AUTOTEM - Automated geometry meshing and heat conduction calculation

Temperature distribution for an arbitrary irregular body is calculated by AUTOTEM, which generates required input data automatically by computer. Temperature distribution is calculated for a two-dimensional plane section in /x,y/ coordinates or for an axisymmetric irregular body in /r,z/ coordinates

Economics of Timber Resource Availability in a Tennessee Timbershed

A study of an eleven-county Tennessee timbershed was conducted in order to: (1) estimate the proportion of the aggregate timber resource actually available for harvest; and (2) search out motives for withholding timber from the market from otherwise commercial forest lands, by United States Forest Service definitions. The procedures used in meeting the objectives of the study involved the use of a stratified random sample of seventy-six private nonindustrial owners and personal interviews. Owners to be interviewed were selected from county tax roles on a stratified basis of size of forest acres owned. Timber volume and growth estimates were extrapolated from the Forest Service forest survey of Tennessee of 1970. The major finding of the study was that 58.6 percent of the forest lands in the timbershed were estimated available for harvest in 1976. Expressed in terms of volume and growth, an estimated 1,029.2 million cubic feet of growing stock (or 37.0 million cubic feet growth on growing stock) and an estimated 2,800.3 million board feet (International 1/4-inch rule) of sawtimber (or 98.3 million board feet growth on sawtimber), was possibly available for harvest. The motives for withholding timber from the market involved reasons which may be classified into three categories: financial, competing nontimber uses of the forest resource, and reasons that stem from past experiences and/or external influences. Financial reasons restricting willingness to sell accounted for over one-half the reasons given for withholding timber from the market

Perceptions of African American Male Students Enrolled in Developmental Education Programs in the Community College

This study sought to understand the perceptions of African American male students who are enrolled in developmental education programs. The researcher gathered information by interviewing students at 2 Mississippi community colleges and by reviewing information collected from the student’s demographic profile. This qualitative research allowed the researcher to learn directly from students, factors that contribute to African American male students developing a negative perception of developmental education programs. Participants were 20 African American male students enrolled in developmental education program in 2 Mississippi community colleges. Data collection occurred during the spring and fall 2016 semester. Each participant was asked 12 questions to determine his perspectives of developmental education programs and factors contributing to the student’s academic success. Moreover, the study provided solutions that can help dispel the negative perceptions of African American male students and suggested strategies for academic achievement. The factors included the following: support of community college leaders, supportive instructors, and peer support group. Data suggested that to support the academic success of African American male students, an understanding of their culture can benefit their advancement in the community college. The participants believe that if instructors would not give into the negative stereotypes and increase their willingness to go the extra mile to insure that African American male students become successful, the negative perception of developmental education program will change. Participants conveyed the need to feel cared for, understood, and supported by instructors and community college leaders. The findings from this study can assist community college leaders and instructors to develop educational interventions that will support African American male students. This research study is an attempt to provide information that will improve academic success of African American males enrolled in developmental educational programs in the community colleges

Screening for Psychopathology in Individuals with Autism using the Vineland - II

Research has consistently shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in combination with an intellectual disability are at greater risk for developing psychopathology than are typically developing individuals. Individuals with ASD and intellectual disability are also at increased risk of psychopathology compared to those who have an intellectual disability alone. Given this risk, accurate monitoring and screening of psychopathology in this population is critical. However, there are few well validated measures of psychopathology designed specifically for this population. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales – Second Edition (Vineland – II; Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Balla, 2005) is a commonly used measure of adaptive skills, and includes an optional Maladaptive Behavior Domain. The Maladaptive Behavior Domain consists of four sections, Internalizing, Externalizing, Other, and Critical Items. The Vineland-II has been used extensively with individuals who have an intellectual disability as well as with individuals who have ASD. However, the Maladaptive Behavior Domain has been overlooked in the literature and little information on its reliability, validity, or clinical utility exists. The utility of the Maladaptive Behavior Domain as a screening tool for psychopathology in individuals with ASD and intellectual disability was examined. The Vineland-II was administered to the parents/caregivers of 231 individuals between the ages of 3 and 41 years (M = 10 years 4 months) with ASD and intellectual disability. A factor analysis of the items within the maladaptive domain revealed a solution composed of six factors, which were labelled Acting Out, Social Regulation, ASD, Emotion Regulation, Socially Inappropriate, and Self-Regulation. Five of the six new factors are substantially different from the original sections. The Externalizing scale was the only original Vineland-II scale that remained relatively intact. These results suggest that for individuals with ASD and intellectual disability the Internalizing, Other, and Critical Items scales do not measure any well-defined constructs and thus do not yield meaningful information. The new factors appear to better categorize the Maladaptive Behavior Domain of the Vineland – II for individuals with ASD and intellectual disability. The reorganization of the Maladaptive Behavior Domain will allow for better detection of different forms of psychopathology in ASD and intellectual disability

Spin Correlations in the Two-Dimensional Spin-5/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnet Rb2MnF4

We report a neutron scattering study of the instantaneous spin correlations in the two-dimensional spin S=5/2 square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Rb_2MnF_4. The measured correlation lengths are quantitatively described, with no adjustable parameters, by high-temperature series expansion results and by a theory based on the quantum self-consistent harmonic approximation. Conversely, we find that the data, which cover the range from about 1 to 50 lattice constants, are outside of the regime corresponding to renormalized classical behavior of the quantum non-linear sigma model. In addition, we observe a crossover from Heisenberg to Ising critical behavior near the Neel temperature; this crossover is well described by a mean-field model with no adjustable parameters.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, with 6 included EPS figures, submitted to EPJ

Laminaria japonica Extract Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function by Altering Inflammatory Response and Tight Junction-Related Protein in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Caco-2 Cells.

In the normal physiological state, intestinal epithelial cells act as a defensive frontline of host mucosal immunity to tolerate constant exposure to external stimuli. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory and gut permeability protective effects of Laminaria japonica (LJ) water extract (LJE) and three types of fermented Laminaria japonica water extracts (LJE-F1, LJE-F2, and LJE-F3) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Caco-2, human intestinal epithelial cells. All four extracts significantly decreased the production of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 induced by LPS stimulus. In addition, LJE and the three types of LJE-Fs also inhibited LPS-induced loss of monolayer permeability, as assessed by changes in transepithelial electrical resistance. All four LJ extracts significantly prevented the inhibition of the protein levels of occludin, whereas LJE, LJE-F1, and LJE-F3 significantly attenuated the reduction in phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase compared with the LPS-treated group in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, LJE and its fermented water extracts appear to have potential gut health-promoting effects by reducing inflammation and partially regulating the tight junction-related proteins in human intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, additional studies are warranted to evaluate Laminaria japonica as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases