cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A kinetic model for the chemical degradation of perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers: Weak end groups versus side chain cleavage

The durability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is a critical factor in the future commercial success of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Presently, the favored PEM material is made of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers. Current efforts to improve PFSA durability are hindered by the lack of thorough understanding of the chemical mechanism by which PFSA degrades. In this paper, the PFSA chemical degradation mechanism is reviewed which incorporates two possibilities for initiation along the PFSA polymer: weak polymer end groups versus side chain cleavage. A kinetic model is developed which quantitatively distinguishes between these two degradation initiation mechanisms. Experimentally, degraded PFSA samples were obtained under both fuel cell and ex situ Fenton's test conditions, and infrared spectroscopy (IR) was used to measure the relative concentration of carboxylic acid end groups on the degraded polymer chains. The IR data, coupled with the corresponding ionomer fluoride loss data, validate the kinetic model and allow calculation of the kinetic constants which distinguish between the two degradation initiation mechanisms. Theoretical case studies are also included to illustrate the usefulness of the kinetic model.
We think we see a pattern emerging here.

For more than 30 years, the quest for interventions that can preserve viability in ischemic myocardium has been ongoing. The search began with the pioneering studies of Maroko and colleagues in the 1970s.1 Although reperfusion therapy has emerged as a great success story, we are still on a quest for an intervention that can preserve viability until blood flow can be restored in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. This field has progressed along 3 distinct lines. See pp 173 and 194 The first line was ischemic preconditioning, initially described by Charles Murry,2 working with Keith Reimer and Robert Jennings at Duke University. It was noted that infarct size in dogs was much smaller if hearts were preconditioned with a series of short coronary artery occlusions before a sustained 40-minute occlusion. This seemed paradoxical because the preconditioned hearts actually had undergone 20 additional minutes of ischemia. We now know that the preconditioning ischemia sets in motion a complex cascade of signal transduction events that ultimately modify the cardiomyocytes to make them resistant to infarction. As these signal transduction pathways were elucidated, more and more opportunities for pharmacological intervention were revealed. Now it is relatively easy to pharmacologically precondition the heart, but there is one huge drawback with preconditioning: The heart must be preconditioned before the lethal ischemic insult, thus precluding this approach from clinical application in acute myocardial infarction when patients present unannounced after onset of the ischemic process. A treatment was needed that would protect the heart even when given after ischemia had begun. The second line of development resulted from the empirical screening of agents administered during myocardial ischemia. Several drugs were identified that offered good protection when given to ischemic hearts just before reperfusion. These drugs include insulin,3 transforming growth factor-β,4 the adenosine …
A Two-Dimensional Ballistocardiographic Study of the Relation of Body Size to Ballistic Amplitude in Children

Simultaneous longitudinal and transverse ballistocardiograms were obtained from 20 normal boys and 20 normal girls ranging in age from 4 to 15 years. A highly significant correlation was found to exist between body surface area and the basal mean IJ amplitude.
Second malignancy after treatment of childhood non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND The objective of this report was to determine the cumulative incidence of and risk factors for second malignancy and the competing risk of death due to any other cause among patients who were treated for childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 497 patients with NHL who were treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between 1970 and 1997. RESULTS A second malignancy developed in 16 patients (9 patients with solid tumors and 7 patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia [AML]). This number was 10.8-fold (95% confidence interval, 6.1–16.9) higher than the 1.48 patients projected for the general population by SEER Cancer Statistics. The estimated cumulative incidence rate of second malignancy was 2.1% ± 0.7% at 10 years after diagnosis of NHL and increased to 4.8% ± 1.3% at 20 years after diagnosis. The cumulative incidence rate of second malignancy was least among patients with small noncleaved cell lymphoma (0.5% ± 0.5% at 20 years), higher among patients with large cell lymphoma (5.8% ± 3.3% at 20 years), and highest among patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma (10.9% ± 3.6% at 20 years; P = 0.002 for overall comparison). Exposure to epipodophyllotoxins was a risk factor for the development of secondary AML (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence rate of death due to other causes was significantly less for patients who were treated after June 1978 (19.9% ± 2.2% at 10 years) compared with patients who were treated earlier (55.6% ± 4.2% at 10 years; P < 0.001), whereas the risk of second malignancy was similar for these two eras. CONCLUSIONS Survivors of childhood NHL, especially those with lymphoblastic histology, are at a greater risk of developing a second malignancy compared with the general population. The incidence rate of second malignancy has remained unchanged despite a recent decline in the risk of death related to primary NHL or earlier treatment complications. Cancer 2001;92:1959–66. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Guiding Goal-Directed Therapy

Several studies have demonstrated that perioperative hemodynamic optimization (or “goal directed therapy”) using minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring technologies has the ability to improve postoperative patients’ outcome with lower complication rates, shorter hospital lengths of stay, and lower cost of surgery. This specific concept of goal-directed therapy (GDT) uses perioperative cardiac output monitoring and manipulation of physiologic parameters (dynamic parameters of fluid responsiveness) to guide intravenous fluids and inotropic therapy with the goal of ensuring adequate tissue perfusion. Recently, the evidence related to the implementation of GDT strategies has been considered strong enough to allow for the creation of national recommendations in the UK, in France, and by the European Society of Anaesthesiology. The aims of the programs are to apply best practices to high-risk surgical patients and requires the participation of all clinicians involved in patients’ care. Considering the potential clinical and economic benefits of GDT protocols and the positive recommendations from influential scientific societies, more and more hospitals around the world have become interested in implementing hemodynamic optimization in their departments. This review provides the information about the evolution of hemodynamic monitoring from invasive to the more recent noninvasive devices, and how these devices can be used in the operating rooms through well-defined algorithms of GDT.
NDE OF LUMBER AND NATURAL FIBER BASED PRODUCTS WITH AIR COUPLED ULTRASOUND

Due to the porous nature of wood and natural fiber based products, conventional fluid or gel coupled ultrasonic inspection is unsuitable. Air‐coupled ultrasonic transmission scanning, being non‐contact, is ideally suited for inspecting lumber, wood and natural fiber based products. We report here several successful applications of air‐coupled ultrasound for the inspection of wood. Air‐coupled ultrasonic scan at 120 kHz can easily detect “sinker‐stock” lumber in which bacterial damage of ray tissue cells had occurred during anaerobic pond storage. Channels in ash lumber board caused by insect bore were imaged in transmission scan. Delamination and material inhomogeneities were mapped out in manufactured wood and natural fiber products including medium density fiberboards, compression molded shredded waste wood with formaldehyde resin, and acoustic panels molded with kenaf fibers. The study has demonstrated some of the capabilities of air‐coupled ultrasound in the NDE of forest products.
Time-domain frequency-selective optical data storage

It is shown that both the spatial and the temporal behavior of a laser pulse can be stored in and recalled from the spatial and spectral distribution of population in the ground state of an inhomogeneously broadened sample. Implications with regard to high-speed frequency-selective optical memories and ultra-high-speed holographic motion pictures are discussed.
Genetic and epigenetic characteristics of ICSI children

The outcome of pregnancy and the developmental wellbeing of children conceived from 12,866 consecutive intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles was assessed. A total of 3277 couples delivered 5891 neonates. There was a higher than normal incidence of de-novo chromosomal abnormalities in a small sample of ICSI offspring. Controlling for maternal age showed that the incidence of low birth weight and gestational length were comparable with the naturally conceived counterpart. Rates of malformation in ICSI offspring ranged from 3.5 to 6.2%. At 3 years of age (n = 811), the proportion of children at risk for developmental delays was 10.4% in ICSI and 10.7% in IVF singletons. However, high order gestations were characterized by 19.4% of the children having compromised development. Epigenetic analysis of assisted reproductive technique conceptuses found minor imprinted gene expression imbalances. ICSI offspring presented with genetic defects that were inherited or arose de novo. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies appeared to be dependent upon maternal age. ICSI and IVF appeared to exert a negative effect on the wellbeing of offspring mainly because of the association with multiple gestations. All assisted reproduction procedures should be monitored for the eventual effect of environmental aggressors on offspring epigenesis.
Fate of Legume and Fertilizer Nitrogen-15 in a Long-Term Cropping Systems Experiment

Relying more on biological N 2 fixation has been suggested as a way to meet one of the major challenges of agricultural sustainability. A 15 N study was conducted to compare the fate of applied legume and fertilizer N in a long-term cropping systems experiment. Nitrogen-15-labeled red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 were applied to microplots within the low-input and conventional cropping systems of the Farming Systems Trial at the Rodale Institute Research Center in Penn-sylvania. The 15 N was applied to soil and traced into corn (Zea mays L.) in 1987 and 1988. Residual 15 N was also traced into second-year spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Legume and fertilizer 15 N remaining in soil was measured and loss of N was calculated by difference
Managing wealth: A new approach

This paper investigates how well ‘mid-worth’ individuals are served by the financial services industry in the UK. It defines and analyses the new phenomenon of ‘mid-worth’ individuals: the rapid growth in the number of people with significant liquid assets available for investment. It then considers how well these individuals are served by the most common investment products and concludes that most individuals are so poorly served that the result is seriously damaging to their long-term financial health. The paper investigates the main reasons for this: a lack of understanding of the relationship between risk and return, and what can only be described as a conspiracy of ‘mystification’, resulting in customers standing even less chance of understanding the risk-return relationship. The consequence of this is that investors end up paying far too much for ‘heavily packaged’ investment products with the result that they may find they have much less money available to them when they need it most—in old age. The research for this paper was sponsored by Close Wealth Management.
Color-naming defects in dyslexic boys.

Summary Five boys, aged 7.5–10.7 years, presented with a syndrome of severe dyslexia and color-naming difficulty, without comparable object or picturenaming difficulty, without color blindness, and without conspicuous “soft” neurological signs. Their color-naming defect was compared to a variety of color anomias reported in adults with acquired lesions and it was concluded that these boys most closely resemble the “aphasic”, rather than the “disconnexion” type. The remarkable severity and purity of their dyslexia, coupled with the color-naming defect, suggests that a highly specific differentiation of function exists within the cerebral language areas and discrete malfunction can account for specific subtypes of dyslexia.
Matrix Effects on Size-Selectivity of Polymeric Reagents and Catalysts

Selectivity has been investigated for the catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes using a polymeric catalyst derived from a polystyryldiphenylphosphine resin and tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium (I). These data together with the selectivity observed for a closely related polymeric phosphine reagent capable of converting alcohols to alkyl chlorides provide compelling evidence that a polymer support can impose a modest degree of size-selectivity to an attached reagent and catalyst.
Involuntary Inpatient Commitment in the Context of Mental Health Recovery

Involuntary inpatient commitment is a legal reality that includes the need for clinical assessment. Such judgments by mental health professionals have traditionally favored the need for treatment over a person's expressed wish for liberty. With courts deferring to the judgments of mental health professionals, a high threshold for inpatient commitment set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court is effectively lowered. While this infringement of rights can easily be blamed on the courts, the remedy need not be left to them. Mental health professionals have an opportunity to uphold a high standard for involuntary commitment through expressing clinical opinion that supports a person's legitimate right to refuse treatment. The impetus to do so can be found in a recovery orientation that emphasizes the importance of self-directed treatment, choice, and civil rights as guiding principles.
Detection of bone metastases in urogenital malignancies utilizing 99mTc-labeled phosphate compounds

A retrospective study of 99 patients with proved urogenital malignancies was done to determine the value of bone scanning versus roentgenographic skeletal survey in assessing the degree of metastatic involvement. Findings on bone scans were positive in 59 patients, and in 7 of these patients results of roentgenographic skeletal survey were negative; 11 additional patients had only minimal roentgenographic abnormalities in contrast to more extensive involvement demonstrated by bone scanning.
Radial basis function approach to interpolation of large reflecting surfaces

In this paper, we present two methods to interpolate the numerical data that describe the reflector surface. The first method is a local method which expresses the surface as a finite series of optimal local spline interpolants with the data values being the coefficient of the spline series. The surface parameters can be efficiently computed by table look up. Without further modification, this method can only be applied to gridded data. The second method is a global method expressing the surface as a series of radial basis functions. The coefficients of the series are determined by solving a simple matrix equation. The matrix of the system is generally full and the computational efficiency is low. However, this method is applicable to surface interpolation from scattered data.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sex differences in neuropsychological function in non-psychotic relatives of schizophrenic probands.

Abstract Some recent studies suggest that men with schizophrenia may have greater neuropsychological deficits than women. It is not known, however, whether similar sex differences may be present in biological relatives of schizophrenic patients. We evaluated neuropsychological functioning of 54 relatives of schizophrenic patients and 72 normal volunteers. It was hypothesized that, if sex differences were present, they would be accounted for largely by deficits in male relatives. We were particularly interested in three neuropsychological functions that we previously identified as putative neuropsychological vulnerability indicators for schizophrenia: 1. (1) abstraction/executive function; 2. (2) verbal memory; 3. (3) auditory attention. There were significant group × sex interactions for verbal memory and motor function, and trends toward significant interactions for auditory attention and mental control/encoding. However, with the exception of motor function, it was the female relatives who accounted for most of the impairment. A speculative explanation for the findings is that women may have a higher threshold than men for developing schizophrenia. If so, female relatives might be able to withstand greater impairments than men before developing psychotic symptoms. Consequently, in a sample that was limited to non-psychotic relatives — as in the present study — there could be over-representation of both less impaired men and more impaired women. Alternative explanations and limitations of the study are also discussed.
Paradoxical activation and RAF inhibitor resistance of BRAF protein kinase fusions characterizing pediatric astrocytomas

Astrocytomas are the most common type of brain tumors in children. Activated BRAF protein kinase mutations are characteristic of pediatric astrocytomas with KIAA1549-BRAF fusion genes typifying low-grade astrocytomas and V600EBRAF alterations characterizing distinct or higher-grade tumors. Recently, BRAF-targeted therapies, such as vemurafenib, have shown great promise in treating V600E-dependent melanomas. Like V600EBRAF, BRAF fusion kinases activate MAPK signaling and are sufficient for malignant transformation; however, here we characterized the distinct mechanisms of action of KIAA1549-BRAF and its differential responsiveness to PLX4720, a first-generation BRAF inhibitor and research analog of vemurafenib. We found that in cells expressing KIAA1549-BRAF, the fusion kinase functions as a homodimer that is resistant to PLX4720 and accordingly is associated with CRAF-independent paradoxical activation of MAPK signaling. Mutagenesis studies demonstrated that KIAA1549-BRAF fusion-mediated signaling is diminished with disruption of the BRAF kinase dimer interface. In addition, the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion displays increased binding affinity to kinase suppressor of RAS (KSR), an RAF relative recently demonstrated to facilitate MEK phosphorylation by BRAF. Despite its resistance to PLX4720, the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion is responsive to a second-generation selective BRAF inhibitor that, unlike vemurafenib, does not induce activation of wild-type BRAF. Our data support the development of targeted treatment paradigms for BRAF-altered pediatric astrocytomas and also demonstrate that therapies must be tailored to the specific mutational context and distinct mechanisms of action of the mutant kinase.
Renal function outcomes for multifocal renal neoplasms managed by radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose To evaluate renal function changes related to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of multifocal renal neoplasms.
Origin of Metalliferous Sediments from the Pacific Ocean

Sediments from near the basement of a number of Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) sites, from the Bauer Deep, and from the East Pacific Rise have unusually high transition metal-to-aluminum ratios. Similarities in the chemical, isotopic, and mineralogical compositions of these deposits point to a common origin. All the sediments studied have rare-earth-element (REE) patterns strongly resembling the pattern of sea water, implying either that the REE's were coprecipitated with ferromanganese hydroxyoxides (hydroxyoxides denote a mixture of unspecified hydrated oxides and hydroxides), or that they are incorporated in small concentrations of phosphatic fish debris found in all samples. Oxygen isotopic data indicate that the metalliferous sediments are in isotopic equilibrium with sea water and are composed of varying mixtures of two end-member phases with different oxygen isotopic compositions: an iron-manganese hydroxyoxide and an iron-rich montmorillonite. A low-temperature origin for the sediments is supported by mineralogical analyses by x-ray diffraction which show that goethite, iron-rich montmorillonite, and various manganese hydroxyoxides are the dominant phases present. Sr87/Sr86 ratios for the DSDP sediments are indistinguishable from the Sr87/Sr86 ratio in modern sea water. Since these sediments were formed 30 to 90 m.y. ago, when sea water had a lower Sr87/Sr86 value, the strontium in the poorly crystalline hydroxyoxides must be exchanging with interstitial water in open contact with sea water. In contrast, uranium isotopic data indicate that the metalliferous sediments have formed a closed system for this element. The sulfur isotopic compositions suggest that sea-water sulfur dominates these sediments with little or no contribution of magmatic or bacteriologically reduced sulfur. In contrast, ratios of lead isotopes in the metalliferous deposits resemble values for oceanic tholeiite basalt, but are quite different from ratios found in authigenic marine manganese nodules. Thus, lead in the metalliferous sediments appears to be of magmatic origin. The combined mineralogical, isotopic, and chemical data for these sediments suggest that they formed from hydrothermal solutions generated by the interaction of sea water with newly formed basalt crust at mid-ocean ridges. The crystallization of solid phases took place at low temperatures and was strongly influenced by sea water, which was the source for some of the elements found in the sediments.
Changes in the metabolic profile of the equine gluteus medius as a function of sampling depth

Abstract 1. 1. Cross sections from the middle of the gluteus medius were removed from 10 adult horses and used to evaluate changes in histochemically determined muscle fiber type and biochemically determined metabolic enzyme activities as a function of sample depth. 2. 2. Muscle fiber types determined using histochemical methods for myosin ATPase (pH 9.4) and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity indicated percent fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) muscle fibers decreased and slow-twitch oxidative (SO) fibers increased as a function of increasing sampling depth. 3. 3. Percent histochemically determined fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG) fibers decresed slightly only in the deepest region of the gluteus medius. 4. 4. Citrate synthase (CS) enzymatic activity, used as a marker for mitchondrial oxidative potential, increased 2.5-fold activity per g of muscle protein from 1 to 8 cm sampling depth. 5. 5. 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) enzymatic activity, used as a marker for lipid oxidation potential, increased 3-fold in activity per g of muscle protein when the depth increased from 1 to 8 cm. 6. 6. Phosphorylase (PS) enzymatic activity, used as a marker for potential glycogen utilization, decreased 50% in activity per g of muscle protein when going from 1 to 8 cm. 7. 7. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymatic activity, used as a marker for anaerobic glycolytic potential, decreased about 50% in activity as the sampling depth increased from 1 to 8 cm. 8. 8. In summary, the superficial portion of the equine gluteus medius was found to be more glycolytic and less aerobic in its metabolic profile than deeper regions. The muscle became progressively more aerobic and less glycolytic with increasing sampling depth.
A study examining the safety and efficacy of a fractional laser in the treatment of photodamage on the hands.

Background: Few clinical studies have been reported in the literature documenting the efficacy of non‐ablative modalities in the treatment of non‐facial areas such as the hand. Objective: The present study examined the clinical and histopathological effects of a fractional 1550 nm erbium diode fiber laser in patients with bilateral moderate hand photodamage. Methods: Nine subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types I–III, a mean age of 57 years with an average Fitzpatrick wrinkle score of 4.44 were entered in the present study. Five to six laser treatments were administered to each individual. Physician analysis based on a quartile improvement scale for wrinkling, pigmentation, skin texture and overall photodamage was assessed at 1‐month, 3‐month and 6‐month follow‐up visits. In addition, histological analyses (H&E) were carried out on three individuals. Results: Each photodamage characteristic exhibited statistically significant improvement or better (23%) in overall photodamage at the 6‐month follow‐up visit. ...
Detection of impulsive stochastic transients over background noise

We develop a receiver which detects impulsive stochastic transients superimposed on background noise and show that the new detector outperforms existing square- and vth-law detectors. The receiver is based on the assumption of a symmetric stable distribution for the transients. To derive the receiver, we first study the structure of the probability density function (pdf) of random variables which are formed as the sum of two or more independent, symmetric stable random variables of different characteristic exponents. For this pdf, we present two asymptotic series expansions, valid for small and for large argument, respectively.
Persistence at an Urban Community College: The Implications of Self-Efficacy and Motivation.

This study examined how self-efficacy and motivation affected student persistence at an urban community college. Self-efficacy was studied at two dimensions: self-regulated learning efficacy and self-efficacy for academic achievement. Motivation was also investigated at two levels: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Results show that self-regulated learning efficacy and extrinsic motivation predicted persistence. Intrinsic motivation and academic achievement self-efficacy failed to predict persistence directly. Two path models were constructed to assess the direct and indirect relationships among self-efficacy, motivation, and persistence. The reduced model explained 8% of the variance in persistence. In the reduced model, extrinsic motivation emerged as a mediator in the relationship between the two dimensions of self-efficacy and persistence. It was also found that self-efficacy measures correlated well with motivation measures. Implications and limitations of the research findings are discu...
Further validation of the FOUR score coma scale by intensive care nurses.

OBJECTIVE The FOUR (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness) score is a new coma scale that consists of 4 components (eye, motor, brainstem, and respiration). The scale was recently validated, but variability among nursing staff has been documented. PATIENTS AND METHODS We prospectively studied the FOUR score in 80 patients with acute neurologic disease in an intensive care unit (ICU) and compared it with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) using 20 experienced and inexperienced neuroscience ICU nurses and nonneuroscience ICU nurses. Each nurse was trained with the use of video examples and instruction cards. Each patient was rated by 2 nurses, with the order randomly assigned. RESULTS The rater agreement was good to excellent with the FOUR score (weighted κ: eye, 0.84; respiration, 0.92; brainstem, 0.89; and motor, 0.73) and similar to that for the GCS (weightedκ: eye, 0.85; verbal, 0.89; and motor, 0.74). Greater average experience in years was associated with less disagreement, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION The FOUR score provides more neurologic information than the GCS. The FOUR score can be used by any ICU nurses, even those with minimal experience.
High-Performance Weather Radar

A maser preamplifier designed into an X-band weather radar set AN/ MPS-34 increased the radar's sensitivity by 12.5 dB to an over-all 118.5 dBm. Many low-performance, obsoleted sets could be converted to a high-performance system through the inclusion of a maser. A qualitative discussion of the maser's operation is presented, and the quantitative effects of the maser low noise temperature on the radar's overall noise figure is derived. The meteorological targets not previously detectable are analyzed, and anticipated target detection is forecast.
The Impact of Cloud Radiative Feedback, Remote ENSO Forcing, and Entrainment on the Persistence of North Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

Abstract The influence of cloud radiative feedback, remote ENSO heat flux forcing, and oceanic entrainment on persisting North Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies is investigated using a stochastically forced ocean mixed layer model. The stochastic heat flux is estimated from an atmospheric general circulation model, the seasonally varying radiative feedback parameter and remote ENSO forcing are obtained from observations, and entrainment is derived from the observed mean seasonal cycle of ocean mixed layer depth. Persistence is examined via SST autocorrelations in the western, central, and subtropical eastern North Pacific and for the leading pattern of variability across the basin. The contribution of clouds, ENSO, and entrainment to SST persistence is evaluated by comparing simulations with and without each term. The SST autocorrelation structure in the model closely resembles nature: the pattern correlation between the two is 0.87–0.9 in the three regions and for the basinwide analyses, an...
Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Background: Because prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with growth deficiency, little attention has been paid to the potential for overweight and obesity in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This study examined the prevalence of overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI]) in a large clinical sample of children with FASD. Methods: Children, aged 2 to 19 years, who were evaluated for FASD at University Clinics, included 445 with an FASD diagnosis and 171 with No-FASD diagnosis. Prevalence of overweight/ obesity (BMI ≥85 percentile) was compared to national and state prevalence. BMI was examined in relation to FASD diagnosis, gender, and age. Dietary intake data were examined for a young subsample (n = 42). Results: Thirty-four percent with any FASD diagnosis were overweight or obese, which did not differ from the No-FASD group or U.S. prevalence. Underweight was prevalent in those with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) (17%). However, increased rates of overweight/obesity were seen in those with partial FAS (40%). Among adolescents, those with any FASD diagnosis had increased overweight/ obesity (42%), particularly among females (50%). The rate in adolescent females with FASD (50%) was nearly 3 times higher than state prevalence for adolescent females (17 to 18%), p < 0.001. In the young subsample, those who were overweight/obese consumed more calories, protein, and total fat per day than those who were not overweight or obese. Conclusions: Rates of overweight/obesity are increased in children with partial FAS. In adolescents, rates are increased for any FASD diagnosis (particularly in females). Results are suggestive of possible metabolic/endocrine disruption in FASD—a hypothesis for which there is evidence from animal models. These data suggest that clinicians may consider prenatal alcohol exposure as a risk factor for metabolic/endocrine disruption, should evaluate diet as a risk in this population, and may need to target
Milliliter-to-microliter platform for on-demand loading of aqueous and non-aqueous droplets to digital microfluidics

We describe a world-to-chip interface for automated, on-demand loading of ∼1µL droplets from a large (∼1mL demonstrated) off-chip reservoir. Utilizing a combination of compressed inert gas and gravity to exert forces on the liquid, the technique employed is simple and robust, requiring no carrier fluid. Another key feature from a practical point-of-view is that all of the wetted parts are inexpensive and potentially disposable, thus avoiding cross-contamination in chemical and biochemical applications. The proof-of-concept and versatility of the platform are demonstrated with the loading of several aqueous and non-aqueous liquids on an electrowetting-on-dielectric microfluidic device.
Partial molar volume and conformational changes produced by the denaturation of albumin by guanidine hydrochloride.

The interaction of guanidine·HCl with bovine serum albumin generates changes in the protein's partial molar volume similar to that produced by urea. Values for the parameter (v2G − v2), the difference between the partial molar volume of bovine serum albumin in guanidine. HCl and that quantity in water, were calculated from dilatometric measurements involving the transport of albumin, both in the crystalline and in the hydrated states, to solutions of denaturant. The values for (v2G − v2) ranged from 90 ml/mole albumin in 2 M guanidine·HCl to about −10 ml/mole albumin in 3.8 M solution as measured 15–120 min after mixing. The dependence of this parameter on the denaturants' concentration is explicable in terms of the formation of several species of denatured albumin as a function of the denaturants' concentration. The data indicate that the water distortion ability of a denaturant may be a necessary but not sufficient condition for a solute to function as a protein perturbing agent.
Short‐duration accelerated breathing challenges affect phonation

Objectives/Hypothesis: Inhaled air must be adequately humidified to prevent vocal fold drying, which is detrimental to phonation. The water content of inspired air is reduced by parameters, such as increased breathing rate and oral route. Accelerated oral breathing challenges induce airway dehydration and are posited to affect airway function. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether accelerated oral breathing challenges are detrimental to phonation. The secondary objective of this study was to determine whether individuals at increased risk for developing voice problems (i.e., smokers) have greater adverse phonatory effects after accelerated breathing challenge than nonsmoking controls. Study Design: Prospective study with between-subjects, repeated-measures design. Methods: Female smokers (n = 12) and nonsmoking controls (n = 12) participated in this experimental study over 2 days that differed in ambient humidity. Phonation threshold pressures (PTP) were collected prior to and following short-term accelerated and habitual breathing challenges. Respiratory measures were collected during the challenges. Results: Short-term accelerated breathing challenges significantly increased PTP. This increase in PTP with accelerated breathing was transient and not significantly influenced by breathing route, ambient humidity, or smoking status. Likewise, respiratory measures were not affected by breathing route, ambient humidity, or smoking status. Conclusions: During daily activities, such as exercise, individuals may engage in accelerated breathing for prolonged durations. This study demonstrates that even extremely short durations of accelerated breathing may affect phonation.
A Meta-Study of the Values of Visitors to Four Protected Areas in the Western United States

The values that visitors assign to protected areas influence the way they relate to those areas. Because of the diversity of objectives and missions associated with protected areas, values might be equally diverse. The purpose of this study is to identify through confirmatory factor analysis the structure of values assigned to one protected area compared to other protected areas. By employing visitor survey data from four protected areas in the western United States, the results demonstrate that some assigned values were common to all of the areas, while others were specific to the type of protected area. Understanding how and why assigned values vary by protected area is likely to be useful as managers confront complex and conflict-laden issues.
From Natural Catastrophe to the Human Catastrophe: Plato on the Origins of Written Law

This article interprets the Athenian Stranger's story of the origins of written law from Book III of Plato's Laws, to the end of filling out the picture we have of Plato's views on the purposes of law. The Athenian argues that the origins of written law reside exclusively in the need to address the problem of violent conflict among men resulting from dangerous passions and the scarcity of resources. While recent scholarship on Plato has focused on the promotion of virtue as the highest objective of law, this article clarifies the lower, but immediate and enduring, aspects of Plato's jurisprudence. Language: en
Numerical Prediction and Wind Tunnel Experiment for a Pitching Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle

Abstract The low-speed flowfield for a generic unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. A wind tunnel experiment was conducted with the Boeing 1301 UCAV at a variety of angles of attack up to 70 degrees, both statically and with various frequencies of pitch oscillation (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 Hz). In addition, pitching was performed about three longitudinal locations on the configuration (the nose, 35% MAC, and the tail). Solutions to the unsteady, laminar, compressible Navier–Stokes equations were obtained on an unstructured mesh to match results from the static and dynamic experiments. The computational results are compared with experimental results for both static and pitching cases. Details about the flowfield, including vortex formation and interaction, are shown and discussed, including the non-linear aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.
Non-Monotonic NPI-Licensing, Definite Descriptions, and Grammaticalized Implicatures

This paper comes in two parts: the first argues for the thesis that, in English, nonmonotonic contexts generally license NPIs and that standard extensions of the notion of downward-entailment do not adequately explain this. The second part argues that this observation puts pressure on some accounts of scalar implicatures and singular definite descriptions. A downward-entailing context has the property that the replacement of the predicate in the context by a stronger predicate preserves truth. So, for instance, presuppositions aside, the context after “every” in (1) where the NPI “ever” appears is downward entailing.
Vegetation response to midstorey mulching and prescribed burning for wildfire hazard reduction and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem restoration

Summary Dense midstorey vegetation, developed during fi re exclusion, not only reduces understorey plant diversity and increases the risk of damaging wildfi re but also impedes efforts to safely restore prescribed burning in longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems. Our study examined the effects of midstorey reduction on stand structure and plant diversity in a forest treated by mulching alone and also when followed by prescribed fi re during the winter, spring or summer. For trees ≥ 5 cm diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), mulching reduced stand density (1220 – 258 trees ha 1 ) and basal area (24 – 17.7 m 2 ha 1 ) and increased mean d.b.h. (12.8 – 29.2 cm), with the largest reductions in loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.), sweetgum ( Liquidambar styracifl ua L.) and oaks ( Quercus spp. L.). Removing hardwoods and smaller pines resulted in a decline in tree species richness (8.9 – 4.4). Despite a modest increase in evenness (0.72 – 0.79), tree species diversity ( H ′ = 1.32 – 0.84) dynamics were largely driven by changes in richness. While the cover of tree seedlings initially declined from 32.4 to 16.9 per cent, rapid regrowth of hardwoods led to recovery by end of the second growing season. This, along with gains by shrubs, vines, grasses and forbs, resulted in a near doubling of understorey plant cover. Although tree seedling increases were not related to fi re season, peak responses occurred for shrubs and vines after winter fi re and spring fi re, grasses following winter fi re and forbs after summer fi re. An increase in species richness (18.7 – 24.5) and decline in species evenness (0.86 – 0.70) produced only a small increase in understorey species diversity ( H ′ = 2.31 – 2.45). The greater number of understorey species following treatment were less equitably distributed as a result of differential rates of plant growth. While mulching led to a short-term increase in woody and herbaceous understorey plants, prescribed fi re is needed to curtail redevelopment of the woody midstorey and further increase grasses and forbs.
The effects of immersion and body-based rotation on learning multi-level indoor virtual environments

The goal of this study was to investigate how the immersion level of virtual environments (HMD vs. desktop) and rotation method (physical vs. imagined) affects wayfinding performance in multi-story virtual buildings and the development of multi-level cognitive maps. Twelve participants learned multi-level virtual buildings using three VE conditions (physical rotation HMD, physical rotation desktop and imagined rotation desktop). They were then tested on four cross-level tasks, including: pointing, route navigation, vertical navigation, and paper-based drilling. Results showed that performance on between-floor trials was reliably worse than for within-floor trials and that this difference was neither improved by the level of immersion of the display nor the rotation behavior used during navigation. Our data suggest that increasing the fidelity of these interface variables does not yield more accurate development of multi-level cognitive maps. Indeed, multi-level indoor wayfinding performance was as effective with the simplest and least expensive desktop display based purely on joystick navigation as the more complex VE platforms. These findings show that spatial cognition research in multi-level virtual buildings need not be limited to immersive VEs with physical body rotation which require considerable equipment cost and increased technical complexity.
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Patient-Controlled Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for the Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbance Symptom Cluster in Cancer

Context. Pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance commonly co-occur in patients receiving treatment for advanced cancer. Objectives. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess initial efficacy of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral (CB) intervention for the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster. Methods. Eighty-six patients with advanced lung, prostate, colorectal, or gynecologic cancers receiving treatment at a comprehensive cancer center were stratified by recruitment clinics (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) and randomizedtointerventionorcontrolgroups.Forty-threepatientswereassignedto receive training in and use of up to 12 relaxation, imagery, or distraction exercises delivered via an MP3 player for two weeks during cancer treatment. Forty-three patients were assigned to a waitlist control condition for the same two week period. Outcomesincludedsymptomclusterseverityandoverallsymptominterferencewith
The Shape of the B-Verse in Middle English Alliterative Poetry

We have been studying Middle English alliterative verse for over a century, but so far we lack an authoritative description of the rhythmic constraints that governed the poets who wrote alliterative verse. Though some scholars have tried to show the survival of Sievers's five types, few editors have dared, in the absence of a comprehensive and authoritative account of the meter, to emend or choose between the variants in the manuscripts on metrical grounds.' Two factors largely account for this state of affairs: the apparent variety of the verse form itself and the failure of students of the meter to distinguish the practices of poets from those of the scribes. The variety of rhythmic patterns occurring in the surviving manuscripts is formidable. Unlike foot-counted measures, Middle English alliterative meter appears to permit literally hundreds of combinations of stressed and un-
Time Course of Changes in Novice Jumpers' Countermovement Vertical Jump Performance:

Time course of changes in jump height was examined to assess whether it was related to changes in the underlying mechanics or muscle activity. In Phase I, 11 novice female students performed 10 max...
Using Term Limits to Estimate Incumbency Advantages When Officeholders Retire Strategically

Empirical study of U.S. elections over the last 50 years has documented a strong electoral advantage to incumbency in state and federal elections. Recently, however, critics have argued that traditional estimates of the incumbency advantage may overstate the advantage by as much as 100% because the estimates fail to consider strategic retirements. This article directly examines whether or not strategic retirement biases conventional regression estimates of incumbency advantages. We use term limits in state executive and legislative elections as instrumental variables to correct for strategic retirement. We find that, as an empirical matter, strategic retirement is not substantively important. Estimates of incumbency advantages that take account of strategic retirement actually are marginally larger than estimates that do not.
Tattoos and Body Piercings as Indicators of Adolescent Risk-Taking Behaviors

Purpose. This study assessed tattoos and body piercings as markers of risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. Methods. A 58-question survey, based on the 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey, was offered to all adolescent beneficiaries that came to the Adolescent Clinic. The survey contained standard Youth Risk Behavior Survey questions that inquire about eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior, and suicide. Questions about tattoos and body piercings were added for the purposes of this study. Results. Participants with tattoos and/or body piercings were more likely to have engaged in risk-taking behaviors and at greater degrees of involvement than those without either. These included disordered eating behavior, gateway drug use, hard drug use, sexual activity, and suicide. Violence was associated with males having tattoos and with females having body piercings. Gateway drug use was associated with younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Hard drug use was associated with number of body piercings. Suicide was associated with females having tattoos and younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Tattoos and body piercings were found to be more common in females than males. Conclusions. Tattoos and/or body piercings can alert practitioners to the possibility of other risk-taking behaviors in adolescents, leading to preventive measures, including counseling. Tattoo and body piercing discovery should be an important part of a health maintenance visit to best direct adolescent medical care.