meet these constraints. However, embedded systems have also become increasingly multi-purpose and must be able to execute a wide range of applications — some of which might not yet be known at design time. It is therefore difficult to choose an appropriate mix of dedicated hardware that meets a device's size, cost, and capability constraints. A reconfigurable hardware coprocessor is a potential solution, as it is highly effective at accelerating a variety of different tasks (which need not necessarily be known in advance), and does so using less energy than general purpose processors. In this work, we first describe a method for sharing a single reconfigurable fabric amongst multiple processors on the same chip. We then examine the scalability of the memory subsystem that joins these resources, and determine methods to improve its performance to maximize acceleration. In this work, we show that our RH coprocessor model allows multiple applications to share a single RH fabric. Furthermore, we show that application performance does not significantly degrade as we increase the number of cores sharing a single coprocessor.
The harmful, nontherapeutic use of animals in research is morally wrong.

It is argued that using animals in research is morally wrong when the research is nontherapeutic and harmful to the animals. This article discusses methods of moral reasoning and discusses how arguments on this and other bioethical issues might be defended and critiqued. A basic method of moral argument analysis is presented and used to show that common objections to the view that “animal research is morally wrong” fail: ie, common arguments for the view that “animal research is morally permissible” are demonstrably unsound or in need of defense. It is argued that the best explanations why harmful, nontherapeutic research on human beings is wrong, ie, what it is about humans that makes such experimentation wrong, apply to many animals as well. Thus, harmful and nontherapeutic animal experimentation is wrong for reasons similar to the reasons that harmful and nontherapeutic human experimentation is wrong.
Crossing disciplinary boundaries

Re-reading Elinor (Lin) Ostrom’s ‘Collective Action and the Evolution of Social Norms’ (2000) provided the opportunity for me to review my own evolution of thinking about public goods and common po...
Assessing game-themed programming assignments for CS1/2 courses

We have designed and implemented game-themed programming assignment modules targeted specifically for adoption in existing introductory programming classes. These assignments are self-contained, so that faculty members with no background in graphics/gaming can selectively pick and choose a subset to combine with their own assignments in existing classes. This paper begins with a survey of previous results, followed by a description of the game-themed assignment modules. The paper then focuses on our efforts in assessing the assignments: including details of the procedures and instruments for evaluating student achievement of learning outcomes and attitudes towards the assignments, as well as the extra effort required of faculty to adopt the assignments in existing clases.
Measuring perinatal complications: methodologic issues related to gestational age.

Perinatal outcomes differ by week of gestational age. However, it appears that how measures to examine these outcomes vary among various studies. The current paper explores how perinatal complications are reported and how they might differ when different denominators, numerators, and comparison groups are utilized.
Dopant deactivation: A new challenge in sub-20nm scaled FinFETs

Recently, dopant deactivation (DD) based resistance increase in Si nanowires surrounded by low-k insulator has been experimentally demonstrated. Source/drain extension confined by low-k spacer in scaled fins for sub-20nm FinFET are susceptible to such series resistance increase due to DD. In this paper, we implement DD into experimentally calibrated TCAD simulations of FinFETs and analyze the impact of DD on device performance with scaling for the first time. We show that the performance advantage with scaling is highly degraded in sub-20nm gate length node (e.g. at 8nm node the on-current degrades by more than 50% by adding DD correction). We further propose an optimal high-k spacer due to a DD mitigation vs. gate capacitance reduction trade-off (contrary to the present trend of spacer k-minimization based on only capacitance reduction considerations). We demonstrate that optimal higher-k spacer dielectric improves performance for technology nodes from 22nm to 8nm, e.g. optimized spacer can lead to 116% increase in ON current and 30% reduction in intrinsic delay for 8nm FinFET compared to low-k spacers. In fact, optimized high-k spacer can restore FinFET performance to DD-uncorrected prediction levels at 8nm node.
Digital media in computer science curricula

"Digital media" is one of those unfortunate terms that means different things in different contexts. This difficulty of definition -- along with its association with art, communication, architecture, and film -- puts digital media on the margins of traditional computer science curricula. This paper reviews the types of digital media programs current in higher education; proposes a curriculum model for digital media instruction that is firmly grounded in computer science at the same time that it interfaces easily with digital art; and describes specially-designed course material that serves the interdisciplinary need while preserving the rigor of the computer science discipline.
Interaction between surface mass transfer and transverse curvature in natural convection boundary layers

Abstract The heat transfer characteristics for natural convection about an isothermal vertical cylinder with surface mass transfer (blowing or suction) have been determined by analysis. The problem was formulated by applying the local nonsimilarity method, and solutions were obtained by a numerical scheme which employs integrated forms of the governing differential equations. Numerical solutions were carried out for a wide range of values of parameters which respectively characterize the transverse curvature of the cylinder and the magnitude and sign of the surface mass transfer. The Prandtl number was varied between 0.01 and 10. It was found that the local Nusselt numbers for a vertical cylinder are less sensitive to surface mass transfer than are those for a vertical plate. The sensitivity of both the cylinder and the plate Nusselt numbers to the mass transfer is diminished at low Prandtl numbers and increased at high Prandtl numbers.
eRulemaking: Issues in Current Research and Practice

Abstract A rich and challenging dialogue about the shape of eRulemaking is underway. While in its infancy, an interdisciplinary research community has formed to assess and inform the development of information technologies that serve the public and rule writers. To date, little is actually known about whether this transition is likely to benefit or degrade the role of public participation. As with all policy innovation, particularly technologically determined innovation, the risk of unintended consequences is present. While the Internet may usher in a new era of more inclusive, deliberative, and legally defensible rulemaking, it may be just as likely to reinforce existing inequalities, or worse, create new pitfalls for citizens wishing and entitled to influence the decision-making process. This article examines the origin of Regulations.Gov, a federal Web portal, in the context of recent literature on public participation, and federally funded research into impact of eRulemaking. It draws on workshop, int...
Triacylglycerol assembly from binary mixtures of fatty acids byApiotrichum curvatum

To observe how the stereospecific distribution of acyl groups in triglycerides is affected by the composition of fatty acids available for esterification, the oleaginous yeastApiotrichum curvatum was grown on various binary mixture of palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids as carbon sources, and the yeast triglycerides were analyzed. When oleic acid-linoleic acid mixtures in various ratios were used as substrates, the yeast grew well, and the composition of the intracellular triglycerides reflected the substrate composition, but more linoleate than oleate was deposited in the triglycerides. Oleate was favored over linoleate at thesn-2 position of the glycerol. With substrates containing palmitic and stearic acids, the yeast accumulated less oil, and incorporation of stearic acid into the triglycerides also was very limited. When mixtures of palmitic acid-oleic acid and palmitic acid-linoleic acid were used as substrates, the yeast triglyceride composition did not reflect that of the substrate, and the accumulation in the yeast of the unsaturated acid in the substrate was favored. Possibly, the yeast had more limited access to solid than to liquid substrates. For oleic acid-linoleic acid substrates, when the percentages of oleate and linoleate at the three glycerol positions were plottedvs. the percentage of these acyl groups in the total triglyceride, apparent linear relations were observed for most of the range, and the sums of the intercepts and slopes of the three lines for each acyl group were 0 and 3, respectively. Two mathematical models of triglyceride assembly are proposed, both of which fit the experimental data. One model assumes that for a certain proportion of the glycerol molecules, the acyl composition of the threesn positions is rigidly controlled independently of the substrate concentration. The other assumes that the various acyl groups are distributed on the threesn positions of glycerol with different affinities.
The evolution of metanorms: quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

How are norms maintained? Axelrod (in Am. Political Sci. Rev. 80(4): 1095---1111, 1986) used an evolutionary computational model to proffer a solution: the metanorm (norm to enforce norm enforcement). Although often discussed, this model has neither been sufficiently replicated nor explored. In this paper we replicate and extend that model. Results were generally supportive of the original. Speculations in the original regarding the requirement to link sanctions underlying the metanorm structure were not supported, as differentiating punishment likelihoods against defectors from punishment likelihoods against shirkers (non-enforcers of the norm against defection) lead to more efficient and effective sanctioning structures that allowed norm emergence. Replications of the Groups game (two groups differing in numbers and power) generally supported the original reports, but true norms against defection emerged only if sanctioning structures were differentiated, resulting in the Strong group developing a dominant norm against others defecting (Metavengeance). That is, when groups are involved with differential power, Metanorms fail unless a more sophisticated sanctioning structure (Metavengeance) is supported.
Reference Frame Management and its Application to Reducing Numerical Error in Simulation

This paper examines novel methods for the definition and management of reference frames in simulation software architectures. Reference frames are critical to aerospace dynamic models: they define the motion parameters of the vehicles and can affect model fidelity and numerical error within the simulation. This paper documents how reference frames can be defined as unique entities within the simulation software architecture, and how they can be centrally managed to create a shared simulation environment. The reference frame manager provides a central mechanism for transformations between reference frames and for selection of reference frames during runtime to meet fidelity requirements. The reference frame manager can also introduce intermediate frames that reduce numerical error by several orders of magnitude at very small time steps. This result can ensure a large degree of numerical accuracy in long-duration simulation runs, expanding the potential use of computer-based simulation in the aerospace industry. Nomenclature
Water-Rock interaction in the Long Valley Caldera (USA)☆

Water-rock interactions within the main thermal aquifer in the Long Valley Caldera are evaluated using water chemistry data from a new suite of samples. The results reflect the impact of increased geothermal production and major CO2 loss, which appears to drive calcite precipitation in the aquifer. The study provides qualitative information on the rates of mineral reactions and the response times of chemical geothermometers to declining temperatures.
Association of Xylella fastidiosa with leaf scorch in Japanese beech bonsai

A disorder was recently observed in a 76-year-old Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) bonsai with symptoms including marginal scorch of leaves bordered by a chlorotic halo, as well as a premature leaf browning and defoliation. Leaf midrib extracts from the affected bonsai reacted with an antiserum specific to Xylella fastidiosa in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When the total DNA from the leaf midribs of the affected bonsai was extracted and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific to X. fastidiosa, a 472-bp PCR product was detected. The PCR product was confirmed to be the predicted X. fastidiosa product by sequencing and sequence comparison with the reported genomic sequence of X. fastidiosa. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent and PCR assays of leaf midrib extracts of a symptomless Japanese beech tree were negative. This is the first report of X. fastidiosa associated with leaf scorch in high-valued bonsai and in beech.
Relationship between Arrhenius models of thermal damage and the CEM 43 thermal dose

Thermal Dose, expressed as equivalent minutes of exposure at 43 °C, is typically used as the measure of relative treatment effectiveness in tumor hyperthermia work while an Arrhenius model is more typical in skin burn and other higher temperature studies. The two methods are closely related, mathematically, but yield very different styles of prediction. Arrhenius calculations in numerical models can be used to predict the probability of irreversible thermal damage and are capable of making such predictions for several different markers of thermal damage simultaneously. CEM 43 contours are not probabilistic by nature, though they do contain that information. If one additional data point is known - i.e. D0 at 43 °C - a probability plot identical to the Arrhenius result may be created from a CEM 43 result. Absent that value, it is not possible to do. This paper de-constructs both measures of irreversible thermal alteration, showing their inter-relationship, and presents methods to convert one measure into the other. Specific examples of damage predictions using thermal damage coefficients from published data are discussed with particular emphasis on the original pathologic data from 1947. Obtaining probabilistic predictions from the two methods is presented, and strongly advocated.
PARTICLE DEPOSITION IN A NEARLY DEVELOPED TURBULENT DUCT FLOW WITH ELECTROPHORESIS

Abstract This study is concerned with deposition of neutral and charged particles in nearly developed turbulent duct flows. The cases that the duct is vertical or horizontal and when the particles carry Boltzmann, static electrification, as well as saturation charge distributions are analyzed. The mean turbulent flow field is evaluated with the aid of the FLUENT code, using the Reynolds stress transport model. Deposition rate of particles in the size range of 0.01–100 μ m are studied and the effects of electric field intensity on particle deposition velocity are evaluated. The simulation results are compared with the available experimental data, the earlier numerical results and those obtained from empirical equations for fully developed duct flows. It is shown that the electrostatic effect significantly increases the particle deposition rate.
Clinical and pathologic review of 48 cases of chordoma

The results of treatment of 48 patients with the diagnosis of chordoma during the period 1931 to 1981 at the Massachusetts General Hospital were reviewed. Fourteen patients were treated with surgery alone: eight patients with primary tumors in the sacrococcygeal region were treated with radical surgery and four are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) with follow-up of 8 to 20 years. Recurrent tumors in six patients were treated with surgery alone resulting in long palliation (3-25 years). The actuarial survival rate at 5 years for all patients treated with surgery was 76%. Radiation therapy was used in patients after either a biopsy (15), partial excision (17), or before radical excision in 2 patients. To achieve a worthwhile level of palliation, doses greater than 4000 cGy were required. High-dose levels (greater than 6500 cGy) were achieved in nine cases by a combination of photon and 160 MeV proton beams. The results to date of this approach for lesions of the base of skull and cervical vertebral body are encouraging: high local control and low morbidity. The 5-year actuarial survival rate of all patients treated with radiation was 50%.
The development and clinical evaluation of second-generation leishmaniasis vaccines.

Infection with Leishmania parasites results in a range of clinical manifestations and outcomes. Control of Leishmania parasite transmission is extremely difficult due to the large number of vectors and potential reservoirs, and none of the current treatments are ideal. Vaccination could be an effective strategy to provide sustained control. In this review, the current global situation with regard to leishmaniasis, the immunology of Leishmania infection and various efforts to identify second generation vaccine candidates are briefly discussed. The variety of clinical trials conducted using the only current second generation vaccine approved for clinical use, LEISH-F1 + MPL-SE, are described. Given that epidemiological evidence suggests that reducing the canine reservoir also positively impacts human incidence, efforts at providing a vaccine for leishmaniasis in dogs are highlighted. Finally, potential refinements and surrogate markers that could expedite the introduction of a vaccine that can limit the severity and incidence of leishmaniasis are discussed.
Personality correlates of occupational status according to Holland types

Abstract The present investigation sought to identify personality correlates of occupational status. Because occupational status is a direct function of occupation, the relationship between personality and status was examined both within and across occupational groups using Holland's 1973 typology. Four two-way analyses of covariance of 16PF (Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Form A) second-order personality factors were performed using data from 175 employed adult males. No single personality factor was associated with status across occupational types. Among Social occupations, the low-status group had higher Extraversion and lower Anxiety scores than the high-status group. In general, the relationship between personality factors and occupational types provided additional confirmation of Holland's theory using an employed adult sample.
The use of the Euler functions for error estimates of the trapezoidal and Simpson's quadratures

Error estimates of the trapezoidal and Simpson's quadratures are derived using the Euler functions. The error formulae are expressed in terms of the bounds on various higher‐order derivatives of the integrand.
Characterization and Carbonization of Highly Oriented Poly(diiododiacetylene) Nanofibers

Poly(diiododiacetylene) (PIDA), formed by the topochemical polymerization of diiodobutadiyne within host-guest cocrystals, is a conjugated polymer containing an all-carbon backbone and only iodine atom substituents. Extensive rinsing and sonication of the PIDA cocrystals in organic solvents such as methanol, THF, and chloroform yield fibrous materials with diameters as low as 10-50 nm. Raman spectroscopy and 13 C MAS NMR confirm that these fibers contain PIDA but that the host has been removed. Polarized Raman scattering measurements indicate that the PIDA filaments are uniaxially oriented. The PIDA nanofibers are stable at room temperature when undisturbed but become explosive under external energy such as shock or pressure. They transform to sp 2 -hybridized carbon irreversibly at room temperature when irradiated with a 532 nm Raman laser beam. Under thermal conditions, the PIDA fibers start releasing iodine at 120 °C and undergo complete carbonization in 1 h by pyrolysis at 900 °C.
Currents in thin layer electrochemical cells with spherical and conical electrodes

Abstract Thin layer electrochemical cells in which the electrodes are two hemispheres, a hemisphere and a plane, two cones, a cone and a plane, and crossed cylinders, are considered. An approximate procedure was used to derive analytical expressions for the steady-state, diffusion-limited current at these cells. The procedure rests on the assumption that the diffusive flux of electroactive species in the cell is largest in the region of minimum electrode separation and is approximately one-dimensional. This assumption was tested by calculating from the continuity equation and Fick's first law, the current attributable to the full three-dimensional flux of a redox couple to the electrodes of a simple model cell formed from two axially aligned hemispheres. The results show that the one-dimensional-flux approximation is a good one at short separation distances.
Elasto-plastic analysis of interface layers for fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composites

The mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of fiber and matrix in metal matrix composites reinforced with ceramic fibers induces high thermal stresses in the matrix. Elasto-plastic analyses - with different degrees of simplification and modelization - show that an interface layer with a sufficiently high CTE can reduce the tensile hoop stress in the matrix substantially.
Exact solutions to degenerate conservation laws

We consider large variation solutions to systems of conservation laws, for which the Glimm--Lax theory of decay breaks down. We identify and isolate geometric nonlinearities which are distinct from the usual genuine nonlinearity of each wave field by describing some degenerate systems in which all nonlinearity is geometric and is manifested in the coupling of the different wave families. We then construct exact explicit solutions to these equations and examine properties of these solutions. We find a wide variety of phenomena, depending on the form of the nonlinearity. The most striking of these include strong nonlinear instability of solutions and nontrivial time-periodic solutions. We also find solutions which grow or decay exponentially and oscillating solutions which correspond to rotations byan irrational angle. These oscillating, periodic, and exponential solutions can all appear in a single system with small initial data, demonstrating sensitive dependence on initial conditions.
Bupropion sustained release added to group support for smoking cessation in schizophrenia: a new randomized trial and a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the efficacy and tolerability of bupropion sustained release (SR) for the treatment of cigarette smoking in people with schizophrenia. METHOD: The first study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 32 outpatients from the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. From May 2003 to July 2007, clinically stable people with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day and who were interested in quitting smoking or cutting down were recruited for participation. All participated in a 9-week support group and were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of bupropion SR or placebo. The primary outcome measure was 4 weeks' sustained abstinence over the last 4 study weeks. Secondary outcome measures included decrease in smoking behavior and change in symptoms, neuropsychological performance, and side effects. In the second study, we performed an electronic literature search of MEDLINE in September 2008. Articles in English published between 2003 and 2008 were searched for the terms schizophrenia, bupropion SR, and smoking. Bibliographies of studies identified through the MEDLINE search were also examined. Case reports, open-label studies, crossover studies, and studies using nonstandard dosing of bupropion SR were excluded. In this way, 4 studies similar in methodology to the currently presented clinical trial were identified and the individual data combined in a meta-analysis. A random effects meta-analysis using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used to obtain a pooled estimate of the odds ratio for 4-week smoking abstinence between bupropion SR and placebo. RESULTS: There were no significant results on the primary or secondary smoking measures for the clinical trial, although a numeric advantage favored the bupropion SR group. There were no significant findings for secondary symptom or side effect measures and no significant change in neuropsychological performance. For the meta-analysis totaling 226 subjects, there were significant findings in favor of bupropion SR. The pooled estimate of the odds ratio for 4-week abstinence was 2.7 (95% CI, 1.3 to 5.7; P = .009), and clinically significant greater smoking reduction in the bupropion SR group, with pooled difference estimates increasing over time between groups, became statistically significant by week 5 of study medication (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS: New clinical trial data and a meta-analysis strongly support the tolerability and efficacy of bupropion SR for the treatment of cigarette smoking in people with schizophrenia TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00176449.
Representations of the space of distributions useful in robust estimation of location

SUMMARY In many situations it is useful to have a low-dimensional representation of the space of distributions. This paper gives one-, two- and three-dimensional representations which are particularly relevant to the study of robust estimation of location based on rank estimators. The distances are defined as functions of the asymptotic relative efficiency of the most efficient rank estimator for one distribution when used on data from another distribution. Values of these distance functions are computed for a large number of pairs
Time-of-day pricing of electrical energy: does it promote the public interest?☆

Abstract Time-of-day pricing of electrical energy involves rate incentives designed to encourage a shift of user demand from a utility's peak periods to its off-peak periods. Low “off-peak” rates may also serve as an incentive which encourages large, new, inelastic and/or inefficient uses of electrical energy. In the Long Island, New York, area, installation of air-to-air heat pumps for space heating and cooling may be stimulated by currently proposed time-of-day pricing structures. Possible consequences of a significant market penetration of the Long Island home heating market by the air-to-air heat pump are considered. In this case, serious questions are raised regarding the ability of the time-of-day rate structure to achieve its espoused aims. This case may be typical of other areas throughout the country.
Calculation of time differences between pairs of clock times.

Abstract The present study compared numerical calculations of time differences between word—picture (clock face) and word—digit pairs. Pair differences were hourly, less than an hour, and in excess of an hour. The results showed that the calculation of time differences were quiker and more accurate when times were presented digitally than when times were presented as clock faces. Also, the speed and accuracy of calculating time differences were directly related to the number of digits that differed between the pair of times. These findings when taken together with past studies suggest that the digital advantage obtained when clock times are processed is a phenomenon that can be generalized to a wide variety of tasks.
A finite element formulation of non-smooth contact based on oriented volumes for quadrilateral and hexahedral elements

This paper concerns the finite element modeling of contact between solid bodies, with a special emphasis on the treatment of non-smooth conditions. A new approach for the formulation of the contact constraint that allows for a simple and unified treatment of all potential contact scenarios in the presence of large deformations is presented. Based on the calculation of an oriented volume, this approach possesses the ability to resolve complicated contact scenarios efficiently, while being simple to implement and more widely applicable than the contact formulations available to-date. We show that the formulation boils down to a node-to-surface gap function that works effectively for non-smooth contact situations. The numerical implementation using the midpoint rule shows the need to guarantee the conservation of the total energy during impact, for which a Lagrange multiplier method is used. The result is a robust contact detection and resolution algorithm.
Occlusal Dental Caries Incidence and Implications for Sealant Programs in a US College Student Population

Given the decline in dental caries incidence in preteens and young teenagers in the United States, a study of the incidence of dental caries in young adults (17–23 years) was conducted to provide a descriptive epidemiologic picture of this “new” natural history of dental caries in the late and post-teenage years. A retrospective study was performed analyzing the detailed dental records of the four-year college experience in the class of 1989, US Coast Guard Academy. Occlusal caries incidence, in the absence of associated proximal caries, was shown to be moderately common in molars (11.9%) and rare in pre- molars (0.8%). In contrast to previous studies' findings, demographic indicators, socioeconomic status indicators, and prior caries experience were poor predictors of occlusal caries incidence; targeting a universal sealant policy in this population therefore would be done best by tooth type rather than patient type. A preliminary costcomparison model, projected over a 40-month period, suggests that the cost of initiating a universal molar sealant policy in this population would be 92 cents per year per student greater than the cost of restoring occlusal caries in the presence of sound proximal surfaces. This cost comparison suggests that it would be advantageous to initiate such a policy.
Small Molecule Diffusion in Polymer Ultra-Thin Films

The influence of film thickness and polymer molecular weight on the diffusion coefficient of water in poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films supported on gold coated surfaces has been studied using vapor sorption experiments via quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) methods. Diffusion coefficients for films ranging in thickness from approximately 1 μm to 50 nm were determined. It is observed that the diffusion coefficient of water in PMMA on weakly interacting substrates is a strong function of film thickness, and that the diffusion coefficient decreases drastically as film thickness is reduced below a critical thickness value. Furthermore, it is found that polymer molecular weight also appears to play an important role in determining the diffusion behavior of such polymer thin film systems.
Fabrication of polypyrrole nanowires

An artificial muscle composed of electroactive nanowires or nanofibers would compare favorably to its biological counterpart in terms of generated force and speed, while devices based on discrete nanoactuators could perform functions similar to those of motor proteins in biological cells. A template synthesis method for producing polypyrrole nanowires is examined. Conductivity and electrochemical properties of resulting nanowires are evaluated, showing promise for future use as nanoactuators. Template synthesis is then extended to allow fabrication of polypyrrole nanowires directly on a planar substrate such as semiconductor wafer, enabling potential integration with semiconductor or microfluidic devices.
The future of outcomes measurement: item banking, tailored short-forms, and computerized adaptive assessment

The use of item banks and computerized adaptive testing (CAT) begins with clear definitions of important outcomes, and references those definitions to specific questions gathered into large and well-studied pools, or “banks” of items. Items can be selected from the bank to form customized short scales, or can be administered in a sequence and length determined by a computer programmed for precision and clinical relevance. Although far from perfect, such item banks can form a common definition and understanding of human symptoms and functional problems such as fatigue, pain, depression, mobility, social function, sensory function, and many other health concepts that we can only measure by asking people directly. The support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as witnessed by its cooperative agreement with measurement experts through the NIH Roadmap Initiative known as PROMIS (www.nihpromis.org), is a big step in that direction. Our approach to item banking and CAT is practical; as focused on application as it is on science or theory. From a practical perspective, we frequently must decide whether to re-write and retest an item, add more items to fill gaps (often at the ceiling of the measure), re-test a bank after some modifications, or split up a bank into units that are more unidimensional, yet less clinically relevant or complete. These decisions are not easy, and yet they are rarely unforgiving. We encourage people to build practical tools that are capable of producing multiple short form measures and CAT administrations from common banks, and to further our understanding of these banks with various clinical populations and ages, so that with time the scores that emerge from these many activities begin to have not only a common metric and range, but a shared meaning and understanding across users. In this paper, we provide an overview of item banking and CAT, discuss our approach to item banking and its byproducts, describe testing options, discuss an example of CAT for fatigue, and discuss models for long term sustainability of an entity such as PROMIS. Some barriers to success include limitations in the methods themselves, controversies and disagreements across approaches, and end-user reluctance to move away from the familiar.
Genetic variation in Batrachospermum helminthosum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) among and within stream reaches using intersimple sequence repeat molecular markers

SUMMARY Intersimple sequence repeat molecular markers were utilized to investigate the genetic relationship among individual gametophyte thalli of the freshwater red alga Batrachospermum helminthosum among distant stream reaches and within a stream reach. Fifteen thalli per stream reach were sampled from 11 streams throughout the known distribution in eastern North America from three locations in Ohio, and one location in Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The pairwise φST analysis showed significant genetic differences (P<0.05) among all streams. The partitioning of genetic variation was almost equal within and among streams (45% and 55%, respectively). Genetic variation among populations did not reflect geographic distance, suggesting that long distance dispersal may be important in the distribution of this alga. Fifty-eight individuals from Five Mile Creek, Ohio, were investigated from three distinct segments of the stream (upstream, middle and downstream) to examine small-scale genetic variation within a stream reach. A much higher proportion of genetic variation was observed within a stream segment (79%) than among the three segments (21%). Among these stream segments within Five Mile Creek, the individuals were variously related, with genetic similarity and spatial distance uncorrelated. A similar result was obtained among individuals within other stream reaches, suggesting that genetic structure within a stream reach may be more complex than just reproduction among closely located individuals.
A momentum integral solution for pulsatile flow in a rigid tube with and without longitudinal vibration.

Abstract A momentum integral solution is obtained for fully developed pulsatile flow in a circular, rigid tube of infinite length. A fourth-order polynomial with unknown coefficients is used to represent the radial variation of axial velocity across the tube. Boundary conditions applied at the tube wall and the centerline give the velocity profile in terms of centerline velocity. The momentum integral equation then gives a differential equation for the centerline velocity; and complete solutions, including mass flow rate, are obtained for a sinusoidal pressure gradient, with and without a sinusoidal longitudinal wall velocity. Excellent agreement is found with Womersley's results for a stationary tube. For wall motion at the same frequency as the pressure gradient, both an increase in mass flow magnitude and an exact cancellation are found, depending on phasing. These results are used to discuss the application of momentum integral methods to pulsatile flows and possible fluid-dynamical aspects of cardiovascular behavior during whole-body vibration.