cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic pseudocyst in children: the impact of management strategies on outcome

Abstract Introduction Persistent pancreatic pseudocysts (PPs) are rare in childhood and management tends to be individualized. The purpose of this review is to determine the impact of different management strategies and to analyze their effects on patient outcomes. Methods An institutional review board–approved retrospective chart review was performed on children younger than 18 years who had PP diagnosed between January 1976 and December 2003. Results There were 24 patients, 13 male and 11 female, with a mean age 10.7 years (range, 2-17 years). The mean PP size was 5.8 cm (range, 1.7-20 cm). Posttraumatic pseudocysts were identified in 11 children. The etiologies of 13 nontraumatic PP were idiopathic (6), familial pancreatitis (4), drug-induced (1), cholelithiasis (1), and bifid duct (1). All patients were symptomatic at diagnosis. Resolution of pseudocysts without operative intervention occurred in 7 (29%) of 24 patients. The mean time to operation for the remaining 17 children (71%) was 13.1 weeks (range, 6-36 weeks), with indications for intervention including persistent/recurrent abdominal pain (17), failure to thrive (9), infected PP (1), and ruptured PP (1). Surgical therapies for 13 of 17 patients consisted of cystogastrostomy (8), cystojejunostomy (2), longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy (2), and Frey's procedure (1). Four patients underwent pancreatic sphincterotomy and stenting, 2 of whom also had image-guided pseudocyst drainage. The intervention-related mortality and morbidity rates were 0% and 11%, respectively, for children undergoing surgical therapies. The morbidities included pancreatic leak (1) and wound infection (1). Etiology of the PP had a significant influence on the need for intervention (traumatic, 45%; nontraumatic, 92%; P = .02); however, patient age, size, and location of the PP had no significant effect. All 24 patients continued to do well at mean follow-up of 73.3 months (range, 6 weeks–25 years). One patient with idiopathic pancreatitis has since developed insulin-dependent diabetes. All 4 patients with familial pancreatitis had their chronic pain improved without long-term narcotic therapy. Conclusion The treatment of PPs in children is dependent on etiology, where pseudocysts from nontraumatic etiologies are more likely to require and benefit from surgical interventions, whereas pseudocysts from traumatic etiology are more amenable to conservative management. For children with persistent symptoms or interval complication, surgical therapy is safe and effective.
Activity of HspE7, a Novel Immunotherapy, in Patients with Anogenital Warts

PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus causes anogenital squamous intraepithelial lesions, warts, and cancer. Treatment of squamous intraepithelial lesions to prevent cancer often requires extensive surgery. We tested a human papillomavirus-specific immunotherapy, HspE7, as a potential alternative. METHODS: HspE7 was constructed by fusing heat shock protein Hsp65 from bacille Calmette-Guerin to E7 protein from human papillomavirus-16. Improvement in pathologic diagnosis of patients with persistent high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was studied in an open-label trial (HspE7 500 μg monthly ×3). Anogenital warts were not a trial parameter, but a retrospective review of the medical records of the first 22 patients enrolled at one site was undertaken to estimate the quality and frequency of responses of anogenital warts. Patients with warts by physical examination at baseline were scored at 24 weeks as to the percent reduction in wart size. RESULTS: Fourteen of the 22 patients had warts at baseline. At Week 24, 3 of the 14 patients had complete resolution of their warts, and 10 had warts reduced in size an estimated 70 to 95 percent. The remaining patient’s warts increased in size. The reduction in size in most patients greatly diminished the procedure necessary for complete ablation. No serious or severe adverse events were related to HspE7. CONCLUSIONS: A retrospective review of patients’ medical records suggests that HspE7 may be broadly active in anogenital warts. This activity crosses multiple human papillomavirus types. The warts improved substantially but usually did not totally disappear within six months. Patient follow-up continues. A new randomized, placebo-controlled trial is underway to evaluate these findings.
Limitations of ultrasound in detecting cerebral ischemic lesions in the neonate

Ultrasound scans of three newborn infants with cerebral ischemic lesions demonstrated on computed tomographic scan showed unexpected changes in echogenicity of brain parenchyma in addition to lateralized mass effect. Areas of increased echogenicity were present adjacent to regions of infarction identified on computed tomographic scan. The findings suggest that caution should be exercised in the interpretation of echo-dense areas in unusual locations for hemorrhage in infants at risk for cerebral ischemic lesions.
Nature of thermal stresses and potential for reduced thermal buckling of thin silicon ribbon grown at high speed

Abstract Ribbons grown at high rates can be subjected to rapid thermal variations. Based on a strain rate of 10−5 s−1, yield stresses are defined as a function of temperature. Thermal stress distributions are computed for ribbon growth under a variety of thermal environments. It is shown that the width dependence of thermal stresses is not as large as previously supposed and that under practical growth conditions, stresses are usually below the yield point. The peculiar effects of the free edge (melt) on stress distributions are described in some detail. Classical elastic instability criteria are applied to stress distributions in ribbons and it is shown that buckling is very likely for ribbon widths in excess of 4–6 cm under present thermal profiles. Two “ideal” thermal profiles, which should result in low dislocation generation and absence of buckling, are described.
Nano-Domains of Cell Membrane Stiffness, Proteins Diffusion and Concentration Characterized by Thermal Noise Imaging

The cell membrane is thought to contain transient spatial domains: cholesterol-stabilized lipid nano-domains and corrals formed by interactions with the membrane cytoskeleton. Due to their small size and transient nature, these cannot be visualized directly and are challenging to characterize in intact cells. One possibility is to measure the diffusion of membrane proteins interacting with these domains. However, the diffusion should be measured with nanometer spatial and microsecond temporal resolution to correctly plot the protein's path in the membrane. We show here that not only is the spatio-temporal resolution of thermal noise imaging (TNI) in an optical trap sufficient to plot the membrane protein's path, but the trapping also allows gathering sufficient data within one small membrane area to “image” the membrane. We create for high resolutions maps of the local diffusion, local attraction potentials and membrane stiffness by using TNI to confine a single membrane protein to diffuse for seconds in an area of 300nm x 300nm. Using a GPI-anchored green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is often used a marker for cholesterol-stabilized nano-domains, to probe the membrane of PtK2 cells we detect domains that are at the same time stiffer, concentrate the protein and show slower diffusion. These align along linear feature and show convex polygons shape. These domains are further stabilized by addition of Ganglioside cross-linking toxins and disappear after removal of the cholesterol. Another marker, GFP-labeled transferrin receptor molecule, detects linear features and linearly demarcated areas of increased protein concentration.
Continuous hydrogenation of soybean oil in a trickle-bed reactor with copper catalyst

Continuous hydrogenation of soybean oil with a stationary copper catalyst bed was performed at 110–180 C, 30–75 psig hydrogen and Iiquid hourly spaced velocities (LHSV) of 0.25–0.6 cc/hr/cc catalyst. In contrast to batch, continuous hydrogenation was achieved at a lower temperature with no need to postfilter the product. The soybean oil products from the continuous and batch processes hydrogenated to 0% triene were similar in fatty acid composition,trans content of 29% and linolenate selectivity of 5.
Xenopus Laevis as a Model Organism

Model organisms are often assumed to be representative of some more inclusive taxon of which the species is a part. This assumption leads to mistaken generalizations about the evolutionary and comparative significance of the data gathered. This paper reviews comparative and evolutionary studies of Xenopus laevis and its relatives. Phylogenetic analysis of data from DNA sequences and morphology indicate that Xenopus is monophyletic and that Silurana is its sister group. The most basal lineages of Pipidae diverged prior to the breakup of Gondwana. The bizarre morphology of Xenopus is in part due to changes in the mode of metamorphosis
Human classical aversion conditioning: Nausea versus electric shock in the reduction of target beverage consumption

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the nausea-pro-ducing Pseudo-Coriolis Effect (PCE) in conditioning aversions to beverage consumption. The first experiment assessed the effectiveness of this procedure while controlling for demand characteristics. The second experiment compared this procedure with electrical aversion conditioning. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and relative superiority of the PCE in classical aversion conditioning. Consideration is given to the parameters and potential applications of this procedure
Calmodulin-Like Activity and Calcium-Dependent Phosphodiesterase in Purified Cells of the Rat Zona Glomerulosa and Zona Fasciculata*

We have studied calmodulin (CaM)-like activity and calcium (Ca++)-regulated phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in cells from the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF). Boiled cell sonicates from the ZG and ZF activated CaM-deficient PDE in a dose-dependent fashion by 2.0- to 2.3-fold. The properties of this stimulatory factor were similar to those of authentic CaM in a number of respects: 1) both activated CaM-deficient PDE at micromolar calcium concentrations; 2) both eluted at similar ionic strengths on DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography; 3) the activation of CaM-dependent PDE activity was blocked by the CaM inhibitor trifluoperazine in both cases; and 4) Ca++-dependent activation of PDE was totally inhibited by an excess of EGTA. Boiled sonicates of cells from the ZG and ZF contained 366 +/- 53 and 882 +/- 69 ng/10(6) cells of CaM-like activity (P less than 0.01), respectively, as determined by comparison with activation of CaM-deficient PDE by a known amount of authentic rat CaM. The CaM contents of the ZG and ZF, determined by RIA, were 1050 +/- 35 and 1760 +/- 112 ng/10(6) cells, respectively (P less than 0.01). Under identical conditions, there were 4 times more cAMP and cGMP PDE activities in the ZG than in the ZF. EGTA (1 mM) or trifluoperazine (10(-4) M) inhibited 20% of PDE activity in ZG, and the addition of excess Ca++ (1.1 mM) restored about 50% of the EGTA-inhibited PDE activity. Maximal PDE activity in each cell type eluted at 0.25 M NaCl using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. This activity was partially inhibited by EGTA. Moreover, each cell type contained CaM-like activity that migrated at 0.25 M NaCl. The ZF contained a second peak of CaM that migrated at 0.35 M NaCl. Boiled sonicates of the ZF and ZG, on the other hand, each had a single peak of CaM-like activity, which eluted from DEAE-cellulose at 0.28-0.29 M NaCl, similar to that of pure CaM from rat testes. Thus, these experiments demonstrate the presence of a heat-stable activator of CaM-dependent PDE activity in the ZG and ZF that is similar by a number of criteria to purified CaM. The presence of CaM and a Ca++-dependent PDE in the adrenal suggests that the effects of Ca++ on adrenal function might be mediated, in part, by this or other CaM-regulated enzymes.
The acquisition of memory by interview questioning: Holocaust re-membering as category-bound activity:

In this discourse analysis of how memory acquires and is acquired in interview exchanges, we investigate remembering as a category-bound activity, both a tensional and collaborative process of mora...
Quantitation of Ionic Species in Single Microdroplets by Online Laser Desorption/Ionization

Mass spectra of single micrometer-size glycerol droplets containing dissolved inorganic salts were obtained by on-line laser desorption/ionization. The peak areas of quantitation ions in the mass spectra allowed cation and anion concentrations in solution to be determined. Liquid droplets have several advantages for quantitative work including well-defined morphology, reproducible matrix composition surrounding the analyte, and straightfoward preparation of calibration aerosols having known amounts of analyte. Therefore, absolute quantitation can be achieved without an internal standard. Dropletto-droplet variations of the absolute signal intensities ranged from 14 to 58%
Resistive Anomalies at Magnetic Critical Points

By general arguments it is shown that the dominant contribution to the magnetic resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{mag}}$ of a metal is due to the short-range spin fluctuations and hence that $\frac{d{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{mag}}}{\mathrm{dT}}$ should, in the static approximation, vary like the magnetic specific heat.
Early perinatal hospital discharge and parenting during infancy.

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between early perinatal hospital discharge and several parenting outcomes during infancy, including breastfeeding, mother–infant interaction, and mother–infant attachment. Study Design. A prospective, longitudinal, nonrandomized study of mother–infant dyads discharged ≤36 hours after birth (early discharge), compared with those discharged >36 hours after birth (late discharge). Methods. Demographic, perinatal, and psychosocial factors were determined from medical record review and maternal questionnaires. Questionnaires also assessed maternal perceptions of the hospital stay and breastfeeding rates. Mother–infant interaction was assessed at 3 months after birth using the NCAST Feeding Scale and at 9 months after birth using the NCAST Teaching Scale. Security of attachment was measured in the Ainsworth Strange Situation at 12 months after birth. Results. Early and late discharge groups were similar with respect to major demographic, perinatal, and psychosocial characteristics and perceptions of the hospital stay. Even after adjusting for these factors in regression analyses, no significant association was found between early discharge and breastfeeding at 3 months, NCAST scores at 3 and 9 months, and security of attachment at 12 months. Conclusion. Parenting outcomes, such as breastfeeding, mother–infant interaction, and attachment, are not influenced by early perinatal hospital discharge.
Epidemiologic Studies of Organic Micropollutants in Drinking Water

A large number of organic micropollutants have been identified in surface and groundwaters. These contaminants reach drinking water supplies from various sources, including municipal and industrial discharges and urban and rural runoff; however, the treatment of drinking water can contribute contaminants as well. Since its introduction in 1908, the chlorination of drinking water has been successful in preventing the transmission of infectious waterborne diseases, but the reaction of free chlorine with selected precursors in water has recently been found to produce organic micropollutants. These organic byproducts have likely been present in water supplies as long as chlorine has been used as a disinfectant because the important precursors are naturally occurring aquatic humic substances such as humic and fulvic acids. The widespread use of chlorine as a disinfectant and concerns about the public health problems of chlorine and its by-products have led to a number of epidemiologic studies in populations using chlorinated drinking water. Descriptive epidemiologic studies have consistently suggested increased risks of cancer of the bladder, stomach, large intestine, and rectum in areas where chlorinated surface waters have been used. Analytical epidemiologic studies, which consider potential confounding and modifying factors, have shown a moderate increase in risk of bladder and colon cancer in populations with a long duration of exposure to chlorinated drinking water. Although much research has been conducted, it is not yet possible to determine whether there is a causal association between exposure to chlorinated drinking water and these cancers. This determination must await the results of several ongoing studies in this area. Results of an epidemiology study suggests an association between serum cholesterol and chlorinated drinking water, but this must be confirmed by additional research.
Trajectory optimization for multi-agent persistent monitoring in two-dimensional spaces

We address the persistent monitoring problem in two-dimensional mission spaces, where the objective is to control the movement of multiple cooperating agents to minimize an uncertainty metric. In a one-dimensional mission space, it has been shown that the optimal solution is for each agent to move at maximal speed and switch direction at specific points, possibly waiting some time at each such point before switching. In a two-dimensional mission space, such simple solutions can no longer be derived. We approach the problem by representing an agent trajectory in terms of general function families characterized by parameters that we can optimize. We then show that the problem of determining optimal parameters for these trajectories can be solved using Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA) to determine gradients of the objective function with respect to these parameters evaluated on line so as to adjust them through a standard gradient-based algorithm. We have applied this approach to the family of Lissajous functions as well as a Fourier series representation of an agent trajectory. Numerical examples indicate that this scalable approach provides solutions that are near-optimal relative to those obtained through a computationally intensive two point boundary value problem solver.
Teste Albumasare cum Sibylla: astrology and the Sibyls in medieval Europe.

Abstract In the 1480s Dominican humanist Filippo de’ Barbieri published an illustration of a supposedly ancient female seer called the ‘Sybilla Chimica’, whose prophetic text repeated the words of the ninth-century astrologer Abu Ma‘shar. In tracing the origins of Barbieri’s astrological Sibyl, this article examines three sometimes interlocking traditions: the attribution of an ante-diluvian history to the science of the stars, the assertion of astrology’s origins in divine revelation, and the belief in the ancient Sibyls’ predictions of the birth of Christ and other Christian truths. Medieval authors from the twelfth century on began to cite these traditions together, thereby simultaneously authorizing the use of astrology to predict religious changes and blurring the categories of natural and supernatural as applied to human understanding. This blending of astrology and prophecy appears notably in works by such authors as John of Paris, John of Legnano, Johannes Lichtenberger, and Marsilio Ficino. Ultimately the trajectory that produced Barbieri’s astrological Sibyl would lead to a wave of astrological apocalyptic predictions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as to the harnessing of astrology for the defense of the faith in the form of an astrological natural theology, sacralizing science as well as nature.
BTB Readers' Guide: Social Memory

This guide introduces readers to social memory studies as developed by social scientists, and its conceptual relations with history and historiography. It then examines its applications to the study of the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Christian origins.
On Franck-Condon Factor Calculations

Abstract The band strength SUv′ Lv′ is an average with respect to vibrational wavefunctions ϕv′, and ϕv″, of the electronic transition moment Re (r) where and In Eq. (2) we see that the electronic transition moment is an average with respect to electronic wavefunctions of (ϕu and ϕL) the electronic dipole moment. If Re (r) is independent of r, Eq. (1) becomes where is called the Franck-Condon factor and is the square of the overlap integral of vibrational wavefunctions. The Franck-Condon factor controls the intensity distribution from band to band across a system.
A formalized approach to select productivity improvement techniques in organizations

Abstract The improvement in the productivity level, and the growth rate of a country, depend upon the efforts to improve productivity in the basic units of the national economy. Organizations — both manufacturing and service — need formal approaches to measuring, evaluating, planning, and improving productivity. This paper attempts to provide a conceptual and analytical framework to improve an organization's productivity. Such a framework, it is hoped, will enable managers to make more rational decisions with regard to productivity management.
Antibiotic assisted molecular ion transport across a membrane in real time

The transport of an organic cation across a 4–5 nm liposome bilayer is observed in real time using second harmonic generation. It is proposed that an electrostatic barrier between the inside and outside of the liposome develops as the cation crosses the bilayer. This would explain why the SHG signal does not approach zero at long times. To test this mechanism, the antibiotic valinomycin, which can transport alkali ions across a phospholipid bilayer, is introduced into the system. It is found that the transport time is reduced by a factor of three from 90 ± 2 s to 30 ± 1 s with 1.25 × 10−8 M valinomycin concentration, and a factor of fifteen to 6.2 ± 0.2 s with 1.25 × 10−8 M valinomycin concentration. In addition, the SHG signal approaches zero, which further supports the presence of an electrostatic barrier that can be eliminated by the alkali ion transporter valinomycin.
Behaviors for physical cooperation between robots for mobility improvement

A team of small, low-cost robots instead of a single large, complex robot is useful in operations such as search and rescue, urban exploration etc. However, performance of such a team is limited due to restricted mobility of the team members. We propose solutions based on physical cooperation among mobile robots to improve the overall mobility. Our focus is on the development of the low level system components. Recognizing that small robots need to overcome discrete obstacles, we develop specific analytical maneuvers to negotiate each obstacle where a maneuver is built from a sequence of fundamental cooperative behaviors. In this paper we present cooperative behaviors that are achieved by interactions among robots via un-actuated links thus avoiding the need for additional actuation. We analyze the cooperative lift behavior and demonstrate that useful maneuvers such a gap crossing can be built using this behavior. We prove that the requirements on ground friction and wheel torques set fundamental limits for physical cooperation. Using the design guidelines based on static analysis we have developed simple and low cost hardware to illustrate cooperative gap crossing with two robots. We have developed a complete dynamic model of two-robot cooperation which leads to control design. A novel connecting link design is proposed that can change the system configuration with no additional actuators. A decentralized control architecture is designed for the two-robot system, where each robot controls its own state with no information about the state of the other robot thus avoiding the need of continuous communication between the two robots. Simulation and hardware results demonstrate a successful implementation with the gap crossing example. We have analytically proved that robot dynamics can be used to reduce the friction requirements and have demonstrated, with simulations, the implementation of this idea for the cooperative lifting behavior.
Mechanism of action of ethanol in the down-regulation of Galβ1, 4GlcNAc α2,6-sialyltransferase messenger RNA in human liver cell lines

Galβl, 4GlcNAc α2,6-sialyltransferase (2,6-ST) mediates the addition of α2,6-linked sialic acid to glycoproteins in the Golgi compartment. Down-regulation of its gene and consequent impaired activity of 2,6-ST seems to be the major cause for the appearance of asialoconjugates in the blood of long-term alcoholics. Therefore, mechanism(s) involved in the regulation of 2,6-ST gene is important and clinically relevant. Our previous work showed that long-term ethanol feeding in rats caused a marked 59% decrease of 2,6-ST activity as well as 2,6-ST messenger RNA (mRNA) level in liver that were due to the decreased stability of its mRNA. We now mimic these actions of ethanol using (a) human liver HepG2 cells stably transfected with ethanol-inducible human cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1 cells), or (b) with high alcohol dehydrogenase (HAD cells) but not in wild-type HepG2 cells lacking either of the above 2 enzymes as models. Incubation of these cells for 72 hours with 100 mmol/L ethanol caused decreases (up to 76%, P < .05) of 2,6-ST mRNA levels in CYP2E1 and HAD cells but not in the wild type. However, incubation of wild-type cells with acetaldehyde at concentrations of 50 and 100 μmol/L showed a dramatic decrease (up to 69%, P < .02) in the 2,6-ST mRNA levels. Furthermore, exposure of CYP2E1 cells to 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, an endogenous lipid peroxidation product of reactive oxygen species, strongly decreased 2,6-ST mRNA level by 61% (P < .02). These results demonstrate that 2,6-ST gene is highly sensitive to ethanol action in human liver cells either via its oxidation product, acetaldehyde, or via reactive oxygen species leading to the generation of a more reactive aldehyde such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Thus, this study assumes major importance and clinical relevance because 2,6-ST gene regulation in a human liver cell model is demonstrated within a few days of ethanol exposure, whereas its in vivo regulation in liver generally takes prolonged period of ethanol exposure.
A doubles correction to electronic excited states from configuration interaction in the space of single substitutions

A perturbative correction to the method of configuration interaction with single substitutions (CIS) is presented. This CIS(D) correction approximately introduces the effect of double substitutions which are absent in CIS excited states. CIS(D) is a second-order perturbation expansion of the coupled-cluster excited state method, restricted to single and double substitutions, in a series in which CIS is zeroth order, and the first-order correction vanishes. CIS (D) excitation energies are size consistent and the calculational complexity scales with the fifth power of molecular size, akin to second-order Moller-Plesset theory for the ground state. Calculations on singlet excited states of ethylene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, butadiene and benzene show that CIS (D) is a uniform improvement over CIS. CIS(D) appears to be a promising method for examining excited states of large molecules, where more accurate methods are not feasible.
Initiation Of Structure And Subordinate Satisfaction: A Path Analysis Test Of Path-Goal Theory

Both correlational and path analysis procedures were used to test the hypothesis that the initiation of structure-job satisfaction relationship would be mediated by occupational level. Separate ana...
Design for a superconductive power cable for SMES

Superconductive power cables are considered for use as the busbar between a 5500-MWh superconductive magnetic energy storage (SMES) coil and the power-conditioning circuits. The busbar is configured to minimize forces due to the magnetic field. Three design options for the superconducting cable are presented. The peak operating current is 230 kA. Room-temperature copper cable is connected in parallel to the superconductive cable for redundant operation in the event of loss of cooling of the superconductor. Calculations of temperature rise versus time without cooling are presented. >
Military research product utilization

Abstract : A survey of DOD researchers and users of military research products in human resources RDT and E was conducted by the author in order to determine the degree of research product utilization and implementation within DOD components. Results showed diverse definitions of the term utilization; agreement concerning methods of insuring utilization of research; the importance of utilization; the idea that the research should assume some responsibility for utilization of research and that cost-effective evaluations are seldom used. The findings also indicated a need for reassessment of current practices of product utilization and a need for the development of methods of tracking, identifying and measuring utilization of research and research products.
Reaction kinetics of functionalized carbon nanotubes reinforced polymer composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were modified by both chemical functionalization and mechanical shortening. The reaction kinetics of these CNTs-reinforced epoxy resins were examined according to the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization. It was found that kinetics parameters and reaction conversion were significantly influenced by the undertaken functionalization, and the magnitudes of influence were dependent on specific functionalization methodologies. Mechanical shortening of CNTs elevated the size effect-induced interference and diminished the reaction enthalpy and conversion. Chemical modification showed a double-edge effect on the reaction kinetics and the final effect was dependent on the balance of size effect-induced interference and participation of surface functional groups into reaction. Amino-grafted CNTs increased the activation energy of the curing reaction while epoxide-grafted CNTs slightly decreased the activation energy. These results will provide valuable guideline for the nanocomposites design, fabrication, and applications.
Pension Fund Dynamics and Gains/Losses Due to Random Rates of Investment Return

Abstract A simple model for defined benefit pension plans with independent and identically distributed rates of investment return and a stationary membership is considered. Three methods of adjusting the normal cost as gains or losses arise are compared, and a suitable choice of amortization or spread period is made. We also investigate the evolution in time of the first and second moments of the pension fund and contribution levels.
Accuracy assessment of a three-dimensional, crack tip element based approach for predicting delamination growth in stiffened-skin geometries

Experimental observations of delamination growth in two stiffened-skin geometries are compared to predictions made using a three-dimensional crack tip element based approach. Each geometry consists of a six-ply graphite/epoxy skin co-cured to a six-ply, hat-shaped stiffener containing a preimplanted teflon delamination between the skin and stiffener at the stiffener termination point. One stiffened-skin geometry was loaded in three-point bending and the other had in-plane tension loads applied to the skin. To predict delamination growth, a three-dimensional crack tip element analysis was first performed on each geometry in order to determine the total energy release rate, G, as well as its mode I, II and III components, G I, G II and G III, respectively. These results were used to define a mode mix at each point along the delamination front, G s/G, where G s=G II + G III. To obtain the delamination toughness, G c, it was assumed that G c exhibits the same dependence on G s/G as on GII/G, where the results for G c versus G II/G were taken from an earlier experimental study. Next, a comparison of the energy release rate to the toughness at each position along the delamination front was performed, and these results were scaled appropriately in order to predict the sequence of loads and corresponding locations at which the delamination will advance. The predictions were then compared to experimental results that included c-scan images of the test specimens taken at each increment of observed growth, and very good quantitative and qualitative correlations were obtained for both geometries. These results indicate the practicality of, and considerable computational savings that may be achieved by, employing crack tip element analyses for delamination growth predictions in realistic structural geometries.
Effect of Eye Contact and Distance on the Verbal Reinforcement of Attitude

Summary Eighty male and female university students were verbally reinforced for agree-disagree responses when they expressed favorable attitudes to intercollegiate sports. The distance that the interviewer stood apart from the S was varied and the interviewer engaged in eye contact or no eye contact with the S. The results indicated that the magnitude of attitude change was adversely affected when the interviewer stood “close” and gave no eye contact to the S. An explanation of the results was offered using a two-factor interpretation of attitudinal verbal reinforcement and interpersonal attraction.
Spectral hole burning to probe the nature of unjamming (Payne effect) in particle-filled elastomers

The Payne effect is a low-strain hysteretic softening in particle-filled elastomers which we recognize as part of jamming physics. We find that aging at a fixed oscillatory strain produces a hole in the unjamming loss modulus spectrum which is localized near the aging strain for a silica-filled elastomer. This cannot be predicted by any existing Payne effect model. By applying the Einstein fluctuation-dissipation relation and comparing our findings to nonequilibrium glassy behavior, we show that oscillatory strain amplitude in particle-filled elastomers can be interpreted as an effective temperature.
Optically-Induced Quasi-Phase Matching in High-Harmonic Generation

Weak counter-propagating pulse trains or multiple quasi-cw waves can induce complex amplitude and phase modulated structures in the high-harmonic field. These “photonic” structures can be used for quasi-phase-matching the high-harmonic generation process.
A new pressure-sensing instrument

Abstract A new pressure-sensing instrument involving capacity changes has been developed. Arrays consisting of a number of these “Filpips” 2 have been constructed and connected to simple electronic measuring instrumentation. Generally, reproducibility within 10 per cent is obtainable.
Coherence versus fragmentation in the development of the concept of force

Abstract This article aims to contribute to the literature on conceptual change by engaging in direct theoretical and empirical comparison of contrasting views. We take up the question of whether naive physical ideas are coherent or fragmented, building specifically on recent work supporting claims of coherence with respect to the concept of force by Ioannides and Vosniadou [Ioannides, C., & Vosniadou, C. (2002). The changing meanings of force. Cognitive Science Quarterly 2, 5–61]. We first engage in a theoretical inquiry on the nature of coherence and fragmentation, concluding that these terms are not well-defined, and proposing a set of issues that may be better specified. The issues have to do with contextuality, which concerns the range of contexts in which a concept (meaning, model, theory) applies, and relational structure, which is how elements of a concept (meaning, model, or theory) relate to one another. We further propose an enhanced theoretical and empirical accountability for what and how much one needs to say in order to have specified a concept. Vague specification of the meaning of a concept can lead to many kinds of difficulties. Empirically, we conducted two studies. A study patterned closely on Ioannides and Vosniadou's work (which we call a quasi-replication) failed to confirm their operationalizations of “coherent.” An extension study, based on a more encompassing specification of the concept of force, showed three kinds of results: (1) Subjects attend to more features than mentioned by Ioannides and Vosniadou, and they changed answers systematically based on these features; (2) We found substantial differences in the way subjects thought about the new contexts we asked about, which undermined claims for homogeneity within even the category of subjects (having one particular meaning associated with “force”) that best survived our quasi-replication; (3) We found much reasoning of subjects about forces that cannot be accounted for by the meanings specified by Ioannides and Vosniadou. All in all, we argue that, with a greater attention to contextuality and with an appropriately broad specification of the meaning of a concept like force, Ioannides and Vosniadou's claims to have demonstrated coherence seem strongly undermined. Students’ ideas are not random and chaotic; but neither are they simply described and strongly systematic.
Replication of potato virus X RNA is altered in coinfections with potato virus Y

Potato virus X (PVX) and potato virus Y (PVY) may coinfect tobacco to cause a classic synergistic disease. In the acute stage the disease is characterized by a dramatic increase in the accumulation of infectious PVX particles, with no corresponding increase or decrease in the accumulation of PVY. The accumulation of PVX genomic RNA and coat protein has been examined in doubly versus singly infected tobacco leaves. These experiments indicate that the levels of both viral components increase in doubly infected plants to about the same extent as the level of infectious PVX particles. The level of PVX subgenomic coat protein mRNA found associated with polyribosomes of synergistically infected plants is also increased to a similar extent. Pulse labelling experiments suggest that the increase in PVX coat protein is due to an increased rate of synthesis. The level of PVX (-) strand RNA template increases disproportionately in doubly infected tissue, to a level three times higher than that of the virion or its component parts. This result suggests that PVX/PVY synergism involves an alteration in the normal regulation of the relative levels of PVX (+) and (-) strand RNAs during viral replication.
Regioselectivity of the ring-opening polymerization of monofunctional alkyl-substituted aromatic amine-based benzoxazines

Abstract The reaction site of the ring-opening polymerization in monofunctional aromatic amine-based benzoxazines has been investigated through systematic manipulation of the monomer chemistry. Selective protection or activation of sites on the arylamine ring towards electrophilic aromatic substitution has allowed a series of materials to be developed, which contain varying amounts of phenolic Mannich base bridges, arylamine Mannich base bridges, and methylene bridges. Electron-donating alkyl substituent groups at one or both meta positions on the arylamine ring facilitate ring opening/degradation at lower temperatures. This opening of rings in a step other than the polymerization reaction greatly increases the numbers of methylene linkages. Confirmation of the reaction sites was obtained via 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy of oligomeric species.
Race, Gender, and Workplace Power:

Survey data support hypotheses regarding differential access to workplace power among women and minorities relative to white men. Specific findings indicate that, relative to white men, all groups encounter increasing inequality at higher levels of power, but only black women seem to experience this form of inequality as a result of direct discrimination. Further analysis indicates that network assistance is more a response to this form of discrimination than an indirect cause. Finally, analysis shows that most groups attain power through homosocial reproduction, but what differs is the opportunity to engage in such reproduction, wherein white men excel. These findings imply that while women and minorities face lower odds than white men of achieving higher levels of workplace power, the reasons for this disadvantage vary among respective groups and thus will likely require different remedies.
7T head volume coils: improvements for rostral brain imaging.

Purpose To improve the performance of 7T head coils over the rostral head regions. Due to radiofrequency (RF) field/tissue interactions, the RF magnetic field profile produced by 7T volume head coils is very inhomogeneous, with enhanced sensitivity near the center of the human brain and substantially reduced in the periphery. Materials and Methods Two head-sized quadrature volume coils of similar diameters but substantially different lengths (17 and 10 cm) were constructed and tested using a 7T Varian Inova system. Results Experimental data demonstrated that by using a shorter volume head-sized coil or simply by partially moving a head out of the coil, coil efficiency near the top of a head can be improved by 20%. The homogeneity also improved, largely resulting from an increase in peripheral B1 values. This resulted in 10%–20% variation in axial slices located near the top of a head. Conclusion We have demonstrated a less deeply positioned head or substantially shorter volume coil can significantly improve coil performance and homogeneity for the rostral head at ultrahigh magnetic fields (7T and above). For studies that target superior brain regions, this coil arrangement can be highly effective. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:461–465. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Time, Our Lost Dimension: Toward a New Theory of Perception, Attention, and Memory

A theory of perception and attention that emphasizes the relational nature o{ perceptual invariants is developed within the context of auditory pattern research. The theory is divided into two parts. The first part, addresses world pattern structure; the second describes interaction of organisms with pattern structure. Tn the former, world patterns arc subjectively represented as nested relations within a multidimensional space defined by pilch, loudncss, and time. But dependency of these defining dimensions means that a pattern's lime scale determines the serial integrity of its pitch/loudness structure. Second, the theory proposes a time scale for living things that is manifest in graded perceptual rhythms. These rhythms can be synchronized to corresponding nested time zones within world pattern structure. Related assumptions about the deployment of physical energy across time zones and cognitive locations of perceptual rhythms lead to a simple, but general, attentional theory. Theoretical support, found in research with tone patterns, speech, and sequences of noise is died in a final section. Beyond this focal research, the theory offers a general framework for understanding diverse phenomena thai range from speech perception and aphasia to sleep, growth, and time eslimation.
Biological stiffness control strategies for the Anatomically Correct Testbed (ACT) hand

With the goal of developing biologically inspired manipulation strategies for an anthropomorphic hand, we investigated how the human central nervous system utilizes the hands redundant neuromusculoskeletal biomechanics to transition between conditions. Using a experiment protocol where subjects were asked to transit between control states with equal end-effector force but different stiffness requirements, we observed that (1) some subjects used the same muscle synergy for both conditions by maintaining the same synergy throughout the transition, and (2) other subjects used two different muscle synergies to execute two conditions by transiting from one synergy to another rapidly. We hypothesize that humans typically try to use the same muscle synergy to execute two tasks when it is possible to optimize on the simplicity and speed over energy. This is a different control strategy from the way robots have been controlled in the past, and it provides a new direction in controlling an anthropomorphic robotic hand.
Predictors of Response to Transantral Orbital Decompression in Severe Graves' Ophthalmopathy

Objective To identify factors that may help predict the outcome after transantral orbital decompression in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Design A retrospective study was conducted of 428 patients who had undergone an initial transantral orbital decompression for severe Graves' ophthalmopathy at the Mayo Clinic between November 1969 and May 1989. Material and Methods With use of logistic regression analysis, we assessed the preoperative characteristics, the early postoperative results, and the follow-up questionnaire data (obtained a median of 9.5 years postoperatively) from 304 female and 124 male patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy who had undergone transantral orbital decompression at a median age of 53 years. Results On multivariate stepwise regression analysis, young age, male sex, and long duration of eye symptoms were predictors of severe initial proptosis ( P P P = 0.05), and the only significant predictor of satisfaction with the postoperative eye appearance was an operation done primarily for cosmetic purposes ( P = 0.012). Conclusion Although various factors may influence the outcome of orbital decompression in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, this study showed that the more pronounced the initial proptosis, the greater the degree of recession postoperatively. A higher degree of reduction of proptosis is associated with better visual acuity but also a greater likelihood of development of continuous diplopia.
Organizational Change as a Process of Death, Dying, and Rebirth:

Bringing about change is difficult in any organization, but especially so in professional bureaucracies such as hospitals and universities in which highly trained and autonomous professionals, rather than administrators, largely control the core processes. Lacking in most models used to bring about change in organizations is understanding of how individuals and groups actually work through their resistance to change, which is key to whether change in a professional bureaucracy actually occurs. Interview data from professors in the physics department of a large, public university revealed that the department's change process closely resembled that of death and dying identified by Kubler-Ross in her study of terminally ill patients. Theories from psychoanalysis and group dynamics are used to explain both individual and group-level change. The article concludes by discussing implications for helping professionals and their organizations undergo change and by suggesting areas for future research.
Prognostic power of mitral annulus indices of left ventricular diastolic function.

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic function (LVDF) is an important determinant of exercise tolerance in patients with normal and depressed ejection fraction (EF). Several studies have also shown that noninvasive Doppler measurements of LV relaxation and filling pressures are predictors of outcome in
Reverse genetics with a full-length infectious cDNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

A previously undescribed coronavirus (CoV) is the etiologic agent responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Using a panel of contiguous cDNAs that span the entire genome, we have assembled a full-length cDNA of the SARS-CoV Urbani strain, and have rescued molecularly cloned SARS viruses (infectious clone SARS-CoV) that contained the expected marker mutations inserted into the component clones. Recombinant viruses replicated as efficiently as WT virus and both were inhibited by treatment with the cysteine proteinase inhibitor (2S,3S)-transepoxysuccinyl-l-leucylamido-3-methylbutane ethyl ester. In addition, subgenomic transcripts were initiated from the consensus sequence ACGAAC in both the WT and infectious clone SARS-CoV. Availability of a SARS-CoV full-length cDNA provides a template for manipulation of the viral genome, allowing for the rapid and rational development and testing of candidate vaccines and therapeutics against this important human pathogen.