cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Malignant Airway Compromise with Laser and Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy: The Mayo Clinic Experience

Between January 1983 and October 1985, 65 patients with malignant airway compromise have had 93 flexible bronchoscopic placements of a nylon afterloading catheter for low dose rate iridium-192 temporary intraluminal brachytherapy. All patients received prior (59 patients) and/or concurrent (13 patients) external beam irradiation to "tolerance" and were not candidates for surgery. Forty of these patients also received neodymium-YAG laser treatment prior to brachytherapy in a planned combined approach to provide immediate symptomatic relief and facilitate catheter placement. A dose of 3,000 cGy is prescribed to 5 mm and 10 mm radii over 20-40 hours in the bronchus and trachea, respectively. Of 59 patients treated with palliative intent, 40 patients (68 percent) have had follow-up bronchoscopy, 18 patients have had clinical follow-up only, and one patient was lost to follow-up. Of 40 patients examined by bronchoscope in follow-up, 24 (60 percent) responded, eight were stable, and eight progressed. Lack of progression after prior external beam radiation for periods of greater than 12 months, six-12 months and less than six months yielded response rates to brachytherapy in 83 percent, 50 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Most patients with clinical follow-up only expired at early intervals with airway palliation from extra-airway disease progression. Four of five patients treated with curative intent are disease-free at a median of 16 months. Eleven patients have experienced fistula and/or hemorrhage, of which seven instances (11 percent of all patients) appear to be treatment-induced. This brachytherapy technique is simple, well tolerated, and convenient for the patient providing airway palliation in the significant majority of patients with acceptable risk.
LOCALIZATION OF INTEGRIN SUBUNITS ALPHA 6 AND BETA 1 DURING SOMITOGENESIS IN THE LONG-TAILED MACAQUE (M. FASCICULARIS)

The distribution of integrin subunits α6 and β1, and the α6β1 integrin ligand, laminin, was examined during somitogenesis in developmental stages 11, 13, and 16 in the long-tailed macaque, using peroxidase immunocytochemistry. Within differentiating somites in stage 11, α6 expression was observed in the sclerotome, basal surface of dermamyotomal cells adjacent to the basal lamina and on scattered cells throughout the dermamyotome. In further advanced somites in stages 13 and 16, α6 immunoreactivity become restricted to the myotome, α6 was expressed on mesenchymal core cells within the myocele of undifferentiated epitheliod somites and the ventromedial wall of somites commencing differentiation at each stage. β1 distribution resembled that of α6 in stage 11 somitic tissue, however, it remained present on myotome and sclerotome cells in the later stages, and was also expressed on dermatomal cells in stage 16. Laminin immunoreactivity, while more intense and prevalent than α6 and β1 in each stage examined, occurred on the same somite cell populations as the 2 integrin subunits. These results show a defined distribution of α6 on somitic tissue, and suggest this integrin is involved in somite differentiation. They also support a possible role for α6 in myoblast formation and migration. Overlapping of β1 and laminin immunoreactivity with that of α6 further suggests that α6 paris with β1 as a functional heterodimer for laminin in defined somitic regions.
Effective magnetic permeability of composites containing chain-structured particles

Abstract A microstructure-based magnetic model is developed to study the effective permeability of chain-structured magnetic particle-filled composites. The Green’s function technique is used to derive the local magnetic field in a representative volume element containing infinite, chain-structured particles. Homogenization of the local magnetic distribution renders averaged fields in the particles and the matrix. From the relation between averaged magnetic field and induction, the effective magnetic permeability of composites is explicitly derived, which exhibits anisotropic behavior. As a special case, the Maxwell–Garnett model is retrieved when particle interactions are not taken into consideration. The proposed model is compared with other models and available experimental data.
Nonrandom distribution of chromosomal aberrations induced by three chemicals

Abstract The G-band locations of 3244 breakpoints induced by cis-platinum (II) diamminedichloride (PDD), 1460 breakpoints induced by cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), and 1257 breakpoints induced by triethylenemelamine (TEM) in human lymphocyte chromosomes were identified. The breakpoints induced by each of these chemicals demonstrated a significantly nonrandom distribution within the human karyotype. The overall pattern of the interarm distribution was dependent upon the chemical used, but certain chromosome arms exhibited similar responses to all 3 chemicals. Comparison of the frequencies of breakpoints within individual G-bands indicated that (1) certain bands were susceptible to damage induced by all 3 chemicals; (2) certain bands were resistant to damage by all 3 chemicals; (3) certain bands demonstrated variable susceptibility to induced damage dependent upon the chemical agent; and (4) other bands demonstrated near expected frequencies of damage (by length) to all 3 agents.
Leading for sustainability: implementing the tasks of leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to expand the field of sustainability/corporate social responsibility research to include a focus on leadership. It aims to present an exploratory study of senior leaders in organizations formally adopting principles of sustainability and how these leaders enact the tasks of leadership: setting direction, creating alignment, and maintaining commitment within the context of sustainability.Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a qualitative approach, sampling senior executives from organizations formally adopting sustainability practices and using a structured interview to uncover their leadership practices related to sustainability.Findings – Leaders adopting sustainability practices are similar to other “effective” leaders and yet they also have additional capacity and mindset to include a wider expanse of stakeholders and a different mindset as to the purpose of organizations.Research limitations/implications – Limited sample of senior executives/CEOs, as wel...
A shock tube study of line broadening in a temperature range of 6100 to 8300 K

Line widths of the Ca(II) 3968 A and Na(I) 5890 A resonance lines broadened by electric microfields in a plasma were measured. A pressure-driven shock tube was used as the light source. Radiation from the equilibrium region behind the reflected shock wave was studied using a rapid scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. Electron and argon atom densities of about 8 x 10 to the 16th and 1 x 10 to the 19th/cu cm, respectively, were achieved at the relatively low temperature of around 7500 K by vaporizing a cesium powder that had been added to the shock tube as a solid aerosol in argon gas. The measured line widths were predominantly Stark broadened by the electrons and ions in the plasma, although Doppler, van der Waals, instrument function and optical depth effects had to be taken into account.
Modeling Closed Kinematic Chains for Control: A Comparative Study

In this paper, we compare our recently developed modeling method for closed kinematic chains (CKC), namely the singular perturbation formulation (SPF), to the singularly perturbed sliding manifold (SPSM) method from the literature. We show the advantages and disadvantages of each method from a theoretical as well as a implementation standpoint. The comparison indicates that for model-based control of CKCs, our SPF approach naturally lends itself to control design, and for simulation, our SPF approach is computationally more efficient. A common drawback of both the SPF approach and the SPSM method is that they cannot handle singularities.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The biophysical mechanisms of altered hyaluronan concentration in synovial fluid after anterior cruciate ligament transection.

Objective The residence time of hyaluronan (HA) in knee joint synovial fluid (SF) was investigated using a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model. The aims of this study were to assess, at 7 and 28 days after surgery, the 1) HA concentration and molecular mass (Mr) distribution in the SF, 2) endogenous replenishment of HA after saline washout, 3) HA residence times in the SF, and 4) synovium and subsynovium cellularity of the knee joints of rabbits subjected to ACLT, compared to sham-operated and nonoperated control joints. Methods Adult NZW rabbits underwent ACLT or sham surgery on one hind limb, while each contralateral limb was the nonoperated control. On day 7 or 28 after surgery, the joints were aspirated for SF, lavaged with saline, and injected with saline or polydisperse HA, and samples were obtained for analysis at set time points up to 8 hours after injection. Joint fluid samples were analyzed for the concentration and Mr distribution of HA to calculate the HA residence time constant. Results Analysis of HA concentrations and Mr distributions showed 1) loss of high-Mr HA in the SF on day 7 and a shift toward a lower-Mr distribution on day 28, 2) endogenous replenishment of high-Mr HA after washout, and 3) Mr-dependent loss of HA from the knee joints after ACLT, particularly on day 7 postsurgery. The HA residence time decreased with decreasing HA Mr (residence time ∼27 hours with an Mr load of 7,000–2,500 kd, to ∼7 hours with an Mr load of 250–50 kd). HA residence time also decreased (by ∼70%) in the knee joints on day 7 after ACLT. The subsynovium of the joints subjected to ACLT displayed increased cellularity and neovascularization on days 7 and 28 postsurgery. Conclusion The residence time of HA in the SF is transiently decreased after ACLT, suggesting that a biophysical transport mechanism is responsible for the altered composition of the SF after joint injury or during inflammation.
Continuous Seismic Profiles of the Outer Ridge and Nares Basin North of Puerto Rico

Seismic-reflection profiles over the outer ridge and the Nares Basin north of Puerto Rico show that three principal structures can be traced from the north wall of the Puerto Rico Trench northward to 24° N. between 65°12′ W. and 67°36′ W. The shallowest structure in the Nares Basin consists of flat-lying strata, whereas the corresponding layer on the outer ridge is nearly everywhere acoustically transparent. The transparent layer is thickest near the center of this portion of the outer ridge and thins outward in every direction. The next-deeper structure consists of layers which in places are continuous, but elsewhere are more or less broken up. This series of layers is interrupted by the third structure, a basement having relief of several hundred meters. The basement surface lies about 1 km below the flat floor of the Nares Basin but rises to control the shape of sea floor over parts of the outer ridge. In a few locations where all structures have nearly flat surfaces and also where seismic-reflection data can be compared with older refraction data, the transparent layer corresponds with the 2.1-km/sec layer, the second series of layers corresponds with the 4.2-km/sec layer, and the basement corresponds with the 5.2-km/sec layer. Other possible correlations with refraction data are discussed. The distribution of these three structures suggests a basement high trending irregularly southwest-northeast across the ridge with flanking layered rocks to northwest and southeast. All three structures may have been sampled in the dredging of the north wall in 1962. It is suggested that the transparent layer is a remnant of a continental rise originally extending northward from Puerto Rico prior to the formation of the Trench.
Agent-based simulation of a simple market

We present an agent-based iterated simulation of a simple market structure. The simulation is based on trade and price satisfaction (payoff) functions for both buyers and sellers. The participants are trying to follow the behaviour of those of their neighbours that have received the highest payoff in the previous iteration. This results in trading and transformation of buyers into sellers and vice versa. Equilibrium conditions develop. The ratio of buyers and sellers fluctuates around this equilibrium. We have investigated two cases: slight and strong domination of the price satisfaction over the trade satisfaction. The results show how the global equilibrium condition depends on the local price. The simulation is a special case of the Chicken Game.
Learning to describe past experiences in conversation

The early development of the ability to discuss past experiences in conversation is examined. The data consist of 186 conversations about past events between two Spanish‐speaking girls (21–31 and 24–38 months) and their families. Each description is analyzed in terms of its length, the familiarity and specificity of the event described, the truth of the statements, the reason for mention, the use of grammatical forms, and the role of an adult in initiating and maintaining the conversation. Based on these analyses, three phases of development are identified, characterized by: (a) dependency on adult participation; (b) the discussion of elements common to many instances of an event, rather than the unique occurrences of a specific event (i.e., dependence on a “script” of the event); and (c) talk about unique occurrences, but difficulty in planning a lengthy discourse. The results are discussed in terms of children's knowledge of event structures and the early organization of their memories.
Gone with the wind: Role-reversed desensitization for a wind phobic client

A wind phobia was eliminated by a series of behavioral interventions. After the application of imaginal and in-vivo desensitization techniques, the therapist changed roles with the client so that the client presented scenes and devised strategies for lessening anxiety. A21/2 yr follow-up revealed no anxiety reaction to moderate winds.
Branhamella catarrhalis keratitis

Branhamella catarrhalis, formerly known as Neisseria catarrhalis, has structural similarities to Neisseria gonorrhoeae , but is generally considered to be nonpathogenic. We studied the clinical and laboratory data of four previously reported cases and six additional cases of B. catarrhalis keratitis. All patients had a predisposing ocular or systemic condition, or both. There were various clinical characteristics, but in most cases the infiltrate occurred in the central or paracentral cornea. A prompt response to treatment with a cephalosporin and aminoglycoside antibiotic was noted in all cases. Two patients had corneal perforations, which probably resulted from a delay in treatment. Gram-negative diplococci from corneal scrapings may not necessarily represent N. gonorrhoeae.
Laticifers: An Historical Perspective

This review describes the development of the laticifer concept, with emphasis upon the nonarticulated type, from early observations of plant exudates and “juices” to the presentation of laticifers by Esau (1953). Classical writers and herbalists described practical applications of these substances. With the advent of the microscope early investigators believed that these substances occurred in structures present in most, if not all, plants and, wrongly, equated these structures to the circulatory system in animals. Introduction of the term, latex, into botany derived from its early use as a term for a blood component by physicians, and not for analogy to milk. However, the origin of the terms, laticifer and laticiferous, remains uncertain. Initial studies of laticifers were marked by the controversy of whether they represented intercellular spaces or elongated cells. Confirmation of their cellular character led to the designation of nonarticulated and articulated laticifers. Nonarticulated laticifers were shown to arise during early embryogeny in some plants. The ontogenetic origin of the articulated laticifer was unclear to early workers, but new laticifers were detected to be formed by cambium activity. Nonarticulated laticifers were described to develop by intrusive growth whereby tips of the cell penetrated between adjacent cells. The coenocytic condition of the nonarticulated laticifer resulted from nuclear divisions along the cell positioned in the growth region of the shoot and the subsequent distribution of the daughter nuclei along the length of the cell.
Application of phylogenetic principles to testing evolutionary scenarios: A comment on Kaczmarska et al. "Molecular phylogeny of selected members of the order Thalassiosirales (Bacillariophyta) and evolution of the fultoportula"

While rigorous techniques have usually been used to generate phylogenetic trees from molecular data, morphological analysis has sometimes been more informal. A recent example was a study of the evolution of the fultoportula in the diatom order Thalassiosirales (Kaczmarska et al. 2006). Phylogeny was inferred using modern phylogenetic principles applied to nuclear SSU rDNA sequences, but inferences about morphological character evolution were made using noncanonical reasoning and evolutionary scenario building. The preferred hypothesis posited that marginal fultoportulae evolved from the marginal ridge of Lithodesmiales. A related hypothesis suggested that fultoportulae in the valve center were not homologous with those near the valve margin. Shared symplesiomorphies, shared homoplasies, gaps in the fossil record, and subtle morphological differences between central- and marginal-area fultoportulae were offered as the primary evidence for these scenarios. The literature has demonstrated such arguments to be either irrelevant or logically weaker than inferences made under the tests of similarity, conjunction, and congruence. Five prior hypotheses about the origin and evolution of the fultoportula were examined in this study using these tests. The hypothesis that the areola evolved into the multistrutted process, which evolved into the fultoportula, was best supported.
Unsteady aerodynamics and flutter based on the potential equation

A time-domain three-dimensional full-potential solver is coupled with a linear structural dynamics model to investigate the unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelasticity of propfans. The solver allows calculations in multiple blade passages with independent blade motions. Aeroelastic calculations are performed in both frequency and time domains. Results are presented for two propfan configurations. Good agreement is seen between the full-potential results and results from linear theory since the flow is subsonic and the thickness of the propfan blades is small; the agreement is not as good for the cases in which the angle of attack is high. Some difficulty is encountered due to wave reflections from outer computational boundaries; however, this does not affect the results in the range of frequencies of interest.
Selectivity in anionic and cationic ring-opening polymerizations of tetramethyl-1-(3?-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-phenylcyclotrisiloxane and tetramethyl-1-[3?,5?-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-phenylcyclotrisiloxane

Anionic and cationic ring-opening polymerizations of two novel cyclotrisiloxanes, tetramethyl-1-(3′-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-phenylcyclotrisiloxane (I) and tetramethyl-1-[3′,5′-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-phenylcyclotrisiloxane (II), are reported. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of I or II leads to copolymers with highly regular microstructures. Copolymers obtained by cationic polymerizations of I or II, initiated by triflic acid, have less regular microstructures characteristic of chemoselective polymerization processes. The composition and microstructure of copolymers have been characterized by 1H and 29Si-NMR, the molecular weight distributions by GPC, and the thermal properties by DSC and TGA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5235–5243, 2004
Work in Progress: Wireless Tablet Technology in the Calculus Classroom leads to Inquiry and Discovery

This paper studies the impact of infusing the Calculus II curriculum at Diablo Valley College with collaborative activities based on Wireless Tablet Technology. Under a 2005 HP Technology for Teaching grant, students used Tablets to record and analyze data collected in labs, access web based Mathematica notebooks and Java applets, collaborate, give class presentations, and report on field trips to organizations that use Calculus in their practices. Many students at the college come from underrepresented socioeconomic groups. These new learning experiences ignited their interest in the subject matter and helped them get a better focus for their studies. In the classes taught with the redesign a 98% attendance rate was observed, along with an 86% retention (up from ~75%) and a 78% success rate (up from ~69%). Student involvement increased significantly and at least 17% of the students improved their performance by 1-2 letter grades after the introduction of the technology.
The five-factor model, conscientiousness, and driving accident involvement

Personality researchers and theorists are approaching consensus on the basic structure and constructs of personality. Despite the apparent consensus on the emergent five-factor model (Goldberg, 1992, 1993), less is known about external correlates of separate factors. This research examined the relations between Conscientiousness, one dimension of the model, and driving accident involvement. Using multiple measures in independent samples drawn from college students (N = 227) and a temporary employment agency (N = 250), the results generally demonstrate a significant inverse relation between Conscientiousness and driving accident involvement; individuals who rate themselves as more self-disciplined, responsible, reliable, and dependable are less likely to be involved in driving accidents than those who rate themselves lower on these attributes. The findings are consistent with other research demonstrating the relations among Conscientiousness and other tasks and job performance. Suggestions for future research are discussed. Language: en
Quadrature-based methods for solving heterogeneous agent models with discontinuous distributions

The paper develops a method for solving heterogeneous agent models in which the distribution of characteristics across agents is a state variable and the distribution can be discontinuous at points that vary endogenously. The method extends the approach of [Tauchen, George and Robert Hussey, Econometrica 59, 1991, 371-396] for solving nonlinear rational expectations models using a discrete-state Markov chain approximation to a continuous Markov process. The paper presents an example application of a general equilibrium labor search model with persistence in the idiosyncratic productivity of heterogeneous firms.
Coronary angioplasty for medically refractory unstable angina within 30 days of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been used with good results in selected patients with unstable angina. The population with recent (≤30 days) infarction and unstable angina is a subject of controversy. This report reviews the results of angioplasty of 84 vessels in 66 patients with medically refractory unstable angina who had documented myocardial infarction within 30 days of the procedure. Of these 66 patients, 54 had rest angina. Of the 66 patients with angioplasties, 58 patients (88%) had successful procedures. Two patients had technically unsuccessful results in the only vessel attempted; one went to elective surgery and recovered uneventfully and the other patient was in cardiogenic shock at the time of the procedure and died 12 hours later. There were three acute occlusions of infarct-related arteries that were managed medically. There were two (3%) emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures. There were two (3%) deaths during the index hospitalization. Of the 58 of 66 patients with technically successful angioplasty, all 58 had no more rest angina, and 46 had a satisfactory predischarge exercise test. All 46 were without angina at exercise. In follow-up ranging from 4 months to 36 months (14 months mean), there have been six cases of restenosis with recurrence of angina treated successfully with repeat angioplasty. There have been five late bypass surgeries. There have been three late deaths. These data, generated by a single operator in a Veterans Administration (VA) center, support the use of angioplasty in patients with unstable angina and recent myocardial infarction. The data suggest that a VA prospective randomized trial of PTCA versus CABG for post-infarction angina may be feasible.
The use of I131 albumin tissue clearance measurements and other physiological tests for the clinical assessment of patients with lymphœdema

Summary 1.I 131 protein tissue clearance tests, serial limb volume studies during postural drainage and refilling, and differential pressure measurements have been carried out on a series of sixteen patients with idiopathic lymphœdema or secondary lymphœdema. The results obtained have been correlated with clinical findings, lymphangiograms and venograms, and also with data obtained from normal persons. 2.The data obtained enable the patients to be classified into two groups. The patients in Group 1 are those whose symptoms are due to lymphatic obstruction. In Group 2 the primary ˦tiological factor is thought to be venous obstruction. 3.The tissue protein clearance rate was greatly reduced in both groups. In Group 1 this was attributable to reduced lymphatic drainage. Correlation with limb volume studies suggested that the reduced clearance rate in Group 2 patients was due to an increase in the tissue fluid protein pool rather than to a reduction in the lymphatic drainage of protein. 4.Subcutaneous tissue hydrostatic pressures in normal females are approximately 7 mm. Hg lower than those in normal males. It is suggested that this might account for the greater incidence of lymphœdema in women. 5.In normal women the subcutaneous pressure is lower than the muscle pressure but in patients with lymphœdema this gradient is reversed. This provided the rationale for surgical operations designed to drain fluid from the subcutaneous tissues into underlying muscle. 6.The I 131 protein clearance studies are of little value for the initial assessment of individual patients but may well prove to be the most sensitive method for evaluating the response to treatment. Limb volume and drainage measurements and tissue pressure measurements are easy to perform and are likely to be clinically useful, but further studies on tissue pressure-volume relationships are needed for normal men and women and lymphœdema patients.
Characterization and decomposition of self-aligned quadruple patterning friendly layout

Self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) lithography is one of the major techniques for the future process requirement after 16nm/14nm technology node. In this paper, based on the existing knowledge of current 193nm lithography and process flow of SAQP, we will process an early study on the definition of SAQP-friendly layout. With the exploration of the feasible feature regions and possible combinations of adjacent features, we will define several simple but important geometry rules to help define the SAQP-friendliness. Then, we will introduce a conflicting graph algorithm to generate the feature region assignment for SAQP decomposition. Our experimental results validate our SAQP-friendly layout definition, and basic circuit building blocks in the low level metal layer are analyzed.
Mechanical and informational modeling of steel beam-to-column connections

Abstract The behavior of beam-to-column connections in steel and composite frames strongly influences their stability and strength. This is particularly true in response to sever dynamic actions, where the changes in stiffness and damping influence both supply and demand. This means that it is necessary to accurately model the stiffness, strength and ductility of connections in seismic assessment and analysis for design. Starting from the current state-of-the-art, two different approaches, mechanical and informational, are presented to model the complex hysteretic response of bolted beam-to-column connections. The basic premise of the article is that not all features of response are amenable to mechanical modeling; hence, consideration of information-based alternatives is warranted. First, a component-based mechanical model is proposed where each deformation source is represented with only material and geometric properties. Second, a neural network approach is examined to extract an informational model directly from the experimental test data. Finally, the merits and drawbacks of the two approaches are discussed. The results presented in this article indicate that the two models demonstrate good capabilities of predicting complex hysteretic responses in certain cases. There is still, however, room for improvement. Such improvement may be achieved through combining the best features of each approach in a hybrid mechanical–informational modeling environment.
‘Asiatic’ sailors and the East India Company: racialisation and labour practices, 1803–15

This article argues that, in order to better understand the imperial and diasporic histories of the long eighteenth century, and in particular the complex relations among Chinese and South Asians in the maritime labour force, we need more detail than the dominant terms “Asiatic” and “Lascar” can provide. This article explores how the Napoleonic War with France led to an abandonment of Britain's seventeenth-century Navigation Acts, enabling an upsurge in the recruitment of Asiatic sailors, their emergence as a reserve labour forces, and their increased presence in the British metropole. Changes in recruitment patterns generated a sea change in East India Company management practices: socially paternalistic, small-scale housing and related services were displaced by the kinds of mass management techniques Foucault described as bio-politics. Both labour recruitment practices and changing modes of care participated in intensified trends of racialization. Employers and managers tended to exacerbate racial divi...
Woody plant succession on earthquake-uplifted coastal wetlands of the Copper River Delta, Alaska

Abstract The delta formed by the Copper River stretches for more than 75 km along the south central coastline of the Gulf of Alaska. It is the terminus of the outwash deposits from a large part of the most heavily glaciated region of North America, and all major rivers that flow into the delta carry extremely high levels of suspended sediments. Coastal wetlands extend inland for as much as 20 km. In 1964, an earthquake of Richter magnitude 8.4 to 8.6 raised the entire delta from 1.8 to 3.4 m above the previous mean sea level. Subtidal areas became intertidal, and intertidal areas supertidal. Marshland advanced seaward as much as 1.5 km in the intertidal zone. Vegetation on many, but not all, newly supertidal levees began to change from herbland to shrubland. A change in frequency and duration of tidal inundation and water salinity has been thought to be the most obvious cause of this succession, but explanation is lacking. Freshwater dominates the estuarine circulation due to a bar-built estuary and the extremely high input of freshwater from glacier runoff and precipitation. Tides merely raise freshwater onto the wetlands. Halophytes are rare even at the seaward edge of vegetation. The characteristic species of the present intertidal marshes, Lyngbye sedge ( Carex lyngbyei ), also is characteristic in inland freshwater marshes. Initial post-earthquake invasion of woody plants was confined to natural levees. More recently, shrubs have begun to move seaward into new inter-tidal marshland. Only three shrub species, sweetgale ( Myrica gale var. tomentosa ). Barclay willow ( Salix barclayi ), and Sitka alder ( Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata ) are important in woody plant succession. Barclay willow was abundant before the uplift. Increased distribution and abundance of willow was the earliest indication of post-earthquake succession. Sweetgale is now the most aggressive species. It was present on tidally flooded levees before the uplift and has become a ubiquitous understory shrub in all willow stands and an invader on newly formed intertidal marshes. Sitka alder grows on supertidal levees where the substrate is wet, but aerated. Black cottonwood ( Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa ) and Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) trees are present in many alder stands. Many Sitka alder stands have become black-cottonwood/Sitka-alder woodland. Sitka spruce forest may eventually develop on some supertidal levees. Shrubland, woodland and forest vegetation analogous to that developing on supertidal levees is present on older wetland habitats further inland. It is likely the same plant successions would have occurred without an uplift. The uplift appears to have altered locations and rates, but not the nature, of wetland plant succession on the Copper River Delta.
Educational Turbulence: The Influence of Macro and Micro-Policy on Science Education Reform

Enactment of federal educational policy has direct implications for states and local school districts across the nation, particularly in the areas of accountability and funding. This study utilized constructivist grounded theory to examine the impact of policy on science education reform in a large, urban school district over a 5-year period. The existence and interaction between macro and micro, and explicit and implicit policies created educational turbulence. Findings further extend upon Fullan's (Change theory: a force for school improvement, 2006) change theory adding high-stakes accountability as a prevalent distractor issue and the need for quad-level, rather than tri-level engagement in reform. Suggestions for addressing educational turbulence are provided.
Voice recognition software and OCLC: technology that works

Increased demands on catalogers to increase productivity, while maintaining quality and accuracy, can be difficult to meet, and may even be hazardous to their health. OCLC Passport for Windows (PFW) and CatME provide some ability to create macros and shortcuts to speed cataloging activities, but do not solve the problems created by long work sessions. Voice recognition software, which works with most applications, is an effective way to input commands and data accurately into a computer. The software can be customized to provide single word input of complex commands, allowing the cataloger to concentrate more on the content of their records, rather than the input. This type of software is helpful not only to workers with repetitive strain injury (RSI) or physical disabilities, but also to anyone requiring accurate input during extended work sessions. This article explains how the software works, offers examples, and provides tips on working with using voice recognition.
Prevalence and Clinical Features of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in a Veterans Administration Medical Center

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is an important component of the heart failure (HF) epidemic with an estimated prevalence of up to 50% of HF cases. However, little is known about the prevalence or clinical features of HFPEF in the Veterans Administration (VA). Methods: We retrospectively studied 264 consecutive pts that were admitted to a large VA medical center with HF from 10/1/2008 to 9/30/2009. Pertinent data were abstracted from the VA electronic medical record for all HF pts with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) $ 50%. We reviewed clinical characteristics, the presence of non-HF medical co-morbidities, and readmission rates during the year of study. Results: 26% (69/264) of all HF pts admitted were diagnosed with HFPEF (age: 72 6 11; gender: 68 males, 1 female; 34 % NYHA class III or IV). HFPEF pt co-morbidities included: hypertension: 82%; hyperlipidemia: 80%; coronary artery disease: 62%; diabetes: 47%; atrial fibrillation: 33%; chronic kidney disease: 41%; anemia: 32%; and the mean BMI5 33. Mean NT-pro BNP levels were 3538 6 3409 pg/ml at the time of admission and 2399 6 3160 pg/ml at 6 months post admission. The 30-day all-cause readmission rate for HFPEF pts was 32% (38% were readmitted due to HF exacerbation and 62% were readmitted due to non-HF causes). The 30-day all-cause readmission rate for all HF pts (systolic HF and HFPEF) at our facility was 23% during the same period. Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicate a lower prevalence (26%) of HFPEF in veterans with HF as compared to literature-reported prevalence rates of 50% in the general HF population. The prevalence of non-HF co-morbidities in this veteran population with HFPEF is extreme, and exceeds reported co-morbidity rates for HF pts in the literature. The 30-day all-cause readmission rates for veterans with HFPEF was very high, and was 28% higher than for all-comers with HF at our medical center during the year of study. The low prevalence rate, high co-morbidity rate, and markedly high readmission rate for HFPEF in the veteran population suggest that this patient group is extremely ill. Given that most veterans with HFPEF are admitted for non-HF causes, future efforts should focus on the treatment of co-morbidities in this important patient cohort.
Life cycle based evaluation of harvested rainwater use in toilets and for irrigation

Harvested rainwater is an alternative water source for buildings, especially for non-potable uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing. While rainwater harvesting is perceived as a sustainable design approach, there is limited information on the environmental and economic performance of this technology. To address this literature gap, life cycle assessment and life cycle costing tools were applied for a dormitory that could potentially use harvested rainwater to flush toilets or to irrigate the lawn. Five scenarios were modeled including a new versus renovated building and irrigation versus toilet flushing water end use. The rainwater cisterns for all the scenarios were sized using the Yield After Spillage approach and long term daily precipitation of Toledo. Energy and greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using Economic Input Output Life Cycle Assessment (for construction phase and energy use by pump) and GaBi (for water and wastewater treatment) databases. The life cycle environmental impacts and costs were estimated and compared to the business as usual scenario, where the water supply demands are met by municipally supplied potable water in a combined or separate sanitary sewer network. It was discovered that energy and greenhouse gas emission payback periods can be achieved for almost every scenario. Yet cost payback periods of implementing harvested rainwater were found to be longer than the life time of the building except for two scenarios: using rainwater for irrigation in a renovation project and using rainwater for toilet flushing in a new construction project. These two scenarios had the lowest cost, energy and greenhouse gas emission impacts among all scenarios modeled. Reducing occupancy to match toilet flushing demand increased the per person impact. However, in general, the per person impacts were much lower than a person's impact from driving or electricity use. While separate sewers divert the stormwater runoff to the water bodies and thereby prevent the environmental problems resulting from combined sewer overflows, a rainwater harvesting system connected to separate sewers was found to reduce the energy and greenhouse gas emissions less than so if the rainwater harvesting system were connected to combined sewers.
Microform–Not extinct yet: Results of a long-term microform use study in the digital age

This paper presents results taken from 2008 to 2010 of an ongoing microform use study. The number of titles used is evenly distributed over time with microfilm being the most used format and newspapers accounting for half of all usage. When publications are available electronically, users may still use the microform version. This study illustrates how microform and electronic collections are complementary—electronic materials provide better access but microform is better for preservation. Users prefer electronic materials but will also use microform when there is no online version available or when the online version is not an exact copy of the original.
An actionable framework for system of systems and mission area security engineering

This paper describes an actionable engineering framework for security engineering of a system of systems (SoS). The framework is envisioned as a tool for assessing security risks to critical missions based on the contributing systems and SoS supporting them. An SoS security risk framework is needed to manage the problem of identifying the key elements of risk to SoS missions. The issue is the complexity resulting from the large number of potential logical paths through an SoS that could represent a security risk. Managing this problem then enables the application of security specific analyses to the SoS elements that have been identified as critical. The framework draws on the foundational elements of SoS SE, particularly an understanding of the SoS components, interdependencies and dynamics. The results of the analysis support investment decisions about the constituents of a SoS. The framework is a bridge between the operational and acquisition/engineering communities. While the focus of this framework is on acquisition and engineering materiel solutions, it also accommodates the consideration of non-materiel solutions.
Comment on "Uracil DNA glycosylase activity is dispensable for immunoglobulin class switch".

The uracil base-excision repair pathway has been strongly implicated in the process of immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain class switch recombination (CSR) ([ 1 ][1]–[ 4 ][2]). This process likely involves deamination of cytosine residues of the Ig switch region by activation-induced cytidine
Numerical Modeling of Transport Phenomena and Dendritic Growth in Laser Spot Conduction Welding of 304 Stainless Steel

A multi-scale model is developed to investigate the heat/mass transport and dendrite growth in laser spot conduction welding. A macro-scale transient model of heat transport and fluid flow is built to study the evolution of temperature and velocity field of the molten pool. The molten pool geometry and other solidification parameters are calculated, and the predicted pool geometry matches well with experimental result. On the micro-scale level, the dendritic growth of 304 stainless steel is simulated by a novel model that has coupled the Cellular Automata (CA) and Phase Field (PF) methods. The epitaxial growth is accurately identified by defining both the grain density and dendrite arm density at the fusion line. By applying the macro-scale thermal history onto the micro-scale calculation domain, the microstructure evolution of the entire molten pool is simulated. The predicted microstructure achieves a good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Aphid transmission characteristics of pea enation mosaic virus acquired from a membrane-feeding system

Abstract Pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), transmitted partially purified pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) from solutions placed between artificial membranes at an even higher rate than that usually attainable from infected plants. Single aphids (first-instar) were able to transmit with 100% efficiency after feeding for 1 hr on a solution of virus at A 260 nm = 25 in 0.1 M , pH 7.0, potassium phosphate buffer with 5% sucrose; 10% transmitted virus following only a 30-sec acquisition period. One group of 30 aphids had a median latent period (LP 50 ) of only 8.8 hr when given a 6-hr acquisition-access period. Aphids borne and reared on chemically defined pea aphid diet transmitted virus from artificial media with greater efficiency than those reared on pea plants. However, this diet was not as suitable a medium for the virus as was phosphate buffer with 5 or 35% sucrose since some loss of virus infectivity (mechanical assay) resulted when virus was suspended in diet for 24 hr. Two biotypes of A. pisum , previously characterized as efficient and inefficient vectors of PEMV, were compared in transmission of virus from buffer media and plants. Even after the shortest acquisition period (1 hr) both biotypes were nearly 100% successful in transmitting virus at A 260 nm = 25 whereas those biotypes differed significantly in transmission efficiency when virus was acquired from plants.
Solvent‐derived metal oxides in electrospray mass spectrometry of metal salt solutions

The electrospray mass spectra of MX2and MX3salts (where X is typically halide or nitrate) in protic and aprotic solvents, and solvent mixtures were examined. Comparisons of species responses with equilibrium aqueous solution concentrations were made. For MX2salts, a good correlation between MOH+ response and MOH+ solution concentration was observed under conditions where the collision energy was nominally zero. Cu(II) is easily reduced in acetonitrile to Cu(I); Cu(I) was the principal species observed in the electrospray mass spectrum of Cu(II) in acetonitrile whereas Cu(II) was the principal species observed in that of Cu(II) in dimethyl sulphoxide. Gas-phase reactions between solvated clusters produced by electrospray and a second solvent vapour were examined. M3+clusters were the principal ions observed when an aqueous solution of MX3was sprayed in the presence of aprotic solvent vapours.
Enhancement of Self-Esteem in At-Risk Elementary Students

Abstract Currently educators are focusing on the importance of enhancing self-esteem in the total development of healthy children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-development program, and relaxation/imagery training on the self-esteem of intact classes of economically at-risk fourth-grade students. Subjects were pre- and posttested on the Perceived Competence Scale for Children (Harter, 1985). Two groups received 32 sessions of treatment by classroom teachers, while a third group served as a no-treatment control group. A Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed to investigate the relationship among the six self-esteem variables. In the pretest, scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct all correlated at the .05 level of significance with the variable global self-worth. Two experimental variables, group and sex of subjects, were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial design. A significant main effect for group...
Classification of sonorant consonants utilizing empirical mode decomposition

In this paper, a method to classify nasal utterance among sonorant consonants utilizing empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is introduced. In this method, each audio signal is divided into overlapping 20 millisecond frames. Then each frame's signal is decomposed by using the EMD. Four different features are extracted from each frame to create a vector. These vectors are employed to train a support vector machine (SVM) with radial basis functions. A different set of audio signals are used to validate the SVM model. The results show an overall correct identification rate of 91.19% for nasals and 89.74% for semivowels.