cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perioperative and postoperative complications of single-level minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in elderly adults.

Abstract As the population ages, more elderly patients will develop painful degenerative lumbar pathology requiring lumbar fusion for treatment. Unfortunately, traditional techniques for lumbar fusion have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has been associated with fewer complications; however, little specific to the elderly population has been published. Thus, we performed a retrospective analysis on 84 consecutive patients (
Contaminant profiles for surface water, sediment, flora and fauna associated with the mangrove fringe along middle and lower eastern Tampa Bay.

Contaminant concentrations are reported for surface water, sediment, flora and fauna collected during 2010–2011 from the mangrove fringe along eastern Tampa Bay, Florida. Concentrations of trace metals, chlorinated pesticides, atrazine, total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls were species-, chemical- and location-specific. Contaminants in sediments did not exceed proposed individual sediment quality guidelines. Most sediment quality assessment quotients were less than one indicating the likelihood of no inhibitory effect based on chemical measurements alone. Faunal species typically contained more contaminants than plant species; seagrass usually contained more chemicals than mangroves. Bioconcentration factors for marine angiosperms were usually less than 10 and ranged between 1 and 31. Mercury concentrations (ppm) in blue crabs and fish did not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fish tissue criterion of 0.3 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level of 1.0. In contrast, total mercury concentrations in faunal species often exceeded guideline values for wildlife consumers of aquatic biota.
Supranormal Stimulation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in FRTL5 Cells by Serum from Patients With Untreated Acromegaly

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is one of a number of mitogenic factors in the serum of animals and humans. We demonstrated previously that IGF-I is a potent mitogen for FRTL5 cells, a line of rat thyroid follicular cells. In this study, we assessed the relevance of this finding with respect to the levels of IGF-I found in human serum by comparing the effects of normal serum and serum from patients with untreated acromegaly or hypopituitarism on DNA synthesis in quiescent FRTL5 cells. As expected, when added to cells maintained in Coon's modified Ham's F-12 medium containing 0.1% BSA, but devoid of insulin, transferrin, TSH, or calf serum, normal serum produced a dose-dependent stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. A similar, but more marked, effect was produced by the addition of serum from patients with untreated acromegaly. In multiple experiments, a standard concentration (0.5%) of acromegaly serum was more stimulatory to DNA synthesis than was normal serum. In a single experiment ...
Grain shapes and growth kinetics during self-assembly of block copolymers

With block copolymer equilibrium phase behavior becoming increasingly better understood, a more detailed description of ordering kinetics is feasible. This article highlights recent experimental observations that provide new insight into ordering kinetics and grain structures when a block copolymer liquid is first cooled below the order–disorder transition. Measurements have been made on several concentrated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) solutions, with concentrations and temperatures adjusted to access the cylinder, lamellar, and gyroid phases. A diverse set of grain types were observed using polarized optical microscopy (POM). Cylinder grains were either oblate ellipsoids or spherulites, whereas the lamellar phase formed prolate ellipsoidal grains, twinned ellipsoidal grains, twofold twinned grains, and spherulites. The orientation of the cylinders and lamellae within the grains were unambiguously identified. The shapes of the ellipsoidal and twinned grains were dictated by the relative interfacial tensions of the available growth surfaces with respect to the disordered state. Grain growth front velocities were also quantified before grain impingement, and consistent values were obtained among different grains for a given sample and quench temperature. The experimental growth velocities were compared to an expression derived by Goveas and Milner. There was good agreement in terms of the temperature dependence, and the absolute magnitude was predicted with some success. The rates of nucleation and overall conversion to the ordered phase were also determined. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 481–491, 2006
Tunable porous photonic bandgap structures for chemical and biological sensing

The development of porous nanostructured materials, such as polymer Bragg gratings, offer an attractive and unique platform for chemical and biological recognition elements. Much of the efforts in polymeric gratings have been focused on holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) gratings with demonstrated applications in switching, lasing, and display devices. Here, we present the application of porous polymer photonic bandgap structures produced using a modified holographic method that includes a solvent as a phase separation fluid. The resulting gratings are simple to fabricate, stable, tunable, and highly versatile. Moreover, these acrylate porous polymer photonic bandgap structures were generated using a simple one-beam setup. In this paper, we describe the application of these nanoporous polymer gratings as a general template for biochemical recognition elements. As a prototype, we developed an oxygen (O 2 ) sensor by encapsulating the fluorophore (tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenathroline)ruthenium(II) within these nanostructured materials. Thus, the obtained O 2 sensors performed through the full-scale range (0%-100%) with a response time of less than 1 second. Most importantly, the use of the inherent property of these gratings to transmit or reflect a particular wavelength spectrum, based on the grating spacing, enables us to selectively enhance the detection efficiency for the wavelengths of interest.
Perceived Exertion Scales: Toward Development of Improved Verbal Anchors

An experiment documented the choices of verbal anchors or word triggers by subjects observing five different videotaped work operations. Their surveyed numeric scalings and word selections were compiled to form a list of ten words which are recommended to describe amount or degree of work being performed. This study acknowledges that there is inherent risk in applying words to work measurement scales, but the list may be helpful as a guide to choosing appropriate words to indicate work content or for job descriptions.
Mapping beliefs about teaching to patterns of instruction within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

In this paper, we identify beliefs about teaching and patterns of instruction valued and emphasized by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty in higher education in the USA. Drawing on the notion that effective teaching is student-centered rather than teacher-centered and must include a balance of knowledge-, learner-, community-, and assessment-centered learning environments; we use qualitative interview data to explore how faculty's reported beliefs about teaching are associated with their consideration of these four types of environments. Findings indicated that although a range of beliefs about teaching emerged, most were firmly located in knowledge-centered learning environments, with little or no focus on the remaining three learning environments. Furthermore, even patterns of instruction that were heavily student-centered were situated within a knowledge-centered learning framework. We argue that for student-centered instruction to be truly successful, faculty must consider all f...
Swallow syncope associated with complete atrioventricular block in an adolescent.

We describe a 16-year-old female with a history of swallowing-induced syncope. The physical examination, ECG, echocardiography, barium swallow test, and thyroid function tests were within normal limits. The ambulatory ECG revealed intermittent complete atrioventricular block only associated with swallowing. There was also intermittent first-degree atrioventricular block not related to eating. An electrophysiologic study was performed during the implantation of a single-chamber transvenous ventricular pacemaker. There was mild atrioventricular nodal conduction disturbance with a His–ventricular interval of 70 msec and Wenckebach cycle length of 420 msec. During 1 year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic.
Methadone and Heroin Antinociception: Predominant δ-Opioid-Receptor Responses in Methadone-Tolerant Mice

ABSTRACT Antinociceptive tail flick responses to heroin and 6-monoacetylmorphine mediated in the brain by μ-opioid receptor are switched by morphine pellet implantation to δ1- and δ2-opioid-receptors mediation, respectively. Present results showed that the μ-receptor response (inhibited by β-funaltrexamine) to methadone was changed by morphine pellet implantation to δ1 (inhibited by 7-benzylidenenaltrexone)-and d2 (inhibited by naltriben)-opioid-receptor responses. Methadone pellet implantation likewise changed mediation from μ- to δ-opioid receptors for heroin and methadone but not for morphine (β-funaltrexamine continued to inhibit). Methadone μ action in the brain was linked through a descending system to activate spinal serotonin receptors (inhibited by methysergide), but this link was gone in the methadone-pellet-implanted group. In the latter group, the new δ1- and δ2-receptor responses were mediated by spinal GABAA (inhibited by bicuculline) and GABAB (inhibited by 2-hydroxysaclofen) receptors. These shifts in neuronal systems meant that μ receptors on a given neuron were not changed into d receptors. Preliminary results showed that d -agonist action for methadone was prevented from appearing by MK801, a NMDA-receptor antagonist, and did not occur in 129S6 / SvEv mice which lack NMDA responsiveness. Could methadone maintenance treatment in humans uncover δ-agonist actions?
Multilevel preconditioners for a quadrature Galerkin solution of a biharmonic problem

Efficient multilevel preconditioners are developed and analyzed for the quadrature finite element Galerkin approximation of the biharmonic Dirichlet problem. The quadrature scheme is formulated using the Bogner–Fox–Schmit rectangular element and the product two-point Gaussian quadrature. The proposed additive and multiplicative preconditioners are uniformly spectrally equivalent to the operator of the quadrature scheme. The preconditioners are implemented by optimal algorithms, and they are used to accelerate convergence of the preconditioned conjugate gradient method. Numerical results are presented demonstrating efficiency of the preconditioners. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2006
A theoretical study of optimization techniques used in registration area based location management: models and online algorithms

We describe a study of optimization techniques which have been proposed in the literature for registration area based location management from the perspective of optimal on-line algorithms. We show that most of these optimization techniques such as forwarding pointers and overlapped registration areas can be modeled using metrical task systems. Some of these models are simple while others are somewhat intricate. These representations directly imply the applicability of existing results on metrical task systems to algorithm design for location management. However, this also means that general lower bounds known for online metrical task systems carry over to our formulations of location management. We also discuss some restricted models in which much better (and simpler) algorithms are possible.
Real option perceptions among project managers

Effective and efficient planning for and management of project risk requires the management of uncertainty. Real options can be an effective tool for managing uncertainty and thereby increasing project value. As most managers do not use real options, but instead intuitively manage uncertainty, understanding the similarities and differences between decision-maker perceptions of real options and real options theory is critical for improving the use of real options for risk management. In the current work, an experiment using a simple uncertain development project and a simulation model capture managers’ perceptions of real options, including option values. Results show that subjects valued flexibility and conceptually understood option values in ways consistent with theory. Implications for real options research and development are discussed.
An Optimal and Distributed Demand Response Strategy With Electric Vehicles in the Smart Grid

In this paper, we propose a new model of demand response management for the future smart grid that integrates plug-in electric vehicles and renewable distributed generators. A price scheme considering fluctuation cost is developed. We consider a market where users have the flexibility to sell back the energy generated from their distributed generators or the energy stored in their plug-in electric vehicles. A distributed optimization algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers is developed to solve the optimization problem, in which consumers need to report their aggregated loads only to the utility company, thus ensuring their privacy. Consumers can update their loads scheduling simultaneously and locally to speed up the optimization computing. Using numerical examples, we show that the demand curve is flattened after the optimization, even though there are uncertainties in the model, thus reducing the cost paid by the utility company. The distributed algorithms are also shown to reduce the users' daily bills.
An improved model for wave propagation in laminated piezoelectric composites

Abstract We develop an improved continuum mixture model for the propagation of longitudinal waves in piezoelectric bi-laminated periodic media. Improvement is based on retaining the term representing the axial rate of change of the transverse displacement in the shear relation, which was neglected in the previous model [Nayfeh, A.H., Faidi, W., Abdelrahman, W., 1999. Journal of Applied Physics 85, 2337–2345]. The improved model is found to be superior to the original one when its dispersion characteristics are compared with those pertaining to the exact solution.
Role of α-blockers in the treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment of nonbacterial chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome continues to be a challenge for the treating physician. However, results from studies on the use of α-blockers seem to show some promise. Further studies on this class of drugs in the treatment of this condition are recommended.
Notes and Communications “A DECISION THEORY EXAMPLE IN FOOTBALL”: A COMMENT*

Janssen and Daniel analyzed the choice between a one- or a two-point conversion for a particular game situation in college football. Their decision criteria was maximum expected utility based on a von Neumann-Morgenstern utility function defined over the games outcomes. An alternative approach based on a stochastic dominance criterion is presented that does not rely on knowledge of the relative importance of tying vs. winning; rather, it relies on a notion of consistency in the sequential problem.
Emergency Department and Office-Based Evaluation of Patients With Chest Pain

The management of patients with chest pain is a common and challenging clinical problem. Although most of these patients do not have a life-threatening condition, the clinician must distinguish between those who require urgent management of a serious problem such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and those with more benign entities who do not require admission. Although clinical judgment continues to be paramount in meeting this challenge, new diagnostic modalities have been developed to assist in risk stratification. These include markers of cardiac injury, risk scores, early stress testing, and noninvasive imaging of the heart. The basic clinical tools of history, physical examination, and electrocardiography are currently widely acknowledged to allow early identification of low-risk patients who have less than 5% probability of ACS. These patients are usually initially managed in the emergency department and transitioned to further outpatient evaluation or chest pain units. Multiple imaging strategies have been investigated to accelerate diagnosis and to provide further risk stratification of patients with no initial evidence of ACS. These include rest myocardial perfusion imaging, rest echocardiography, computed tomographic coronary angiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. All have very high negative predictive values for excluding ACS and have been successful in reducing unnecessary admissions for patients at low to intermediate risk of ACS. As patients with acute chest pain transition from the evaluation in the emergency department to other outpatient settings, it is important that all clinicians involved in the care of these patients understand the tools used for assessment and risk stratification.
The Bases of Effective Coordination in Decentralized Multi-Agent Systems

Coordination is a recurring theme in multiagent systems design. We consider the problem of achieving coordination in a system where the agents make autonomous decisions based solely on local knowledge. An open theoretical issue is what goes into achieving effective coordination? There is some folklore about the importance of the knowledge held by the different agents, but the rest of the rich agent landscape has not been explored in depth. The present paper seeks to delineate the different components of an abstract architecture for agents that influence the effectiveness of coordination. Specifically, it proposes that the extent of the choices available to the agents as well as the extent of the knowledge shared by them are both important for understanding coordination in general. These lead to a richer view of coordination that supports a more intuitive set of claims. This paper supports its conceptual conclusions with experimental results based on simulation.
A gene encoding the cytokinin enzyme zeatin O-xylosyltransferase of Phaseolus vulgaris.

Zeatin is the most active and ubiquitous form of the naturally occurring cytokinins. Glycosyl conjugates of zeatin are found in many plant tissues and are considered important for storage and protection against degradative enzymes. Two enzymes catalyzing the formation of O-glycosyl derivatives of zeatin have been characterized, O-glucosyltransferase and O-xylosyltransferase, occurring in seeds of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), respectively. Recently, the ZOG1 gene (zeatin O-glucosyltansferase) was isolated from P. lunatis (Martin et al., 1999). Based on the ZOG1 sequence, the ZOX1 gene (zeatin O-xylosyltransferase) was cloned from P. vulgaris. ZOX1 contains an open reading frame of 1362 bp that codes for a 454-amino acid peptide of 51 kD. The recombinant protein has properties identical to the native enzyme: it catalyzes O-xylosylzeatin formation with UDP-Xyl as a glycosyl donor but does not recognize UDP-Glucose as a substrate. The ZOX1 and ZOG1 genes exhibit 93% identity at the nucleotide level and 90% similarity at the amino acid level. Neither gene contains introns. These zeatin-specific genes and their promoters will be useful for studies of the regulation of active versus storage forms of cytokinins. Comparison of sequences encoding similar enzymes with distinct substrate specificity may lead to identification of epitopes specific to cytokinin and glycosyl donor molecules.
Contribution of a Solute's chiral solvent imprint to optical rotation

Solvent or solute dissymmetry? The dissymmetric ordering of solvent molecules around the chiral solute (see picture) contributes to the chiroptical signature. Indeed, the solvent can dominate the chiroptical response, as shown for (S)-methyloxirane in benzene. (Figure Presented). © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
Acoustic analysis of deaf speech using digital processing techniques

The development of speech-training aids for the deaf requires an understanding of how the acoustic characteristics of deaf speech differ from those of normal speech. The analysis of deaf speech presents problems in that formants may be closely spaced relative to their bandwidths, or unusual variations in voicing may make the separation of source and vocaltract characteristics more difficult than for normal speech. The fundamental frequency contours of deaf children exhibit unusual characteristics, and a second major problem of interest is the quantitative specification of these contours and how they differ from those of normal children. Two digital-processing techniques which are well suited for these problems are the chirp z transform and the short-term orthogonal polynomial analysis. Application of these techniques in the acoustic analysis of the speech of deaf children is discussed.
Current Management of Gallbladder Carcinoma

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common and aggressive type among the biliary tree cancers (BTCs). Complete surgical resection offers the only chance for cure; however, only 10% of patients with GBC present with early-stage disease and are considered surgical candidates. Among those patients who do undergo "curative" resection, recurrence rates are high. There are no established adjuvant treatments in this setting. Patients with unresectable or metastatic GBC have a poor prognosis. There has been a paucity of randomized phase III data in this field. A recent report demonstrated longer overall survival with gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin than with gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced or metastatic BTCs. Molecularly targeted agents are under development. In this review, we attempt to discuss the current status and key issues involved in the management of GBC.
Pain management following the Nuss procedure: a survey of practice and review

Background Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity. The Nuss procedure is frequently used for surgical correction and this technique has been associated with severe and prolonged post-operative pain. At the present time, the optimal analgesic strategy for managing patients following this procedure has not been determined. Methods A web-based survey was sent to representatives from 108 primarily pediatric hospitals in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. One individual per institution was contacted to complete the survey on behalf of their department. Results Survey response rate was 54% and 55 institutions reported using the Nuss procedure for correction of pectus excavatum. Annual case volume is less than or equal to 25 cases in 57% of institutions, and the most common age of patients is 14 to 17 years old. A clinical protocol for patient post-operative pain management is used in 45% of institutions. Thoracic epidural is utilized as a primary analgesic modality by 91% of institutions. Concomitant use of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia is reported by 27% of institutions. Nine respondents (16%) reported that they had recently stopped performing epidurals because of surgeon preference. Referral of one or more patients annually for chronic pain management was reported in 22% of surveys. Conclusions Post-operative pain management following the Nuss procedure is variable and poorly characterized. Clinical trials or large observational registries comparing the safety and efficacy of primary modalities and long-term outcomes are needed to enable evidence-based decision-making for the management of these patients.
An arbitrary reference configuration (ARC) based nonlinear shell formulation for finite rotation/deformation dynamic analysis

In this paper, we present a generalized shell node based formulation to further develop a general shell element formulation for nonlinear dynamic analysis. The generalized shell node is constructed by several nodal Cartesian coordinate system attached to a rigid body for each element node. There is a master nodal Cartesian coordinate system existing in the generalized shell node to describe the global displacement vector. There are also several attached nodal Cartesian coordinate systems in the generalized shell node which are used for special interpolations for the shell nite element. To utilize nite element analysis to handle nite nodal rotation, the exact nodal rotation is formulated for the shell element. The total Lagrangian formulation, the updated Lagrangian formulation, and the arbitrary reference conguration (ARC) formulation for the application of the generalized shell node along with the application of the forward incremental displacement central dierence (FIDCD) time integration method for the resulting semi-discretized equation of motion are described in this paper. The pros/cons are assessed for nite rotation and nte rotation and nite deformation dynamic analysis.
Variation among natural isolates of Neurospora on small spatial scales

Although species of Neurospora are among the most studied model organisms in genetics and biochemistry, basic questions remain with respect to their ecology and population biology. In this study, we sought to clarify relationships among individuals over a small spatial scale, toward assessing both local variation and mode of colonization. Isolates of Neurospora were collected after fires in the Florida Everglades (May 1999), where abundant colonies appeared on diverse plants, including grasses and woody shrubs. Colonies were sampled in a linear fashion from two adjacent scorched sugarcane stems at one site and from a burned woody shrub at a distant second site. Species and mating types were assigned based on crossing behavior. Variation at two loci, het-c and frq, was determined by direct sequencing of PCR products. The results demonstrated substantial within- and among-species variation on a small scale, with up to three species and six different haplotypes occurring on a single stem. In total, four spec...
A Phosphorescent Molecular “Butterfly” that undergoes a Photoinduced Structural Change allowing Temperature Sensing and White Emission†

A butterfly-like phosphorescent platinum(II) binuclear complex can undergo a molecular structure change in which the Pt–Pt distance shortens upon photoexcitation, which leads to the formation of two distinct excited states and dual emission in the steady state, that is, greenish-blue emission from the high-energy excited state at the long Pt–Pt distance and red emission from the low-energy excited state at the short Pt–Pt distance. This photoinduced molecular structure change has a strong dependence on the molecule’s surrounding environment, allowing its application as self-referenced luminescent sensor for solid–liquid phase change, viscosity, and temperature, with greenish-blue emission in solid matrix and rising red emission in molten liquid phase. With proper control of the surrounding media to manipulate the structural change and photophysical properties, a broad white emission can be achieved from this molecular butterfly.
K-Ar ages from the Near Islands, western Aleutian Islands, Alaska: Indication of a mid-Oligocene thermal event

Deformed and metamorphosed basaltic volcanic rocks (one pillow lava, one amphibolite) from the basement on Attu Island have yielded whole-rock K-Ar ages of about 30 m.y. The greenschist (or higher grade) assemblage of these rocks and their presumed correlation with late Eocene or older early-series rocks elsewhere in the Aleutian arc suggest that these dates indicate a time of metamorphism. Similar ages (≅30 m.y.) for two mafic intrusions into the basement may also signify a time of metamorphism. These four ages place an older limit on, and may coincide with, the mid-Tertiary tectonism that deformed rocks of the early series along the length of the Aleutian arc. One post-early-series intrusion on Agattu is 14 m.y. old, in agreement with previous results from Shemya on a similar rock and in accord with the observation of a relatively abrupt start of late Tertiary magmatism throughout the arc about 15 m.y. ago. The youngest recognized igneous activity in the Near Islands is represented by hornblende-bearing rocks (one andesite lava, one dacite dike) on Attu that have yielded ages of 6 to 8 m.y.
Weighted expectation maximization reconstruction algorithms for thermoacoustic tomography

Thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) is an emerging imaging technique with potential for a wide range of biomedical imaging applications. In this correspondence, we propose an infinite family of weighted expectation maximization (EM) algorithms for reconstruction of images from temporally truncated TAT measurement data. The weighted EM algorithms are equivalent mathematically to the conventional EM algorithm, but are shown to propagate data inconsistencies in different ways. Using simulated and experimental TAT measurement data, we demonstrate that suitable choices of weighted EM algorithms can effectively mitigate image artifacts that are attributable to temporal truncation of the TAT data function.
Understanding of defect physics in polycrystalline photovoltaic materials

The performance of thin-film solar cells is influenced by the quality of interfaces and formation of defects such as point defects, stacking faults, twins, dislocations, and grain boundaries. It is important to understand the defect physics so that appropriate methods may be developed to suppress the formation of harmful defects. Here, we review our understanding of defect physics in thin-film photovoltaic (PV) materials such as Si, CdTe, Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 (CIGS), Cu 2 ZnSnSe 2 (CZTSe), and Cu 2 ZnSnS 2 (CZTS) using the combination of nanoscale electron microscopy characterization and density-functional theory (DFT). Although these thin-film PV materials share the same basic structural feature — diamond structure based — the defect physics in them could be very different. Some defects, such as stacking faults and special twins, have similar electronic properties in these thin-film materials. However, some other defects, such as grain boundaries and interfaces, have very different electronic properties in these materials. For example, grain boundaries produce harmful deep levels in Si and CdTe, but they do not produce significant deep levels in CIGS, CZTSe, and CZTS. These explain why passivation is critical for Si and CdTe solar cells, but is less important in CIS and CZTS solar cells. We further provide understanding of the effects of interfaces on the performance of solar cells made of these PV materials.
HIV/AIDS Among Female Prison Inmates: A Public Health Concern

Research points to the importance of adequate health care in women’s prisons. This is especially important as female inmates are faced with a host of unique and distinct needs, in particular, an increased risk of HIV/AIDS infection. This risk presents a significant public health concern as the majority of female offenders receive limited screening, treatment, education, and counseling related to HIV/AIDS infection and transmission while in prison. Additionally, when these women return to their communities, they are generally ill-equipped to prevent the transmission of their disease. Further, their heath concerns become the responsibility of an already overburdened public health system. Effective medical care in prison alleviates inmates’ growing medical needs and protects the public from the transmission of HIV/AIDS. This study identifies the current state of HIV/AIDS among female inmates in correctional institutions nation wide. We argue that mandatory AIDS screening for all inmates and gender-specific educational programming will lower the rate of transmission and the prevalence of high-risk behaviors, thus reducing pre- and post-release health threats. Future research directions and policy implications are discussed.
Field evaluation of geocell use in flexible pavements

Wheel rutting in excess of 100 mm occurred within 7 days after reconstruction of a section of Route 30 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, an urban roadway with high average daily traffic. The road was reconstructed on a weak subgrade, and soil tests produced California bearing ratio values between 1.5 and 6.5 percent. A geocell confinement system was used to stabilize the subgrade and solve this problem. The geocell used was constructed of high-density polyethylene. Each geocell panel was fabricated using 60 strips 3.3 m long and 100 mm thick. The panels were 2.4 m x 6.1 m when expanded and created a honeycomb-patterned cellular confinement system. The geocell system was used in combination with other geosynthetics (geogrid or geotextiles, or both). The findings indicated that the geocell system used in this project performed very favorably. The roadway has not shown any pavement distress (alligator cracking, rutting, etc.) during the 3-year evaluation period. To date, falling weight deflectometer data, in...
Liquid helium-II target for precision measurements of pion cross sections☆

Abstract A target of superfluid helium has been developed for the purpose of measuring pion total cross sections. The diameter of the cylindrical target cell is 7.57 cm. The absolute target thickness is known to better than 0.1%.
Tax Rate Changes and the Specification of the Tax Equation

Various methods have been used to incorporate tax rate changes into the tax equation. Some economists, building on the early work by Groves and Kahn, convert all tax data to reflect the same tax rate and tax base before estimating a tax equation, while, more recently, Singer and others have used additive dummy variables in allowing for tax rate changes. In this paper a theoretical model showing that changes in tax rates affect both the slope and the intercept of the tax equation is developed. Empirical work, based on the fiscal history of Louisiana, is then presented to support the implications of the theoretical model.
Rare earth element oxides for tracing sediment movement

The development of soil conservation plans and evaluation of spatially distributed erosion models require knowledge of rates of soil loss and sedimentation on different landscape elements and slope positions. Characterization of soil erosion rates and patterns within watersheds is important for the understanding of erosion processes and landscape evolution. Experimental data that show spatial translocation of soil on slopes are limited. A method for obtaining spatially distributed information on sediment movement employing rare earth element (REE) oxides is proposed. Five REE oxides in powder form were uniformly mixed with the soil on different parts of a 10% slope in a 4� 4 m soil bed. Particle translocation was measured during eight simulated rainfalls at 60 mm h � 1 intensity. A laser scanner was utilized to obtain digital elevation models (DEMs) of the soil surface that were used as the reference data to compare with the tracer method. REE concentration in soil and runoff samples was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Erosion rates for different slope positions estimated from REE concentrations correlated with those calculated from the DEMs with relative differences for different slope sections of 4–40%. The enrichment ratio for this type of tracer was 1.7. The amount of sediment produced on different parts of the slope varied, with the greatest erosion occurring on the upper-middle part of the slope. The experiment showed that the multi-element tracer method provided a satisfactory way to study soil erosion distribution on a uniform slope. D 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
CT of atlanto-occipital dislocation: the “absent atlas” sign

A case of atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is presented. Lateral cervical spine films, tomography, and computed tomography (CT) with reconstructions were obtained. The Powers ratio produced different values for different imaging procedures. This was probably caused by changes in the position of the craniovertebral junction from one examination to another. Axial CT produced one image that was almost completely devoid of bony craniovertebral structures. The “absent atlas” sign is an important indicator of AOD. Patients with (suspected) AOD should have cervical spine films and CT. Conventional tomography is unnecessary and should be avoided.
The role of durables replacement and second-hand markets in a business-cycle model

Transactions of used durables are large and cyclical, but their interaction with purchases of new durables has been neglected in the study of business cycles. I ll in this gap by introducing a new model of durables replacement and second-hand markets. The model generates a discretionary replacement demand function, it nests a standard business-cycle model of durables, and it veries the Coase conjecture. The model delivers three conclusions: markups are smaller for goods that are more durable and more frequently replaced; markups are countercyclical for durables, resolving the comovement puzzle of Barsky, House, and Kimball (2007); and procyclical replacement demand amplies durable spending.
The Binary Blends, Transreaction and Copolymers of Bisphenol-A Polycarbonate and a Polyarylate

Physical blends of bisphenoI-A polycarbonate (PC) and a polyarylate (PAr) exhibit by thermal analysis two amorphous phases: a pure PC phase and a PAr-rich miscible mixed phase. On controlled thermal treatment, transreaction between PC and PAr takes place mainly in the mixed phase, producing a new copolymer. Reaction progression from block to random copolymers has been traced by DSC, 13C NMR and GPC. The final product of transreaction is an amorphous copolymer showing a single Tg depending on the original binary composition.
Autonomy Versus Equality: Voting Rights Rediscovered

Using empirical and other evidence, this paper examines the success of Shaw v. Reno and the Supreme Court's wrongful districiting cases in reducing the role of race in politics. Observing that the Court has shown an inability to distinguish between race as such and politics, the author argues that rather than reduce the role of race, more than a decade of the wrongful districting cases has simply reduced minority political autonomy under the stalking horse of color-blindness. The author argues that this autonomy ought not be so easily disposable because it is rooted in the Constitution and in the exercise of the franchise.
Robust Gain-Scheduling Output Feedback Control of State-Delayed LFT Systems Using Dynamic IQCs

This paper is concerned with the robust gain-scheduling output feedback control problem for a class of linear parameter-varying systems with time-varying state delay. The controlled plant under consideration is described as a linear fractional transformation (LFT) model of scheduling parameters. Dynamic integral quadratics (IQCs) are employed to characterize the input-output behavior of the state-delay nonlinearity. The robust stability and the L2-gain performance are first analyzed using quadratic Lyapunov function. Then, the design of dynamic output-feedback controllers robust against the plant state-delay nonlinearity and gain-scheduled by parameters is examined. The synthesis conditions of such robust gain-scheduling controllers are formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) plus a line search, which can be solved effectively using existing algorithms. A numerical example has been used to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed approach.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Hulled and hull-less barley grains with the genetic trait for low-phytic acid increased the apparent total-tract digestibility of phosphorus and calcium in diets for young swine

A 35-d experiment was conducted using 63 crossbred pigs (35 barrows and 28 gilts) with an initial average BW of 7.0 kg and age of 28 d to evaluate the efficacy of the low-phytic acid (LPA) genetic trait in hulled or hull-less barley in isocaloric diets. Hulled barleys were the normal barley (NB) cultivar Harrington and the near-isogenic LPA mutant 955 (M955) with P availabilities of 36 and 95%, respectively. Hull-less lines were produced by crossing NB and the LPA mutant 422 line with a hull-less line, producing hull-less NB (HNB) and hull-less mutant 422 (HM422) with P availabilities of 41 and 66%, respectively. Pigs were in individual metabolism cages or pens for Phase 1 (d 0 to 14) and Phase 2 (d 14 to 35). Diets defined as NB, HNB, HM422, or M955 with no added inorganic P (iP) had available P (aP) concentrations of 0.27, 0.28, 0.35, and 0.40% for Phase 1 and 0.15, 0.17, 0.23, and 0.31% for Phase 2, respectively. Only diet M955 was adequate in aP. Therefore, iP was added to the P-deficient diets to make diets NB + iP, HNB + iP, and HM422 + iP with aP equal to that in diet M955. Overall (d 0 to 35), ADG and G:F were greater ( < 0.01) for pigs fed diet M955 or the diets with added iP than for pigs fed the NB diet. Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity on d 34 was greater ( < 0.01) for pigs fed the NB or HNB diets than for pigs fed the other diets. Bone breaking strength and P absorption (g/d) were greater ( < 0.01) for pigs fed diet M955 or the diets with iP than for pigs fed the NB or HNB diets. Pigs fed diet M955 absorbed greater ( < 0.01) percentages of P and Ca and had less ( < 0.01) fecal excretion of P (g/d and %) and Ca (%) than pigs fed the other diets. In conclusion, the LPA genetic trait was effective in hulled and hull-less barley in isocaloric diets fed to young pigs. Pigs fed the diet with LPA M955 consumed 31% less P and excreted 78% less fecal P and 30% less fecal Ca than pigs fed the diet with NB + iP that was equal to diet M955 in aP. Therefore, LPA barley, especially M955 with 95% aP, will reduce the use of iP in swine diets, reduce P pollution from swine manure, and support the goal of achieving global P sustainability.
Myocardial function and metabolism in pig hearts after relief from chronic partial coronary stenosis.

Metabolic behavior was compared during acute extracorporeal reperfusion after removal of a chronic 4-day partial coronary stenosis in eight pig hearts (RCS group) and during comparable extracorporeal perfusion in seven chronically prepared hearts (Sham group). Coronary stenosis in RCS hearts was induced in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery by partial inflation of a hydraulic occluder to restrict LAD peak phasic velocity by approximately 50%. Regional mechanical shortening was decreased in RCS compared with Sham hearts after 4 days of chronic coronary stenosis [diminished systolic shortening (P
Contextual Interference Can Facilitate Motor Learning in Older Adults and in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACTIn healthy young adults motor learning is typically improved by practice under conditions of high contextual interference such as that created when a series of skills are practiced in a random sequence. The authors examined whether individuals with Parkinson's disease and age-matched older adults might also benefit from such a learning environment. Participants learned 3 peg placement movements under both random practice and blocked practice schedules. Participants completed free-recall, cued-recall, and transfer tests 1 day and 1 week following practice. During acquisition all learners had shorter movement times (MTs) during blocked than random practice but during retention testing, MTs were shorter if the patterns had been learned with random practice. Fewer errors during free recall following random practice were evident in both groups of learners and MTs to complete a novel transfer task were shorter following random practice. These findings suggest employing a cognitively challenging practice...
A Note on Weeping Lubrication

Professors Dowson and Wright say that joints enjoy ‘either the boosted or weeping mechanisms, or even both’. It would be diplomatic for me to join the professors in their pan-theorism. But boosted and weeping lubrication are based on diametrically opposed deductions about the flow of liquid through the rubbing surfaces of the cartilages. They cannot coexist. If joint lubrication is worth studying at all, if learning about it is to benefit future sufferers from arthritis, the Leeds group and I should clearly delineate our differences rather than paper them over.
Theoretical investigation of frictional effects for laminar compressible flow in a tube entry

An approximate integral method is used for calculating the longitudinal pressure distribution of a laminar compressible flow in the entrance region of a duct. The method is based on the observation that when the boundary layer is thin, its growth along the duct is approximated by that for laminar flow over a flat plate. The velocity and temperature profiles in the boundary layer of the tube flow are assumed to be identical with those pertaining to a plate flow having a free-stream Mach number equal to the entrance Mach number of the corresponding tube flow.
Novel approach for electron magnetic resonance: a FEL based time domain EMR spectrometer

New attention is given to electron magnetic resonance following development at high frequency (HF). Continuous wave spectroscopy is nowadays performed up to 1 THz. There is interest in developing time domain machines and methodology for HF EMR and HF EMR/NMR spectroscopies. We review recent data in THz magneto-optic, describe the conceptual design of a FEL based spectrometer in the 100 to 1,000 GHz range, and discuss potential applications in physics, chemistry, and biology.
Examining Teachers' Understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of this study was to examine teachers’ knowledge, misconceptions and concerns about students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This mixed methods study involved 173 school teachers from five elementary schools. Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Scale (KADDS) was used to measure teachers’ knowledge and perspectives about ADHD. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Additionally, themes were created based on the responses from open-ended responses. The findings indicate that the majority of the teachers did not have coursework related to students with ADHD in their teacher preparation programme. The teachers indicated inadequate administrative support and access to professional development as primary reasons for their inability to include ASHD in their classrooms. This study concludes that given a rise in the numbers of students with ADHD, it is imperative that teachers receive specific and advanced training related to ADHD signs and symptoms to implement specific teaching strategies. Furthermore, future research should focus on evaluating teacher training programmes to demonstrate how emotional health as a result of ADHD could impact students’ performances negatively.