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This article summarizes a project focused on the PROSPER program delivery system as a formal vehicle for addressing substance misuse and abuse in Ohio communities. Promoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program delivery system designed to implement prevention programming provided by a partnership among local schools and communities, the university-based Cooperative Extension system, and state leadership. A case study is presented that describes a midproject effort to develop strategies for advancing PROSPER goals through a process called "strategic doing." Strategic doing brings partners together to develop strong collaborations that achieve highly desired outcomes. The case study is an example of a formal effort to translate scientific knowledge into applications that address real-life problems. Implications for translational research are discussed.

We report the case of a 5-year-old girl with frequent nocturnal episodes of disorder of arousal (confusional arousals, sleep terrors, and sleep walking), occurring at the end of periods of slow wave sleep, followed by return to sleep accompanied by the occurrence of periodic breathing with a run of approximately 10 to 20 central events. The duration of the central events and oxyhemoglobin desaturation were both maximum at the beginning of each run and became progressively less prominent with the development of the sequences. Night episodes disappeared with bedtime clonazepam but behavioral problems occurred as a paradoxical response; thus, clonazepam was stopped. Sleep extension and melatonin were then started, which were followed by a reduction of night episode frequency and intensity. This observation appears to be the first report of central sleep apnea sequences triggered by parasomnia and, if confirmed by additional reports, it might be considered to be a possible new classification of complex parasomnia.

We have previously demonstrated that an appropriately substituted four-membered-ring 1,2-diazacyclobutene is a useful compound in organic synthesis for the introduction of strained 1,2-diazetidine rings. In order to further explore the reactivity of this interesting heterocycle, we sought a method to improve upon the poor synthetic yield reported earlier. A novel route involving the synthesis of a similarly substituted 1,2-diazetidine compound followed by free-radical bromination and base-catalyzed debromination appeared promising. While there are some studies on the synthesis of the desired 1,2-diazetidine precursor, when we attempted its synthesis, we instead observed the exclusive formation of an eight-membered "dimer"-like compound. The structure of this compound was confirmed via single-crystal X-ray analysis. Fortunately, an alternative synthetic approach for the formation of the desired 1,2-diazetidine precursor proved successful, and the structure of the precursor has been confirmed via X-ray analysis. However, unfortunately, the required bromination step proved to be more challenging than expected, and ultimately, this route had to be abandoned since the anticipated improvement upon the original yield did not seem promising. Single-crystal X-ray analysis proved pivotal in properly identifying the structures of the synthesized compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA), also known as Morquio-Brailsford or Morquio A syndrome, is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme N-acetyl-galactosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase (GALNS). MPS IVA is multisystemic but manifests primarily as a progressive skeletal dysplasia. Spinal involvement is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in MPS IVA. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of problems involving the spine are critical in preventing or arresting neurological deterioration and loss of function. This review details the spinal manifestations of MPS IVA and describes the tools used to diagnose and monitor spinal involvement. The relative utility of radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of cervical spine instability, stenosis, and cord compression is discussed. Surgical interventions, anaesthetic considerations, and the use of neurophysiological monitoring during procedures performed under general anaesthesia are reviewed. Recommendations for regular radiological imaging and neurologic assessments are presented, and the need for a more standardized approach for evaluating and managing spinal involvement in MPS IVA is addressed.

IV. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS Our empirical analysis started with a description of the contracts and the other variables that we compiled for our sample. Table 2 shows the year that each [...]

The [2+2+2] cycloaddition (homo-Diels–Alder reaction) of N-substituted 1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-diones (TADs) with bicycloalkadienes produces strained heterocyclic compounds. A reaction with the unsubstituted dienes occurs readily to produce only the expected homo-Diels–Alder adducts. However, previous work in the literature showed that the attachment of a single electron-withdrawing group to the diene system results in the formation of not only the expected homo-Diels–Alder adducts, but also interesting "insertion" products. To probe the limits of reactivity of these diene systems, we investigated the reaction of N-methyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (MeTAD) with bicycloalkadienes substituted with two electron-withdrawing groups, i.e., two carbomethoxy or two cyano groups. We hoped to learn whether the reaction still proceeded, and if so, whether the homo-Diels–Alder adducts and/or other types of products were formed. We found that a reaction between MeTAD and the dienes takes place upon substitution with two carbomethoxy groups, albeit at a considerably slower rate than other reactions. The only products observed were the homo-Diels–Alder adducts. However, attachment of two CN groups completely inhibited reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please note that this summary is not legal advice and may not be relied on for official purposes. The reader should confer with one's assigned general counsel for any related [...]

A bill currently pending in Congress would render unenforceable mandatory arbitration clauses in all employment contracts. Some perceive these provisions as employer efforts to deprive employees of important legal rights. [...]

During 2005 and 2006, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) performed three major tests of western system dynamics. These tests used a Wide-Area Measurement System (WAMS) based primarily on phasor measurement units (PMUs) to determine response to events including the insertion of the 1400-MW Chief Joseph braking resistor, probing signals, and ambient events. Test security was reinforced through real-time analysis of wide-area effects, and high-quality data provided dynamic profiles for interarea modes across the entire western interconnection. The tests established that low-level optimized pseudo-random [+ or -]4-20-MW probing with the Pacific DC Intertie (PDCI) roughly doubles the apparent noise that is natural to the power system, providing sharp dynamic information with negligible interference to system operations. Such probing is an effective alternative to use of the 1400-MW Chief Joseph dynamic brake, and it is under consideration as a standard means for assessing dynamic security. Index Terms--Performance monitoring, phasor measurements, system testing, Wide-Area Measurement System (WAMS).

ABSTRACT The addition of either sodium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide to 3-nitrophenol led to orange-red crystals of sodium 3-nitrophenolate dihydrate or a complex of 3-nitrophenol and tetramethylammonium 3-nitrophenolate. For the [...]

Introduction Each year, the DISAM Journal publishes a summary of the legislation that impacts U.S. security assistance and other related international programs. This report is intended to alert all security [...]

Sample-time error among the channels of a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is the main reason for significant degradation of the effective resolution of the high-speed time-interleaved ADC. A calibration technique for sample-time mismatches has been proposed and implemented at a low level of complexity. The calibration method uses random data and is especially suitable for ADCs used in digital data communication systems. An 800-MS/s four-channel, time-interleaved ADC system has been implemented to evaluate the performance of the technique. The experimental results show that the spurious-free dynamic range of the ADC system is improved to 58.1 dB at 350 MHz. The ADC system achieves a signal-to-noise and distortion ratio of 59.6 dB at 5 MHz and 50.1 dB at 350 MHz after calibration. Index Terms--Analog-to-digital converter (ADC), calibration, sample-time mismatch, skew, time interleaved.

Complex transfer functions are not restricted to having complex-conjugate symmetry in the frequency-domain, as is the case for real filters. This gives them more flexibility when they are used in communication systems with complex signals, such as intermediate frequency signals of wireless communication systems. This paper describes a set of algorithms and procedures that can be used in solving the approximation problem involved in deriving complex infinite-impulse-response bandpass transfer functions directly, without the requirement of first designing a real-transfer-function prototype filter, which is then frequency translated. Because the requirement for a real prototype filter is eliminated, the filters need not have arithmetic symmetry; this results in superior stopbands with smaller filter orders. The procedures can be used for both continuous and discrete-time filters, can allow for arbitrary stopband specifications, and can be used for either equiripple or monotonic passbands. Index Terms--Complex signal processing, filter approximation, quadrature signal processing, transfer functions.

Wireless systems often make use of the quadrature relationship between pairs of signals to effectively cancel out-of-band and interfering in-band signal components. The understanding of these systems is often simplified by considering both the signals and system transfer functions as 'complex' quantities. The complex approach is especially useful in highly integrated multistandard receivers where the use of narrow-band fixed-coefficient filters at the RF and high IF must be minimized. This paper first presents a tutorial review of complex signal processing for wireless applications. The review emphasizes a graphical and pictorial description rather than an equation-based approach. Next, a number of classical modulation architectures are described using this formulation. Finally, more recent developments such as complex filters, image-reject mixers, low-IF receivers, and oversampling analog--digital converters are discussed. Index Terms--Communication systems, complex signal processing, filters, frequency modulation, mixers, wireless receivers.

Introduction Each year, the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) Journal publishes a summary and analysis of the legislation that impacts U.S. security assistance. In this issue, we present [...]

High-speed high-resolution [DELTA] [SIGMA] analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for broad-band communication applications must be designed at a low oversampling ratio (OSR). However, lowering the OSR limits the efficiency of a [DELTA] [SIGMA] ADC in achieving a high-resolution A/D conversion. This paper presents several techniques that enable the OSR reduction in [DELTA] [SIGMA] ADCs without compromising the resolution. 1) Noise transfer function (NTF). In this paper, a single-stage multibit [DELTA] [SIGMA] modulator with a high-order finite-impulse-response NTF is proposed to achieve high signal-to-quantization-noise ratios at low OSRs. Its key features include: decreased circuit complexity, improved robustness to modulator coefficient variations, and reduced sensitivity to integrator nonlinearities. Its performance is validated through behavioral simulations and compared to traditional [DELTA] [SIGMA]. modulator structures. 2) Signal transfer function (STF). This paper describes how the STF of a [DELTA] [SIGMA] modulator can be designed, independently of the NTF, in order to significantly reduce the harmonic distortion due to opamp nonidealities and to help lower the power dissipation. 3) Dynamic element matching (DEM) is also presented. Data weighted averaging (DWA) has prevailed as the most practical DEM technique to linearize the internal digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of a multibit [DELTA] [SIGMA] modulator, especially when the number of DAC elements is large. However, the occurrence of in-band signal-dependent tones, when using DWA at a low OSR, degrades the spurious-free dynamic range. This paper proposes a simple technique, caned Pseudo DWA, to solve the DWA tone problem without sacrificing the signal-to-noise ratio. Its implementation adds no extra delay in the [DELTA] [SIGMA] feedback loop and requires only minimal additional digital hardware. Existing schemes for DWA tone reduction are also compared. Index Terms--[DELTA] [SIGMA] modulators, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), data-weighted averaging (DWA), digital-to-analog conversion, dynamic element matching (DEM), mismatch shaping.