cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relative benefit of word context is a constant proportion of letter identification time

Letter identification is reduced when the target letter is surrounded by other, flanking letters. This visual crowding is known to be impacted by physical changes to the target and flanks, such as spatial frequency content, polarity, and interletter spacing. There is also evidence that visual crowding is reduced when the flanking letters and the target letter form a word. The research reported here investigated whether these two phenomena are independent of each other or whether the degree of visual crowding impacts the benefit of word context. Stimulus duration thresholds for letters presented alone and for the middle letters of 3-letter words and nonwords were determined for stimuli presented at the fovea and at the periphery. In Experiment 1, the benefit of word context was found to be the same at the fovea, where visual crowding is minimal, and at the periphery, where visual crowding is substantial. In Experiment 2, visual crowding was manipulated by changing the interletter spacing. Here, too, the benefit of word context was fairly constant for the two retinal locations (fovea or periphery), as well as with changes in interletter spacing. These data call into question both the idea that the benefit of word context is greater when stimulus quality is reduced (as is the case with visual crowding) and the idea that words are processed more effectively when they are presented at the fovea.
Stories of boys and buildings: Ishida Ira's 4-Teen in 2002 Tokyo

Abstract During the past few years, the construction of luxury residential and commercial towers in neighborhoods along the Sumida River has accelerated dramatically, altering the social composition and cultural images associated with downtown Tokyo. The new buildings stand in contrast to the sinking economy and are markers of the growing gap between rich and poor. They also reflect the pattern of urban construction and destruction as well as the unobtainable desires promised by commodity capitalism. Concurrently, the Japanese media have featured articles on the escalation of youth crime and discontent, as well as the many forms of corruption that teenagers are exposed to in transformed downtown Tokyo. The 2002 Naoki literary prize was awarded to a book that reacts to both urban development and the problems facing Tokyo adolescents – Ishida Ira's 4-Teen. Ishida shows the effects of Tokyo's transformations on teenage social norms and uses descriptions of urban places to reveal contradictions embedded in th...
Gas chromatographic analysis of trace metals isolated from aqueous solutions as diethyldithiocarbamates.

Abstract While the determination of trace levels of metal ions in sea waters and other marine samples can be accomplished by spectroscopic means (atomic absorption or inductively coupled plasma) recent publications describing the determination of metal ions as diethyldithiocarbamate derivatives has raised the possibility of using gas chromatographic techniques. A study was undertaken to establish optimum procedures both for the isolation of trace metals as diethyldithiocarbamates from aqueous media and for their quantitation by gas chromatography. The diethyldithiocarbamate standards required for this study [ i.e . those of Ni(II),Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Hg(II) and Co(III)] were prepared and characterized. A gas chromatographic method was developed, involving the use of the mixed stationary phases QF-1 and OV-101 at low concentrations, which gave a highly efficient separation of mixtures of up to five of the metals studied. Contrary to other reports in the literature dealing with the gas chromatography of some metal diethyldithiocarbamate or other, the use of glass tubing to pack columns was found to be critical for obtaining successful separations, and elimination of possible degradation of the metal diethyldithiocarbamates on the columns. Linear responses were the rule in the nanogram concentration range investigated for each metal. Accuracy of analyses of ppm concentrations of the metals was in the order of ± 5% or better, with relative standard deviations of 5% or less. Low ppb (ng/ml) detection was feasible starting with metals dissolved in either dis tilled water, or in synthetic sea water. Theoretical principles have been proposed to account both for the nature of the gas chromatographic separation observed and for the degradation problems encountered and overcome.
IDH mutations in primary myelofibrosis predict leukemic transformation and shortened survival: clinical evidence for leukemogenic collaboration with JAK2V617F.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are frequent in blast-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms and might therefore contribute to leukemic transformation. We examined this possibility in 301 consecutive patients with chronic-phase primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The mutant IDH was detected in 12 patients (4%): 7 IDH2 (5 R140Q, 1 R140W and 1 R172G) and 5 IDH1 (3 R132S and 2 R132C). In all, 6 (50%) of the 12 IDH-mutated patients also expressed JAK2V617F. Overall, 18 (6%) patients displayed only MPL and 164 (54.3%) only JAK2 mutations. Multivariable analysis that accounted for conventional risk factors disclosed inferior overall survival (OS; P=0.03) and leukemia-free survival (LFS; P=0.003) in IDH-mutated patients: OS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.39 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.2–0.75), 0.50 (95% CI 0.27–0.95) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.23–1.2) for patients with no, JAK2 or MPL mutations, respectively. Further analysis disclosed a more pronounced effect for the mutant IDH on OS and LFS in the presence (P=0.0002 and P<0.0001, respectively) as opposed to the absence (P=0.34 and P=0.64) of concomitant JAK2V617F. Analysis of paired samples obtained during chronic- and blast-phase disease revealed the presence of both IDH and JAK2 mutations at both time points. Our observations suggest that IDH mutations in PMF are independent predictors of leukemic transformation and raise the possibility of leukemogenic collaboration with JAK2V617F.
Infrared and Raman spectra of ethynyldifluoroborane (HC2BF2) and ethynyldichloroborane (HC2BCl2)

Abstract The vapor phase infrared and Raman spectra of several isotopic species of ethynyldifluoroborane (HC2BF2) and ethynyldichloroborane (HC2BCl2) have been obtained. Vapor phase band contours, Raman polarization data, characteristic group frequencies, and isotopic frequency shifts have been used to make the vibrational assignments for these molecules.
Art Spaces in Community and Economic Development: Connections to Neighborhoods, Artists, and the Cultural Economy

There is growing interest in the arts in community and economic development, yet little research examines the dynamics of community-based arts institutions to inform urban planning and policy. Drawing on interviews with participants and organizers of small and midsized art spaces, the study explores the factors that influence their involvement in neighborhood revitalization and outreach, support for artistic communities, and efforts to build bridges to commercial cultural sectors. Art spaces function as a conduit for building social networks that contribute to both community revitalization and artistic development. But issues pertaining to the location, organization, and management of art spaces may limit their community and economic development potential. The article concludes with proposals to craft stronger arts-based community and economic development programs.
Testicular cancer health education: an integrative review

Cancer of the testis is the most common malignancy in men between the ages of 15 and 35, yet it is one of the most curable cancers. The optimistic prognosis that results from early detection and treatment of testicular cancer underscores the critical need for teaching testicular self-examination (TSE). However, an integrative review of the health education literature suggests that the men most susceptible are virtually unaware of the symptoms of testicular cancer and how to detect them. Although educational materials have been available, very little intervention research has been published on testicular cancer. The literature to date has focused on the pyschosocial factors associated with the practice of TSE and increasing knowledge of testicular cancer. Although an important beginning step, knowledge of testicular cancer alone as a preventive health behaviour is not sufficient if young men either do not know how to do the examination on their own testicles or do not believe it is important to them. Nurses should incorporate health education for testicular cancer and TSE in the delivery of routine primary health care. Furthermore, future research should aim to (a) increase knowledge through the educational curricula of high schools and colleges by use of video presentations, (b) examine the efficacy of using silicone models to ensure that men can be trained to detect the symptoms of testicular cancer, and (c) study compliance with recommendations to perform TSE.
Robust estimation of the discrete spectrum of relaxations from multiple-electromagnetic induction responses

The EMI response of a target can be accurately modeled by a sum of real exponentials. However, it is difficult to obtain the model parameters from measurements when the number of exponentials is unknown. We have previously proposed estimation methods for the model parameters from a single measurement. In this paper, we propose to increase the estimation accuracy by utilizing the multiple measurements often available for a given target. The property of measurements sharing the same relaxation frequencies is exploited to increase the estimation performance. The proposed method is shown to deliver robust estimation using synthetic, laboratory data, and field data.
Fast diffusers in a thermal gradient (solder ball)

The behaviour of Ni in Sn under a thermal gradient driving forces was calculated considering boundary conditions typical of lead-free solder applications. The steady state concentration profiles for a fast diffuser were determined and the consequences for reliability discussed.
High-performance tunable optical parametric oscillator

We report the experimental demonstration of tunable optical frequency division based on an efficient, one-step parametric downconversion process in a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). Our compact OPO generated two nearly degenerate subharmonic outputs that can be tuned over a 1.5 THz range in the signal-idler beat frequency by crystal angle tuning and cavity length scanning. We achieved continuous tuning of the beat frequency over a range of 0.5 GHz through the use of temperature and electro-optic tuning of the KTP crystal. A tunable optical frequency divider was realized by phase locking the signal- idler beat frequency to an external microwave frequency source, which yielded a beatnote linewidth at the sub-Hz level. The output frequencies of the phase-locked OPO were therefore precisely controlled by the tunable microwave source and the pump frequency. Characteristics of three different OPO cavity designs and their operations are discussed.
Shark-bitten vertebrate coprolites from the Miocene of Maryland

Coprolites (fossilized feces) preserve a wide range of biogenic components, from bacteria and spores to a variety of vertebrate tissues. Two coprolites from the Calvert Cliffs outcrop belt (Miocene-aged Chesapeake Group), MD, USA, preserve shark tooth impressions in the form of partial dental arcades. The specimens are the first known coprolites to preserve vertebrate tooth marks. They provide another example of trace fossils providing evidence of prehistoric animal behaviors that cannot be directly approached through the study of body fossils. Shark behaviors that could account for these impressions include: (1) aborted coprophagy, (2) benthic or nektonic exploration, or (3) predation.
Regulation of cell cycle and DNA repair in post-mitotic GABA neurons in psychotic disorders

Disturbances of cell cycle regulation and DNA repair in post-mitotic neurons have been implicated in degenerative and malignant diseases of the human brain. Recent work is now suggesting that abnormal regulation of these functions in GABA cells of the adult hippocampus may also play a role in two neuropsychiatric disorders. In schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a network of genes involved in the regulation of GAD67, a marker for the functional differentiation of GABA cells, show pronounced changes in expression and include kainate receptor subunits, TGFβ and Wnt signaling pathways, epigenetic factors and transcription factors. One of these genes, cyclin D2, is involved in the regulation of cell cycle and DNA repair and appears to be a pivotal element in linking GAD67 expression with these functional clusters of genes. Dysfunction of post-mitotic GABAergic neurons in the adult hippocampus of patients with psychotic disorders is associated with changes in the expression of genes that are involved in the maintenance of functional and genomic integrity of GABA cells. The nature of these changes is quite different in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting that a common cell phenotype (in this case, decreased GAD67 expression) may involve two fundamentally different molecular endophenotypes and reflect unique susceptibility genes involved in the respective disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Trends in Neuropharmacology: In Memory of Erminio Costa’.
“No he sentido mejor señal que tu tardança”: Sign-Seeking in Celestina

(2003). “No he sentido mejor senal que tu tardanca”: Sign-Seeking in Celestina. Romance Quarterly: Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 259-268.
The stability of glazed silicon surfaces to water attack

IBM has developed a glassing technology for the passivation of transistors and diodes. For effective surface protection, the glass should have long-term stability to ambient attack, particularly moisture attack. Since it is difficult to evaluate all glasses under moderate moisture conditions for extended periods, several accelerated tests for determining the stability of glasses to water and humidity were compared. Although the results obtained from exposure of a glassed silicon wafer to boiling water for times ranging from a few minutes to an hour were more severe than those obtained by conventional long-term humidity tests, the results could be correlated. The films were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and by changes in weight, thickness, and microscopic appearance. It was found that glazed silicon surfaces can best be evaluated for water stability by comparison of the infrared spectra of the films before and after boiling in water. Changes in film thickness or weight was found to be insufficient for a complete evaluation.
The Role of Patients’ Explanatory Models and Daily-Lived Experience in Hypertension Self-Management

BACKGROUND Uncontrolled hypertension remains a significant problem for many patients. Few interventions to improve patients’ hypertension self-management have had lasting effects. Previous work has focused largely on patients’ beliefs as predictors of behavior, but little is understood about beliefs as they are embedded in patients’ social contexts.
Effect of Clomiphene Citrate in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Relationship Between Serum Gonadotropin and Corpus Luteum Function

ABSTRACT Assessment of the temporal relationship between the changes in serum gonadotropin and corpus luteum function in response to clomiphene citrate (Clomid) was made in 7 patients (8 cycles) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO). Daily serum FSH, LH and progesterone concentrations were determined before, during and after Clomid treatment until menses ensued. In most instances, Clomid induced a transient rise in LH and FSH during the treatment (Clomid peak), which was followed by a pattern of gonadotropin secretion closely resembling that observed in the normal ovulatory cycles. An average latent phase of 6 days between the Clomid peak and preovulatory surge was observed. In 2 patients, apparent ovulation was induced with the absence of “post-Clomid nadir.” The magnitude of increase was greater for LH than for FSH. “Ovulatory” response as judged by the elevation in progesterone concentration occurred in 7 of 8 cycles and one patient conceived. However, the day of maximum concentration of progesterone oc...
The role of natural killer cells in immune surveillance of cancer

Abstract In the past year, a subset of natural killer cells designated ‘A-NK cells’ has been characterized. These immune cells appear to be able to enter solid tissues, migrate to sites of metastasis and eliminate malignant tissue cells, but spare normal tissue cells. They appear to be ideal surveillance cells, readily capable of upregulating antitumor functions in response to local activation signals.
WWW Database of Variable Star Fourier Coefficients

Fourier coefficients are a valuable tool in the study of a wide variety of pulsating stars. In the case of RR Lyrae stars they, can be used to estimate various physical parameters, such as mass, luminosity, metallicity, and effective temperature. They are frequently used to discriminate between different pulsation modes for both RR Lyrae stars and Cepheids. Fourier coefficients have been published for stars based on many different photometric systems as well as for radial velocity measurements. With the release of coefficients from large-scale surveys and the availability of these data on the Internet, the number of Fourier coefficients available for study has significantly increased, and it is difficult to obtain all available data for individual stars or a given subset of stars. To assist researchers in obtaining and making use of Fourier coefficients, an on-line archive of published values of Fourier coefficients has been established. Users can search the database using a variety of tools, and the data sets extend beyond the Milky Way to include extragalactic variables. The archive is located at the Web site http://nitro9.earth.uni.edu/fourier/.
Arc determination equals injury identification: Trauma mantra applied to electrocution

In the world of penetrating trauma, the dictum 'trajectory determines injury' has long been promulgated as a method for determining which organs are likely to have been injured according to the path of the projectile. For transthoracic and transabdominal penetrating wounds, marking potential entrance and exit wounds with radiopaque markers and subsequently obtaining plain films of intervening body areas has been the standard of care at our institution; depending on the nature of the injury, haemodynamically stable patients may undergo computed tomography to help further define injury pattern prior to operation. In analogy to penetrating trauma, electrical injury may also have an entrance and an exit wound. The 'path of least resistance' that electrical current may take through tissue may be difficult to define and intervening structures, including intrathoracic and intraabdominal viscera, may be at risk for injury.
Particle transport through perforations

When particles are transported from the casing through perforations during gravel prepacking and hydraulic fracturing operations, inertial and gravity forces cause particle slurries to increase in concentration downstream of the perforations. This increase in particle concentration can result in incomplete packing of voids outside the casing for either of 2 reasons: (1) particles can bridge in the entrance of perforation tunnels; and (2) highly concentrated slurries may not be transported through the perforations. Instead, the particles form a bed in the casing until an equilibrium velocity is reached. At this velocity, the concentrated particle slurry is transported into the perforations. To prevent bridging of particles in the perforations the ratio of perforation diameter to average particle diameter should be 6/1 or larger. To prevent a particle bank from forming in the casing opposite open perforations, design conditions that result in high particle transport efficiency should be selected. The 2 design variables that can be most conveniently varied in prepacking operations are the pumping rate and the fluid viscosity.
On the fcc → monoclinic martensite transformation in a Pu–1.7 at.% Ga alloy

Abstract The face-centered cubic δ → monoclinic α′ martensite transformation in a Pu–1.7 at.% Ga alloy is analyzed in terms of the defect-based topological model. Disconnections and terrace planes for the transformation are deduced. The predicted habit plane is in good agreement with experimental results. Observed twinning is associated directly with the transformation strain. The lattice invariant deformation is connected with slip in the α′ plates. Implications for hysteresis in the transformation as observed by dilatometry and calorimetry are discussed.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of halogenated curcumin analogs as potential nuclear receptor selective agonists

This report describes the synthesis of analogs of curcumin, and their analysis in acting as nuclear receptor specific agonists. Curcumin (CM), a turmeric-derived bioactive polyphenol found in curry, has recently been identified as a ligand for the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and it is possible that CM exerts some of its bioeffects via direct binding to VDR and/or other proteins in the nuclear receptor superfamily. Using mammalian-two-hybrid (M2H) and vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) biological assay systems, we tested CM and 11 CM synthetic analogs for their ability to activate VDR signaling. The M2H assay revealed that RXR and VDR association was induced by CM and several of its analogs. VDRE-based assays demonstrated that pure curcumin and eight CM analogs activated transcription of a luciferase plasmid at levels approaching that of the endocrine 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D) ligand in human colon cancer cells (HCT-116). Additional experiments were performed in HCT-116 utilizing various nuclear receptors and hormone responsive elements to determine the receptor specificity of curcumin binding. CM did not appear to activate transcription in a glucocorticoid responsive system. However, CM along with several analogs elicited transcriptional activation in retinoic acid and retinoid X receptor (RXR) responsive systems. M2H assays using RXR-RXR, VDR-SRC1 and VDR-DRIP revealed that CM and select analogs stimulate RXR homodimerization and VDR-coactivator interactions. These studies may lead to the discovery of novel curcumin analogs that activate nuclear receptors, including RXR, RAR and VDR, resulting in similar health benefits as those for vitamins A and D, such as lowering the risk of epithelial and colon cancers.
Low-Temperature-Oxidation Reaction Kinetics and Effects on the In-Situ Combustion Process

The kinetics of low-temperature oxidation (LTO) of crude oils in porous media was studied. The order of the reaction was dependent upon the crude but independent of the properties of the porous medium. The activation energy of the reaction was insensitive to the type of crude or porous medium and is in the neighborhood of 31,000 btu/lb mol. LTO reactions also were found to be in the kinetics- influenced region. The measured reaction rates for a 19.9$ API and a 27.1$ API crude indicated higher oxidation rates under similar reaction conditions for the higher API gravity crude. Thus, light crudes are more susceptible to partial oxidation at low temperatures because of their relatively high hydrogen content. Effect of partial oxidation of the crude on the in situ combustion process was studied by experimentally simulating the zones preceding the combustion front where temperatures and injection rates of a linear reservoir model were programed with time according to a predesigned schedule. Oxidation of the crude at temperatures below 400/sup 0/F had significant effects on the behavior of the crude oil-water system in the porous medium at elevated temperatures and on the fuel available for combustion. (22 refs.)
Serotonergic synaptic input to facial motoneurons: localization by electronmicroscopic autoradiography

Abstract Serotonergic nerve terminals in the facial motor nucleus were labelled with [ 3 H]5-hydroxy-tryptamine. When serotonergic nerve terminals were destroyed (by the selective neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine) the labelling was lost. By electron-microscopic autoradiography, labelled serotonergic terminals were found to make axo-dendritic or axo-somatic junctions with facial motor neurons. No axo-axonic junctions were observed. These morphological findings are consistent with physiological studies which indicate that 5-hydroxy-tryptamine facilitates the excitation of facial motoneurons through a direct postsynaptic action.
Split sentencing in georgia: A test of two empirical assumptions

Recent research on felony sentencing in the nation's trial courts has highlighted a type of sentence in which a prison term is coupled with a probation period. Under these so-called “split sentences,” convicted felons serve a term of incarceration, are released (possibly) on parole, and eventually come under the concurrent jurisdiction of both parole and probation authorities. Although such a sentence may serve a variety of purposes, it is at least conceivable that judges use the prison/probation combination as a way to respond to prison overcrowding and public pressure for punitiveness. This article reports a study of split sentencing in Georgia from 1976 to May 1985. Drawing on more general research on felony sentencing in the state's Superior Courts, the authors test two empirical assumptions about split sentencing: (1) the perception that split sentencing has increased over time and (2) the importance of the total term (i.e., the prison/probation combination) over the actual severity (i.e., the time s...
Trends in Earnings Differentials across College Majors and the Changing Task Composition of Jobs

Inequality has increased dramatically in the United States since the late 1970s, both within and across education levels. A leading explanation for this rise has been increased demand for certain skills due to technological change. 1 In particular, Autor, Levy, and Murnane (2003) and Autor, Katz, and Kearney (2008), among others, suggest that increases in outsourcing and computerization have reduced demand for middle-skill routine tasks in favor of highskill abstract tasks and low-skill manual tasks. This work associates a polarization of wage and employment distributions (declines in the middle and increases at the top and bottom) with the tasks associated with jobs typically found at a given point in the distribution: abstract tasks at the top, routine in the middle, and nonroutine manual at the bottom. Research has had some success accounting for the rise in inequality between education groups, broadly defined, by linking them to the tasks required of jobs they typically go into, and examining how demand for these tasks has changed over time (see, for example, Acemoglu and Autor 2011). But the fact that inequality has increased both across and within narrowly defined demographic groups suggests studying these links within education groups would also be fruitful. There is little direct evidence on how, within an education class, worker skills and training interact
Two- and three-point functions in the D = 1 matrix model

Abstract The critical behavior of the genus-zero two-point function in the D = 1 matrix model is carefully analyzed for arbitrary embedding-space momentum. Kostov's result is recovered for momenta below a certain value P 0 (which is 1/√α′ in the continuum language), with a non-universal form factor which is expressed simply in terms of the critical fermion trajectory. For momenta above P 0 , the Kostov scaling term is found to be subdominant. We then extend the large- N WKB treatment to calculate the genus-zero three-point function, and elucidate its critical behavior when all momenta are below P 0 . The resulting universal scaling behavior, as well as the non-universal form factor for the three-point function, are related to the two-point functions of the individual external momenta, through the factorization familiar from continuum conformal field theories.
A Novel and Two Letters

Two letters of William Dean Howells shed light on his novel, "A Woman's Reason," published in 1883.
Electroactive-Polymer Actuators for Controlling Space Inflatable Structures

Space inflatable structures present a unique challenge to the design of actuators that can be used to effectively control the surface contour of the structures for the purposes of health monitoring and damage detection. Any actuator designed for space inflatable must be highly flexible and have low mass so that the structural integrity of the inflatable will not be severely compromised by the attachment of the actuator. Among current actuator designs, electroactive-polymer-based actuators are the most promising ones. Electroactive polymer is a new class of "smart" material that can convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Ionic polymer metal composites and conductive polymers, which belong to the electroactive polymer group, can be effective actuation materials because of their low activation voltage of about 5 V and potentially large strains. Both types of actuators were fabricated, and their stress and strain outputs evaluated for use on inflatable structures.
Covalent attachment of a peptide to the surface of gallium nitride

The properties of GaN have made it not only an ideal material for high power and high frequency electronic devices, but also a semiconductor suitable for application in biosensing devices. The utilization of GaN in electronic biosensors has increased the importance of characterizing robust and easily implemented organic functionalization methods for GaN surfaces. This work demonstrates and characterizes a route to functionalize the GaN (0001) surface with two organic molecules, hexylamine and a peptide, through olefin cross-metathesis with Grubbs first generation catalyst. The GaN (0001) surface was chlorinated, functionalized with a terminal alkene group using a Grignard reaction, and then terminated with a carboxyl group using an olefin cross-metathesis reaction. With a condensation reaction, the final step in the reaction scheme bound hexylamine or a peptide to the carboxyl terminated GaN surface. Qualitative and quantitative X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data verified the success of each step in the reaction scheme. Surface element composition, adlayer coverages, and adlayer thicknesses were calculated based on the XPS data. At least a monolayer of surface molecules covered the GaN surface.
Application of the ICE-PIC method for the dimension reduction of chemical kinetics coupled with transport

Abstract A new dimension-reduction method, the Invariant Constrained-equilibrium Edge Pre-Image Curve (ICE-PIC) method, to simplify chemical kinetics has recently been developed by Ren et al. [Z. Ren, S.B. Pope, A. Vladimirsky, J.M. Guckenheimer, J. Chem. Phys. 124 (2006) 114111]. In the present work, the ICE-PIC method is first applied to the homogeneous autoignition of stoichiometric methane/air and its accuracy is shown to compare favorably to those of other methods (QSSA and RCCE). For inhomogeneous systems such as flames, spatial transport by molecular diffusion causes a small perturbation of the composition away from the attracting, low-dimensional, invariant manifold identified by the ICE-PIC method. A “close-parallel” assumption is introduced which allows this perturbation to be determined, and leads to an additional “transport coupling” term in the evolution equation for the reduced variables. For the test case of a steady, one-dimensional, laminar, methane/air flame, it is shown that the inclusion of transport coupling can reduce the dimension-reduction errors by a factor of 100. The ICE-PIC method with eight degrees of freedom (including transport coupling) exhibits comparable accuracy to a quasi-steady state assumption (QSSA) reduced mechanism with 12 degrees of freedom.
Increased susceptibility of fibroblasts from horses with severe combined immunodeficiency to growth inhibition by 2′-deoxyadenosine

The effect of adenosine, deoxyadenosine, guanosine, and deoxyguanosine on the growth rate of fibroblasts derived from normal horses, horses heterozygous for the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) trait (heterozygotes), and horses with SCID was studied. All four purines were found to inhibit growth in a dose-dependent manner, but only adenosine and deoxyadenosine were inhibitory at concentrations of less than 100 microM. No statistical difference in sensitivity to adenosine was detected between normal and SCID fibroblasts. Fibroblasts from SCID horses were, however, more sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of deoxyadenosine than were fibroblasts from normal horses. Furthermore, following 24 hr of incubation with radiolabeled deoxyadenosine, radiolabeled deoxyATP concentrations were found to be twofold higher in SCID fibroblasts compared to those concentrations measured in normal fibroblasts cultured under identical conditions. Adenosine deaminase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activities were normal in SCID fibroblasts. These findings suggest that SCID horses may have a defect in either transport or phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine, or in the utilization of deoxyATP.
Educational level, coping, and psychological and physical aspects of quality of life in heart transplant candidates

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether demographic factors and coping strategies are related to quality of life in heart transplant candidates. Method: Participants were 50 inpatients being evaluated for heart transplant. Coping was measured using the COPE Inventory (1) (J Pers Soc Psychol, 56, 1989, 267). Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 (2) (Health Survey: Manual and Interpretation Guide, Quality Metric Inc, Lincoln, RI, 2000). Results: Higher education and less seeking of social support were independently associated with better physical functioning. Higher use of denial was associated with poorer mental health functioning. Conclusions: In patients with significant physical limitations, years of education appears to be protective. Less seeking of social support was associated with better physical functioning perhaps because individuals who feel better physically do not feel the need to elicit support. Alternatively, the tendency to not seek assistance could stem from personality characteristics such as avoidance or optimism. Denial was associated with worse mental health functioning. Denying the existence of a stressor may be a high risk coping strategy for patients who are pre-transplant and even more dangerous for those who are post-transplant given the need to be alert to symptoms. Proactive identification of patients at risk for poorer quality of life will allow for more timely psychosocial interventions, which could impact post-transplant outcomes.
Contribution of Field-Ionized Rydberg Atoms in Observations on Convoy Electrons

An experiment is described demonstrating that for fast-ion bombardment of thin foils, projectile Rydberg atoms and convoy electrons emerge with comparable probabilities. These Rydberg atoms can readily ionize in the fields of electron spectrometers employed for measurements on convoy electrons, producing beam-velocity electrons which contribute significantly to the "cusp electron" spectra observed. This Rydberg contribution to the shape and intensity of the cusp peak has not been taken into account in previous treatments.
Effects of surface scattering in full-waveform inversion

In full-waveform inversion of seismic body waves, often the free surface is ignored on grounds of computational efficiency.Asyntheticstudywasperformedtoinvestigatetheeffectsofthissimplification.Intermsofsizeandfrequency,the testmodelanddataconformtoareallong-offsetsurveyofthe upper crust across the San Andreas fault. Random fractal variations are superimposed on a background model with strong lateral and vertical velocity variations ranging from 1200to6800m/s.Syntheticdatawerecomputedandinverted forthismodelanddifferenttopographies.Afullyviscoelastic time-domain code was used to synthesize the seismograms, and a viscoacoustic frequency-domain code was utilized to invert them. The inversion was focused on early arrivals, which are dominated by P-waves but also contain strong P-Rayleigh wave conversions from the near-field of the receiver. Resulting waveform models show artifacts and a loss of resolution from neglecting the free surface in the inversion, but the inversions are stable, and they still improve the resolution of kinematic models. The extent of deterioration dependsmoreonthesubsurfacethanonthesurfacestructure. Inversion results were improved at no additional expense by introducing a weak contrast along a staircase function above shotsandreceivers.
An Overview and Critique of NCAA Policy Regarding the Use of Sport Psychology Consultants at the Division I Level

Over the past 20 years the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division-I (NCAA) has restricted the activities of sport psychology consultants (SPCs) working with student-athletes, particularly at the Division I (D-I) level. In some cases, the restrictions have been based on the assumption that what SPCs do is actually “coaching.” Thus, if SPCs are permitted to interact with student-athletes during practices and competitions they must be considered as “countable” coaches. In this paper, we briefly discuss the history of NCAA rules governing the activities of SPCs, provide excerpts from the sport psychology literature and the NCAA D-I Manual that illustrate how the specialized work of SPCs is different from that of coaches, suggest reasons why allowing student-athletes and coaches access to SPCs during practices and competitions would be beneficial to both groups, and propose ways NCAA legislation might be amended to allow SPCs to work with student-athletes in a manner similar to the ways other athlet...
Sensory perception of food and insulin-like signals influence seizure susceptibility.

Food deprivation is known to affect physiology and behavior. Changes that occur could be the result of the organism's monitoring of internal and external nutrient availability. In C. elegans, male mating is dependent on food availability; food-deprived males mate with lower efficiency compared to their well-fed counterparts, suggesting that the mating circuit is repressed in low-food environments. This behavioral response could be mediated by sensory neurons exposed to the environment or by internal metabolic cues. We demonstrated that food-deprivation negatively regulates sex-muscle excitability through the activity of chemosensory neurons and insulin-like signaling. Specifically, we found that the repressive effects of food deprivation on the mating circuit can be partially blocked by placing males on inedible food, E. coli that can be sensed but not eaten. We determined that the olfactory AWC neurons actively suppress sex-muscle excitability in response to food deprivation. In addition, we demonstrated that loss of insulin-like receptor (DAF-2) signaling in the sex muscles blocks the ability of food deprivation to suppress the mating circuit. During low-food conditions, we propose that increased activity by specific olfactory neurons (AWCs) leads to the release of neuroendocrine signals, including insulin-like ligands. Insulin-like receptor signaling in the sex muscles then reduces cell excitability via activation of downstream molecules, including PLC-γ and CaMKII.
Epidemiology of the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) in the emergency department.

Introduction: Consensus guidelines recommend sepsis screening for adults with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), but the epidemiology of SIRS among adult emergency department (ED) patients is poorly understood. Recent emphasis on cost-effective, outcomes-based healthcare prompts the evaluation of the performance of large-scale efforts such as sepsis screening. We studied a nationally representative sample to clarify the epidemiology of SIRS in the ED and subsequent category of illness.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of ED visits by adults from 2007 to 2010 in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). We estimated the incidence of SIRS using initial ED vital signs and a Bayesian construct to estimate white blood cell count based on test ordering. We report estimates with Bayesian modified credible intervals (mCIs).Results: We used 103,701 raw patient encounters in NHAMCS to estimate 372,844,465 ED visits over the 4-year period. The moderate estimate of SIRS in the ED was 17.8% (95% mCI: 9.7 to 26%). This yields a national moderate estimate of approximately 16.6 million adult ED visits with SIRS per year. Adults with and without SIRS had similar demographic characteristics, but those with SIRS were more likely to be categorized as emergent in triage (17.7% versus 9.9%, p<0.001), stay longer in the ED (210 minutes versus 153 minutes, p<0.0001), and were more likely to be admitted (31.5% versus 12.5%, P<0.0001). Infection accounted for only 26% of SIRS patients. Traumatic causes of SIRS comprised 10% of presentations; other traditional categories of SIRS were rare.Conclusion: SIRS is very common in the ED. Infectious etiologies make up only a quarter of adult SIRS cases. SIRS may be more useful if modified by clinician judgment when used as a screening test in the rapid identification and assessment of patients with the potential for sepsis. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(3):329–336.]
Continuity and Change in the Restless Urban Landscape

AbstractRecent inquiry in urban studies highlights the dynamic restructuring of urban areas, with new elements of the landscape taken as reflections of sweeping economic and sociocultural change. American cities are portrayed as “galactic” and “restless” manifestations of global and national industrial restructuring, widening income inequality, demographic shifts, and the cultural sensibilities of new class formations. Yet the persistence of residential segregation and suburban development processes provide reminders of the historical continuity of American urban form. This paper critically evaluates continuity and change in the urban landscape, drawing on feminist urban research and theories of residential differentiation to analyze changes in spatial segregation among families and households. I apply the methods of the classical factorial ecology literature to a special census tabulation that controls for tract boundary changes between 1980 and 1990. The analysis focuses on Minneapolis–St. Paul, which e...
Coronal Plane Rotation of the First Metatarsal

A method for measuring first metatarsal rotation on weightbearing tangential radiographs is described. Under controlled conditions using cadaver specimens, 5 degree changes in first metatarsal rotation were associated with a mean change in radiographically measured rotation of 5.4 degrees (SD = 1.7 degrees). A clinical study of 30 hallux valgus and 30 control patients was undertaken to assess the reliability of the method of measurement. The overall reliability was high for both hallux valgus and control patients (r = 0.93 and 0.95, respectively). In these two groups, no significant difference was found between the mean values for first metatarsal rotation. Likewise, we found no correlation between first metatarsal rotation measured on tangential standing ("sesamoid" view) radiographs and the first metatarsophalangeal angle or the intermetatarsal 1-2 angle measured on anteroposterior standing radiographs.
Entailment Principle for Measure-Based Uncertainty

We describe the use of monotonic set measures, which are sometimes referred to as fuzzy measures, in the representation of uncertain information about a variable. The representation of significant types of uncertain information, such as probabilistic, possibilistic, and others, is discussed. The concept of the dual of a measure is introduced and is used to define the measures of opportunity and assurance associated with the occurrence of an event. We observe that these generalize the ideas of possibility and necessity in possibility theory, as well as the ideas of plausibility and belief in Dempster-Shafer theory. Using the measures of opportunity and assurance, we are able to introduce a concept of entailment between two uncertainty representations, which generalizes Zadeh's idea of entailment between possibility distributions. We show, using the idea of entailment, how to relate possibilistic and probabilistic uncertainty and discuss a potential application in hard/soft information fusion. We, finally, consider the measure representation of joint variables.
Broadband circularly polarized rectangular loop antenna with impedance matching

A broadband circularly polarized rectangular loop antenna is developed. The broadband performance is achieved by adding a pair of parasitic loops inside the rectangular loop. Good impedance matching is obtained by introducing a broadband balun. The proposed rectangular loop has a bandwidth of 46% for axial ratioles2dB and 50% for VSWRles2 with a gain of around 8dBi
How serious are the symptoms of callers to a telephone triage call centre

Adverse events such as deaths following telephone triage calls are rare, suggesting that the process is basically safe. However, if calls tend to concern mostly minor illnesses, then adverse events following calls would be uncommon even if the triage process itself was flawed. We investigated hospitalization rates following triage calls and compared them to hospitalization following two other types of medical access, emergency department (ED) visits and office visits. For the Ask Mayo Clinic telephone triage centre, hospitalization rates for adult calls concerning chest pain and abdominal pain were each 13%. Based on national survey data, hospitalization for adult ED visits concerning the same symptoms were 33% (chest pain) and 19% (abdominal pain). Office visits had hospitalization rates significantly lower than triage calls in all age groups, while ED visits had higher hospitalization rates than triage calls in all age groups. There are both qualitative and quantitative similarities between triage calls and ED visits and, using hospitalization as an indicator, some subgroups of triage calls are nearly as serious as ED visits.
Experimental investigations of microwave absorber with FSS embedded in carbon fiber composite

In this paper, we present the experimental results of microwave absorbers with a frequency-selective surface (FSS) embedded in an impedance-graded carbon fiber (CF) composite. Samples with different FSS patterns embedded in CF composites are fabricated, and experiments are carried out to find the effects of embedded FSSs. It is found that both the FSS pattern and its location in the composite are critical for the reflection property of the sample. The results are compared with the theoretical predictions using the microgenetic algorithm (MGA), and are in good agreement. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 32: 245–249, 2002.