Development, reliability, and concurrent validity of the modified inventory of potential reconstructive needs

Documentation of burn sequelae can be a difficult and time-consuming task. To date a reliable and systematic format for recording postburn trauma is lacking. The purpose of this research was two-fold: first, to develop a Modified Inventory of Potential Reconstructive Needs from the original Inventory of Potential Reconstructive Needs to allow methodical documentation of functional and cosmetic burn sequelae in all body surface areas of children with burns and, second, to establish interrater reliability and concurrent validity of the instrument, thus allowing its clinical application. Two raters scored the Modified Inventory of Potential Reconstructive Needs on 41 children with a range of burns types and severity. Excellent interrater reliability was demonstrated for both total (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.996) and subsection inventory scores. Concurrent validity was also established with total scores showing strong positive correlations (0.73-0.76) with three indicators of burn severity. These findings provide initial support for the tool's clinical applicability, particularly in relation to rehabilitative planning and documentation.

A modified pore-filling isotherm for liquid-phase adsorption in activated carbon

This article modifies the usual form of the Dubinin-Radushkevich pore-filling model for application to liquid-phase adsorption data, where large molecules are often involved. In such cases it is necessary to include the repulsive part of the energy in the micropores, which is accomplished here by relating the pore potential to the fluid-solid interaction potential. The model also considers the nonideality of the bulk liquid phase through the UNIFAC activity coefficient model, as well as structural heterogeneity of the carbon. For the latter the generalized adsorption integral is used while incorporating the pore-size distribution obtained by density functional theory analysis of argon adsorption data. The model is applied here to the interpretation of aqueous phase adsorption isotherms of three different esters on three commercial activated carbons. Excellent agreement between the model and experimental data is observed, and the fitted Lennard-Jones size parameter for the adsorbate-adsorbate interactions compares well with that estimated from known critical properties, supporting the modified approach. On the other hand, the model without consideration of bulk nonideality, or when using classical models of the characteristic energy, gives much poorer bts of the data and unrealistic parameter values.

Determination of eutectic solidification mode in Sr-modified hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys by EBSD

The effect of eutectic modification by strontium on nucleation and growth of the eutectic in hypoeutectic Al-Si foundry alloys has been investigated by electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) mapping. Specimens were prepared from three hypoeutectic AlSi base alloys with 5, 7 and 10 mass%Si and with different strontium contents up to 740 ppm for modification of eutectic silicon. By comparing the orientation of the aluminium in the eutectic to that of the surrounding primary aluminium dendrites? the growth mode of the eutectic could be determined. The mapping results indicate that the eutectic grew from the primary phase in unmodified alloys. When the eutectic was modified by strontium, eutectic grains nucleated separately from the primary dendrites. However, in alloys with high strontium levels, the eutectic again grew from the primary phase. These observed effects of strontium additions on the eutectic solidification mode are independent of silicon content in the range between 5 and 10 mass%Si.

Eutectic growth mode in strontium, antimony and phosphorus modified hypoeutectic Al-Si foundry alloys

The effect of strontium (Sr), antimony (Sb) and phosphorus (P) on nucleation and growth mode of the eutectic in hypoeutectic Al-10 mass%Si alloys has been investigated by electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) mapping. Specimens were prepared from a hypoeutectic Al-10 mass%Si base alloy, adding different levels of strontium, antimony and phosphorus for modification of eutectic silicon. By comparing the orientation of the aluminium in the eutectic to that of the surrounding primary aluminium dendrites, the solidification mode of the eutectic could be determined. The results of these studies show that the eutectic nucleation mode, and subsequent growth mode, is strongly dependent on additive elements. The EBSD mapping results indicate that the eutectic grew from the primary phase in unmodified and phosphorus-containing alloys. When the eutectic was modified by strontium or antimony, eutectic grains nucleated and grew separately from the primary dendrites.

Eutectic solidification mode in sodium modified Al-7 mass %Si-3.5 mass %Cu-0.2 mass %Mg casting alloys

The influence of sodium (Na) on nucleation and growth of the Al-Si eutectic in a commercial hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu-Mg foundry alloy has been investigated. The microstructural evolution during eutectic solidification was studied by a quenching technique. By comparing the orientation of the aluminium in the eutectic to that of the surrounding primary aluminium dendrites by EBSD, the eutectic solidification mode could be determined. The results show that the eutectic solidification starts near the mould wall and evolves with front growth opposite the thermal gradient on a macro-scale, and on a micro-scale with independent heterogeneous nucleation of eutectic grains in interdendritic spaces. Na-modified alloys therefore behave significantly differently from those modified by other elemental additions.

Codon modified human papillomavirus type 16 E7 DNA vaccine enhances cytotoxic T-lymphocyte induction and anti-tumour activity

Polynucleotide immunisation with the E7 gene of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 induces only moderate levels of immune response, which may in part be due to limitation in E7 gene expression influenced by biased HPV codon usage. Here we compare for expression and immunogenicity polynucleotide expression plasmids encoding wild-type (pWE7) or synthetic codon optimised (pHE7) HPV16 E7 DNA. Cos-1 cells transfected with pHE7 expressed higher levels of E7 protein than similar cells transfected with pW7. C57BL/6 mice and F1 (C57X FVB) E7 transgenic mice immunised intradermally with E7 plasmids produced high levels of anti-E7 antibody. pHE7 induced a significantly stronger E7-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response than pWE7 and 100% tumour protection in C57BL/6 mice, but neither vaccine induced CTL in partially E7 tolerant K14E7 transgenic mice. The data indicate that immunogenicity of an E7 polynucleotide vaccine can be enhanced by codon modification. However, this may be insufficient for priming E7 responses in animals with split tolerance to E7 as a consequence of expression of E7 in somatic cells. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Using siting algorithms in the design of marine reserve networks

Using benthic habitat data from the Florida Keys (USA), we demonstrate how siting algorithms can help identify potential networks of marine reserves that comprehensively represent target habitat types. We applied a flexible optimization tool-simulated annealing-to represent a fixed proportion of different marine habitat types within a geographic area. We investigated the relative influence of spatial information, planning-unit size, detail of habitat classification, and magnitude of the overall conservation goal on the resulting network scenarios. With this method, we were able to identify many adequate reserve systems that met the conservation goals, e.g., representing at least 20% of each conservation target (i.e., habitat type) while fulfilling the overall aim of minimizing the system area and perimeter. One of the most useful types of information provided by this siting algorithm comes from an irreplaceability analysis, which is a count of the number of, times unique planning units were included in reserve system scenarios. This analysis indicated that many different combinations of sites produced networks that met the conservation goals. While individual 1-km(2) areas were fairly interchangeable, the irreplaceability analysis highlighted larger areas within the planning region that were chosen consistently to meet the goals incorporated into the algorithm. Additionally, we found that reserve systems designed with a high degree of spatial clustering tended to have considerably less perimeter and larger overall areas in reserve-a configuration that may be preferable particularly for sociopolitical reasons. This exercise illustrates the value of using the simulated annealing algorithm to help site marine reserves: the approach makes efficient use of;available resources, can be used interactively by conservation decision makers, and offers biologically suitable alternative networks from which an effective system of marine reserves can be crafted.

A modified Weibull distribution

A new lifetime distribution capable of modeling a bathtub-shaped hazard-rate function is proposed. The proposed model is derived as a limiting case of the Beta Integrated Model and has both the Weibull distribution and Type I extreme value distribution as special cases. The model can be considered as another useful 3-parameter generalization of the Weibull distribution. An advantage of the model is that the model parameters can be estimated easily based on a Weibull probability paper (WPP) plot that serves as a tool for model identification. Model characterization based on the WPP plot is studied. A numerical example is provided and comparison with another Weibull extension, the exponentiated Weibull, is also discussed. The proposed model compares well with other competing models to fit data that exhibits a bathtub-shaped hazard-rate function.

Fast, scalable master equation solution algorithms. IV. Lanczos iteration with diffusion approximation preconditioned iterative inversion

In this paper we propose a second linearly scalable method for solving large master equations arising in the context of gas-phase reactive systems. The new method is based on the well-known shift-invert Lanczos iteration using the GMRES iteration preconditioned using the diffusion approximation to the master equation to provide the inverse of the master equation matrix. In this way we avoid the cubic scaling of traditional master equation solution methods while maintaining the speed of a partial spectral decomposition. The method is tested using a master equation modeling the formation of propargyl from the reaction of singlet methylene with acetylene, proceeding through long-lived isomerizing intermediates. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Fast, scalable master equation solution algorithms. III. Direct time propagation accelerated by a diffusion approximation preconditioned iterative solver

In this paper we propose a novel fast and linearly scalable method for solving master equations arising in the context of gas-phase reactive systems, based on an existent stiff ordinary differential equation integrator. The required solution of a linear system involving the Jacobian matrix is achieved using the GMRES iteration preconditioned using the diffusion approximation to the master equation. In this way we avoid the cubic scaling of traditional master equation solution methods and maintain the low temperature robustness of numerical integration. The method is tested using a master equation modelling the formation of propargyl from the reaction of singlet methylene with acetylene, proceeding through long lived isomerizing intermediates. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Knowledge-based system on optimum design of liquid retaining structures with genetic algorithms

This paper delineates the development of a prototype hybrid knowledge-based system for the optimum design of liquid retaining structures by coupling the blackboard architecture, an expert system shell VISUAL RULE STUDIO and genetic algorithm (GA). Through custom-built interactive graphical user interfaces under a user-friendly environment, the user is directed throughout the design process, which includes preliminary design, load specification, model generation, finite element analysis, code compliance checking, and member sizing optimization. For structural optimization, GA is applied to the minimum cost design of structural systems with discrete reinforced concrete sections. The design of a typical example of the liquid retaining structure is illustrated. The results demonstrate extraordinarily converging speed as near-optimal solutions are acquired after merely exploration of a small portion of the search space. This system can act as a consultant to assist novice designers in the design of liquid retaining structures.