cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence that accent is a dedicated dimension of social categorization, not a byproduct of coalitional categorization

article i nfo Article history: Initial receipt 19 June 2013 Final revision received 26 September 2013 The present studies explore whether accent behaves like a byproduct of coalitional categorization, or like a dedicated dimension of social categorization. An experimental manipulation which has previously been shown to reduce coalitional byproducts, such as race, but not affect dedicated dimensions, such as sex and age, was used to test between these two possibilities. Accent behaved like a dedicated dimension, remaining unaffected by the same coalitional manipulation that reduces categorization by race. A second study verified that the exact same coalitional manipulation used with accent in fact reduces categorization by race. These results suggest that accent is not a byproduct of coalitional psychology, unlike race. Implications for the differing proximate psychologies underlying race and accent, and for the construct group, are discussed.
An assessment of monocyte procoagulant activity in patients with solid tumors.

Generation of thromboplastin by monocytes has been shown to play a vital role in hypercoagulable states seen in malignancy. The purpose of this study was to compare the procoagulant activity in cancer patients and controls. Recalcification times (RT) of whole blood from 19 normal volunteers, 8 patients with benign polyps, 12 patients previously treated by surgery for head and neck (H&N) or colon cancer, and 13 untreated patients with various stages of H&N or colon cancer were determined. Tests were performed with and without stimulation with Escherichia coli endotoxin. The mean RT in saline (RTS) of untreated patients with early cancer (4.58 ± 0.83 min) and that of patients with advanced cancer (5.23 ± 1.16 min) were lower than that of controls (6.55 ± 0.82 min), P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively. The RTS of patients previously treated and of those with benign polyps were no different from those of controls. Activation with endotoxin significantly lowered the recalcification times (RTE) in the early (3.90 ± 0.58 min) and advanced cancer patients (4.23 ± 0.66 min) compared to the RTE of controls (5.69 ± 0.75 min, P < 0.01 for both groups) as well as compared to those with benign tumors, P < 0.05. The mean RTE of previously treated patients (4.72 ± 0.58 min) was also lower than that of controls, P < 0.05. Our results suggest that RT is significantly reduced in cancer patients compared to that of controls. Furthermore, monocyte activation with endotoxin may enable us to distinguish cancer patients from controls as well as from those with benign tumors.
Stress sensitivity of sandstones

Our observations made on dry-sandstone ultrasonic velocity data relate to the variation in velocity (or modulus) with effective stress, and the ability to predict a velocity for a rock under one effective pressure when it is known only under a different effective pressure. We find that the sensitivity of elastic moduli, and velocities, to effective hydrostatic stress increases with decreasing porosity. Specifically, we calculate the difference between an elastic modulus, M ( P 1, Φ), of a sample of porosity Φ at effective pressure P 1 and the same modulus, M ( P 2, Φ), at effective pressure P 2. If this difference, Δ M = M ( P 1, Φ) - M ( P 2, Φ), is plotted versus porosity for a suite of samples, then the scatter of Δ M is close to zero as porosity approaches the critical porosity value, and reaches its maximum as porosity approaches zero. The dependence of this scatter on porosity is close to linear. Critical porosity here is the porosity above which rock can exist only as a suspension—between 36% and 40% for sandstones. This stress-sensitivity pattern of grain-supported sandstones (clay content below 0.35) practically does not depend on clay content. In practical terms, the uncertainty of determining elastic moduli at a higher effective stress from the measurements at a lower effective stress is small at high porosity and increases with decreasing porosity. We explain this effect by using a combination of two heuristic models—the critical porosity model and the modified solid model. The former is based on the observation that the elastic-modulus-versus-porosity relation can be approximated by a straight line that connects two points in the modulus-porosity plane: the modulus of the solid phase at zero porosity and zero at critical porosity. The second one reflects the fact that at constant effective stress, low-porosity sandstones (even with small amounts of clay) exhibit large variability in elastic moduli. We attribute this variability to compliant cracks that hardly affect porosity but strongly affect the stiffness. The above qualitative observation helps to quantitatively constrain P - and S -wave velocities at varying stresses from a single measurement at a fixed stress. We also show that there are distinctive linear relations between Poisson's ratios (ν) of sandstone measured at two different stresses. For example, in consolidated medium-porosity sandstones ν40 = 0.018 + 0.913ν20, where the subscripts indicate hydrostatic stress in MPa. Linear functions can also be used to relate the changes (with hydrostatic stress) in shear moduli to those in compressional moduli. For example, G 40 - G 20 = 0.084 + 0.344 ( M 40 − M 20), where G = ρ VS 2 is shear modulus and M = ρ VP 2 is compressional modulus, both in GPa, and the subscripts indicate stress in MPa.
System Optimization of the Cogeneration Facility at Texas A&M University—Present Operation and Load

The combined-cycle cogeneration facility on the central campus of Texas A and M University was analyzed for its present performance and an optimized mode of operation. The analysis was carried out using a plant Energy Optimization Program (EOP) that has been developed by Sega, Inc. The program uses Dither algorithms to match the energy demand and supply at each energy level (node), by choosing the lowest cost supplier among all the energy suppliers at the energy node. When this is done for all the energy nodes as the campus load varies throughout the year, one can determine the hourly and then the annual cost of operating the plant under both the existing and the optimized modes. The results were also compared with those obtained by using the Navy's Civil Engineering Laboratory Cogeneration Analysis Program (CELCAP), and the agreements was within 5 percent. Comparison with actual costs produced an agreement to within 1 percent. Finally, certain recommendations are made as to a more cost-efficient mode of operating the present facility.
Measurements: developments in the USA

Sales and use of analytical instruments have expanded in the United States over the past two years, despite the recessionary nature of the economy. Interest in increasing the quality of analytical measurements seems to be undiminished, if not growing. Trends in several measurement areas, including health, environment, manufacturing, and commerce, are described as they bear on this growth of interest in reliably accurate measurements. The paper also considers trends in the development of reference materials and accreditation of laboratories in the USA. United States of America participation in efforts of the International Organization for Standardization, and a study by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures of how to provide for international traceability for analytical chemical measurements are mentioned.
Utilization of a β-Aminophosphotyrosyl Mimetic in the Design and Synthesis of Macrocyclic Grb2 SH2 Domain-Binding Peptides

Grb2 SH2 domains are protein-docking modules that exert important functions in both normal and pathogenic signal transduction processes. Development of synthetic Grb2 SH2 domain binding ligands is being pursued by several groups as potential new therapies for a variety of diseases, including certain cancers. In these efforts, macrocyclization has been successfully utilized to take advantage of preferential recognition by Grb2 SH2 domains of ligands in β-bend conformations. Recent examples of this approach include olefin-metathesis-derived macrocycles that employ ring closure at the β-position of key pTyr-mimicking residues. In the current study, a novel phosphatase-stable β-amino-pTyr mimetic designated “Pmpβ” was utilized to prepare variants of previously reported olefin-metathesis-derived macrocycles. An initial set of simplified cyclic peptides lacking key naphthyl side chain functionality was first synthesized to determine optimum ring size, with results indicating that a four-unit ring-closing segmen...
Generalized slow roll for noncanonical kinetic terms

We show that the generalized slow roll approach for calculating the power spectrum where the inflationary slow roll parameters are neither small nor slowly varying can be readily extended to models with noncanonical kinetic terms in the inflaton action. For example, rapid sound speed variations can arise in Dirac-Born-Infeld models with features in the warp factor leading to features in the power spectrum. Nonetheless there remains a single source function for deviations that is simply related to the power spectrum. Empirical constraints on this source function can be readily interpreted in the context of features in the inflaton potential or sound speed.
The i.r. spectra of 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile and 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile

Abstract A commercial sample of supposedly 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile was separated by gas chromatography into two components. Analysis of the i.r. and NMR spectra of these two components showed that the original mixture contained 25% 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile and 75% 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and that an i.r. spectrum recently reported in this journal [1] for 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile was actually that of 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile. Thus, the spectral data reported for 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile [1] and the resulting conclusions regarding the nature of the conformational equilibrium in this molecule should be disregarded.
Electrocorticographic Correlates of Cognitive Control in A Stroop Task—Intracranial Recording in Epileptic Patients

The human brain executes cognitive control, such as selection of relevant information in the presence of competing irrelevant information, and cognitive control is essential for us to yield a series of optimal behaviors in our daily life. This study assessed electrocorticographic γ-oscillations elicited by cognitive control in the context of the Stroop color-naming paradigm, with a temporal resolution of 10 msec and spatial resolution of 1 cm. Subjects were instructed to overtly read a color word printed in an incongruent color in the reading task, and to overtly name the ink color of a color word printed in an incongruent color in the Stroop color-naming task. The latter task specifically elicited larger γ-augmentations in the dorsolateral-premotor, dorsolateral-prefrontal and supplementary motor areas with considerable inter-subject spatial variability. Such Stroop color-naming-specific γ-augmentations occurred 500 to 200 msec prior to overt responses. Electrical stimulation of the sites showing Stroop color-naming-specific γ-augmentations resulted in temporary naming impairment more frequently than that of the remaining sites. This study has provided direct evidence that a critical process of cognitive control in the context of Stroop color-naming paradigm consists of recruitment of neurons essential for naming located in variable portions of the dorsolateral premotor and prefrontal areas.
Potentiation of radiation response in human carcinoma cells in vitro and murine fibrosarcoma in vivo by topotecan, an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I

DNA topoisomerase I, a nuclear enzyme important for solving topologic problems arising during DNA replication, has been identified as a principal target of a plant alkaloid, 20(s)-camptothecin. In view of the profound biochemical effects of camptothecin and its analogues on DNA replication and the differential cytotoxic effects on human tumors in xenografts, experiments were performed to determine whether topotecan, a camptothecin analogue, would potentiate the radiation effects on human carcinoma cells in culture and murine fibrosarcoma in mice. Cell culture studies showed that a dose dependent reduction in cell survival was obtained with a 4 hr exposure of the drug following irradiation of cells. No enhancement of cell killing was seen when cells were treated with the drug before irradiation. Preliminary in vivo tumor studies showed a significant radiosensitizing effect of topotecan that was both drug dose (20 mg/kg) and time sequence (4 hr before irradiation) dependent. There was no enhanced skin reaction following the combined treatments.
Production of free radicals and lipid peroxides in early experimental myocardial ischemia

Abstract Free radicals and lipid peroxides have recently been identified by us [ 1, 2, 3 ] as metabolic intermediates during acute myocardial ischemia. The mechanisms by which evolving myocardial ischemia initiates free radical production are not clear. Based on studies in vitro , it is feasible to consider the following possibilities: (a) dissociation of intramitochondrial electron support system and altered phospholipid integrity with inactivation of cytochrome oxidase, which results in release of ubisemiquinone, flavoprotein and superoxide radicals; (b) accumulation and increased release of intra/extracellular metabolites like NADH, lactate flavoproteins and catecholamines which react either with themselves or with O 2 and ascorbic acid; (c) interaction of the metabolic product hypoxanthine with O 2 in the presence of xanthine oxidase and (d) activation of phospholipase by calcium influx with enhanced arachidonic acid metabolism and superoxide radical production. Detailed in vitro radiobiological studies [ 4 ] have demonstrated that free radical reactions occur even at very low O 2 tensions (83% of maximum rate of P o 2 ∼6 mmHg and 50% at P o 2 ∼1 mmHg), and Smith [ 5 ] has demonstrated that free radical peroxidation takes place quite rapidly in rat brain homogenates incubated in gas mixtures containing only 5% O 2 . Thus, the low oxygen tensions in ischemic tissue are adequate to support free radical reactions. The free radicals thus produced may initiate and enhance lipid peroxidation by attacking polyunsaturated membrane lipids.
Picosecond impulsive stimulated brillouin scattering: Optical excitation of coherent transverse acoustic waves and application to time-domain investigations of structural phase transitions

Abstract A practical stimulated Brillouin-scattering method for spectroscopic characterization of low-frequency excitations is extended to permit optical generation and detection of phase-coherent transverse, longitudinal, and mixed polarization acoustic phonons, tunable over a wide frequency range, in solid media. Results are presented for BK-7 glass and the KH 2 PO 4 crystal near its structural phase transition (SPT). Time-domain observations of acoustic phonon-induced ordering near SPTs in KH 2 PO 4 and KD 2 PO 4 were carried out, and applications of the technique to measurements of SPT dynamics are discussed.
Feature-driven deformation for dense correspondence

Establishing reliable correspondences between object surfaces is a fundamental operation, required in many contexts such as cleaning up and completing imperfect captured data, texture and deformation trans- fer, shape-space analysis and exploration, and the automatic generation of realistic distributions of objects. We present a method for matching a template to a collection of possibly target meshes. Our method uses a very small number of user-placed landmarks, which we augment with automatically detected feature correspondences, found using spin images. We deform the template onto the data using an ICP-like framework, smoothing the noisy correspondences at each step so as to produce an averaged motion. The deformation uses a dierential representation of the mesh, with which the deformation can be computed at each iteration by solving a sparse linear system. We have applied our algorithm to a variety of data sets. Using only 11 landmarks between a template and one of the scans from the CEASAR data set, we are able to deform the template, and correctly identify and transfer distinctive features, which are not identied by user-supplied landmarks. We have also successfully established correspondences between several scans of monkey skulls, which have dangling triangles, non-manifold vertices, and self intersections. Our algorithm does not require a clean target mesh, and can even generate correspondence without trimming our extraneous pieces from the target mesh, such as scans of teeth.
Dietary arginine, insulin secretion, glucose tolerance and liver lipids during repletion of protein-depleted rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (approximately 500 g) were fed a very low protein diet (0.5% lactalbumin) for 14 weeks. The average weight loss was 195 g. Following protein depletion the rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups and repleted for 15 days with a purified diet containing 20% protein equivalent as L-amino acids with arginine comprising 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0% of the total diet. The absence of dietary arginine during repletion significantly reduced weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization with no apparent change in feed intake. Livers of animals fed 0 and 0.25% arginine were slightly heavier and contained a greater concentration of total lipids than livers from other groups. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests performed on the animals fed 0, 0.5 and 1.0% arginine gave k coefficients for glucose disappearance which were significantly greater (P less than .01) for 1.0% arginine (0.12) than for 0.5% arginine (.056) or 0% arginine (.045). Plasma insulin for the 1.0% arginine group peaked at 5 min following glucose injection, and declined steadily to near basal levels at 45 min. Plasma insulin for animals repleted with 0 and 0.5% arginine was elevated to a lesser degree than for 1.0% arginine by 5 min but remained above basal levels throughout the experiment and there was a concurrent decrease in the rate of glucose disappearance. The insulinogenic index (formula: see text) was significantly greater (P less than .01) with 1.0% and 0.5% arginine than with 0% arginine. These data suggest that glucose intolerance during arginine deficiency is related to decreased insulin release immediately following glucose administration and possibly a mild insulin resistance.
Glucans, Walls, and Morphogenesis: On the Contributions of J. G. H. Wessels to the Golden Decades of Fungal Physiology and Beyond

This is a collection of impressions on the career of J. G. H. Wessels and his work in the areas of cell wall metabolism and apical morphogenesis. It highlights the finding of massive cell wall glucan metabolism during differentiation, the discovery of covalent linkages between wall polymers, the changes in chemical and physical properties of the wall at the fungal apex, and the steady-state model for tip growth. A tandem VSC-SS model for hyphal morphogenesis is proposed that combines the spatial control of wall synthesis provided by the vesicle supply center model with the temporal regulation intrinsic in Wessels's steady-state model.
Elimination of stress-induced curvature in microcantilever infrared focal plane arrays

Abstract This paper reports an approach to eliminating stress-induced curvature in microcantilever-based infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs). Using a combination of argon ion beam machining and rapid thermal annealing (RTA), we successfully modified curvatures of free-standing SiN x /Al bimaterial FPAs. The SiN x /Al FPAs were fabricated using a surface micromachining technique with polyimide as a sacrificial material. The as-fabricated FPAs were concavely curved because of the imbalanced residual stresses in the two materials. To modify the FPAs curvature, first, Ar ions with energies of 500 eV was used, which sputter etched PECVD SiN x at a rate of 4 nm/min, and 20 min of ion beam machining reduced the FPAs curvature from −1.92 to −0.96 mm −1 . Then based on the investigation on the thermomechanical behavior of both the e-beam Al and PECVD SiN x films during the thermal cycling, RTA was proposed to further modify the FPAs curvature. It is found that 5 min of RTA at 375 °C resulted in flat FPAs with acceptable curvatures ( −1 ).
Tissue Doppler-derived myocardial acceleration for evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function.

Objectives Our purpose was to evaluate a tissue Doppler-based index—peak myocardial acceleration (pACC)—during isovolumic relaxation and in evaluating left ventricular (LV) diastolic function. Background Simple, practical indexes for diastolic function evaluation are lacking, but are much desired for clinical evaluation. Methods We examined eight sheep by using tissue Doppler ultrasound images obtained in the apical four-chamber views to evaluate mitral valve annular velocity at the septum and LV wall. The pACC thus derived was analyzed during isovolumic relaxation (IVRT) and during the LV filling period (LVFP). We then changed the hemodynamic status of each animal by blood administration, dobutamine, and metoprolol infusion. We compared the pACC values during IVRT and LVFP over the four different hemodynamic conditions with a peak rate of dropin LV pressure (−dP/dt min ) and the time constant of LV isovolumic pressure decay (tau), as measured with a high-frequency manometer-tipped catheter. Results The pACC of the septal side of the mitral valve annulus during IVRT showed a good correlation with −dP/dt min (r = −0.80, p Conclusions The pACC during IVRT is a sensitive, preload-independent marker for evaluation of LV diastolic function. In addition, pACC during LVFP correlated well with mean LAP.
SPECIALITY OF INTERCONNECTED QUADRATIC JORDAN ALGEBRAS

ABSTRACT A non-unital quadratic Jordan algebra J with viable n-intercon nectivity ( ) and zero extreme radical is shown to be special. If we assume that J is a simple (non-unital) quadratic Jordan algebra with at least 3 non-zero, non-supplementary orthogonal idempotents, then we show directly (independent from the McCrimmon-Zelmanov classification of simple algebras [7]) that J already is viably 4-interconnected with zero extreme radical, hence is special.
Transtracheal Selective Branchial Brushing for Pulmonary Infiltrates in Patients with Cancer

Patients with cancer frequently develop pneumonitis for which no cause is documented ante mortem. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques, such as sputum induction, are generally inadequate, especially in myelosuppressed patients. To avoid pulmonary contamination with organisms colonizing the oronasopharynx and to obtain uncontaminated specimens, 38 patients underwent bronchial brushing utilizing a transtracheal approach after sputum induction and transtracheal aspiration failed to establish the etiology. Patients with thrombocytopenia were brushed after platelet transfusion. Eleven patients were not clinically considered to be infected; seven proved to have pulmonary metastases, of which one case was diagnosed by this technique; and four patients in whom no diagnosis was obtained by brushing subsequently proved to have interstitial fibrosis (three cases) or a collapsed lobe (one case). Twenty-seven patients were clinically presumed to be infected. Ultimately, 17 of these 27 patients were proven to have pulmonary infection, and 14 of these 17 were etiologically documented by brushing. In ten of the 27 patients presumed to be infected, no etiology could be established by any method. Seven of these ten patients were receiving broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy at the time. Significant but nonfatal complications, including hemoptysis, pneumothorax, and cervical cellulitis, occurred in seven patients; however, this procedure is a relatively safe and useful method to include in the orderly evaluation of myelosuppressed cancer patients with suspected pulmonary infections.
Analyzing numerics of bulk microphysics schemes in community models: warm rain processes

Abstract. Implementation of bulk cloud microphysics (BLK) parameterizations in atmospheric models of different scales has gained momentum in the last two decades. Utilization of these parameterizations in cloud-resolving models when timesteps used for the host model integration are a few seconds or less is justified from the point of view of cloud physics. However, mechanistic extrapolation of the applicability of BLK schemes to the regional or global scales and the utilization of timesteps of hundreds up to thousands of seconds affect both physics and numerics. We focus on the mathematical aspects of BLK schemes, such as stability and positive-definiteness. We provide a strict mathematical definition for the problem of warm rain formation. We also derive a general analytical condition (SM-criterion) that remains valid regardless of parameterizations for warm rain processes in an explicit Eulerian time integration framework used to advanced finite-difference equations, which govern warm rain formation processes in microphysics packages in the Community Atmosphere Model and the Weather Research and Forecasting model. The SM-criterion allows for the existence of a unique positive-definite stable mass-conserving numerical solution, imposes an additional constraint on the timestep permitted due to the microphysics (like the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy condition for the advection equation), and prohibits use of any additional assumptions not included in the strict mathematical definition of the problem under consideration. By analyzing the numerics of warm rain processes in source codes of BLK schemes implemented in community models we provide general guidelines regarding the appropriate choice of time steps in these models.
Quality assurance of epoxy resin prepregs using liquid chromatography

Liquid size exclusion, adsorption, and bonded-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed to monitor the chemical compositions of epoxy resin prepregs. Examples are given to illustrate how multiple detectors and oligomer analysis techniques may be used to identify prepreg components and to discriminate between epoxy resins obtained from different manufacturers. The results of a case study in which HPLC methods were used to monitor compositional variations in batches of a commercial prepreg over a four year period are discussed. Finally, examples demonstrate how HPLC may be applied to monitor prepreg aging and to measure the extent of prepreg staging.
The Fermilab Collider Detector Facility Data Acquisition System

A detector is being constructed at Fermilab to investigate antiproton - proton collisions at up to 2 TeV center of mass energies. The detector will have approximately 75,000 channels of electronics with an expected occupancy of about 10% for typical events. The ultimate raw event rate is expected to be 50 KHz, with events being written to magnetic tape at a rate of 5 Hz. We are designing a FASTBUS based data acquisition system incorporating multiple processors running concurrently to do the necessary data compaction and filtering. Numerous local intelligences allow the system to be broken into independent subsystems for checkout and calibration.
Induction of Amyloidosis by Cadmium

AMYLOIDOSIS has been produced in experimental animals by injecting a variety of substances, most of them proteinaceous1. We have found that a simple chemical, cadmium, given to rabbits as cadmium chloride in relatively small doses over a long period of time will produce a severe form of amyloidosis.
Concentrated growth strategies

Executive Overview This article offers a critical assessment of the merits of concentrated growth as the centerpiece of a business strategy. It includes an analysis of the environmental conditions that favor concentrated growth and why it often leads to superior performance. It also reviews methods by which innovation and expansion can be managed at reasonable levels of risk to complement the firm's basic focus. These guidelines make it possible to compare a firm's core characteristics with the knowledge and capabilities in technology and marketing that are necessary for profit and growth. The most important aspects of formulating and implementing concentrated growth strategies are analyzed and examples of current practice show specific instances when those aspects have resulted in success.
Genetic relationships among Escherichia coli isolates causing urinary tract infections in humans and animals.

Abstract Genetic variation in isolates of Escherichia coli obtained mostly from urinary tract infections in humans and domesticated animals (dogs and cats) was assessed for 16 enzymes using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to characterize chromosomal genotypes. A total of 148 isolates comprised 63 distinct electrophoretic types (ETs) and about half of the isolates belonged to one of 9 common ETs. A bootstrap analysis of genetic distance between ETs revealed three significant groups of strains. Variation in allele frequencies among groups accounted for 40% of the total genetic diversity. The majority of the common ETs fell into a major cluster of closely related strains. The recovery of multiple isolates of the same electrophoretic types and serotypes from unassociated hosts suggests that these bacteria represent uropathogenic clones that are widely disseminated in humans and animals.
Do marketing expenditures to gain distribution cost the customer

Abstract Most evaluations of marketing expenditures focus on the value of the marketing effort to the sponsoring organization (often the manufacturer or the distributor). This research concentrates on the impact of these efforts and expenditures on the ultimate customer. The direct question at hand is whether the marketing expenditures to gain distribution provide some positive benefit to the ultimate customer or is it rather a means of competing or enticing the customer to buy the product? Some have argued that the net effect of such expenditures is for the customer to be no better served and to be stuck paying a higher price than would otherwise have been the case. David Reibstein and Paul Farris demonstrate that quite the opposite can occur. In general, as demand and distribution increase, inter-store competition intensifies, lowering the retailers' margins, and possibly, lowering prices to the final consumer.
High-Altitude Intensities of the Medium and Heavy Cosmic-Ray Nuclei and of the Star-Producing Component over a 25-Hour Interval

Results are reported on a study of the hourly averaged values of intensity of medium and heavy cosmic-ray nuclei and of the star-producing component over a day and night interval, at an avcrage atmospheric depth of 15 g/ cm/sup 2/. The equipment was carried aloft by a Skyhook balloon on August 6, 1954 from Minneapolis, Minnesota (geomagnetic latitude 55 deg N). A large, thin- walled spherical pulseionization chamber served as the dctecting instruroent. Approximately 125 000 of these cosmic-ray events were recorded over the 25-hour flight interval; thus, statistical counting rate fluctuations wcre reduced substantially below those previously attained in this field. Analysis shows that approximately one-half of the counting rate at 15 g/cm/sup 2/ can be ascribed to the medium and heavy nuclei, the remainder being reasonably accounted for as arising from the star-producing component. No variation is observed in the hourly averaged counting rate oi pulses of size greater than 6 Mev throughout the flight, to within the combined statistical and experimental uncertainties of plus or minus 4 to 6% during the daytime, and plus or minus 8 to 10% during the night. (auth)
Post-initiation chlorophyllin exposure does not modulate aflatoxin-induced foci in the liver and colon of rats

Chlorophyllin (CHL) is a promising chemopreventive agent believed to block cancer primarily by inhibiting carcinogen uptake through the formation of molecular complexes with the carcinogens. However, recent studies suggest that CHL may have additional biological effects particularly when given after the period of carcinogen treatment. This study examines the post-initiation effects of CHL towards aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced preneoplastic foci of the liver and colon. The single concentration of CHL tested in this study (0.1% in the drinking water) had no significant effects on AFB1-induced foci of the liver and colons of rats.
Static Channel Width Routeless Routing with Obstacle Avoidance (SCWRROA) Protocol

In this paper, we introduce an obstacle avoidance routeless routing protocol. Our protocol is an extension to our previous routeless protocol SCWRR. It does not require any prior knowledge of destinations' or neighbors' locations. The simulation results show that our protocol is able to avoid obstacles to some extend. Hence, our protocol is amenable to deployment in areas of restricted power-budget and bandwidth, such as the MASNET domain.
Television, Video Game and Social Media Use Among Children with ASD and Typically Developing Siblings

This study examined the nature of television, video game, and social media use in children (ages 8-18) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD, n = 202) compared to typically developing siblings (TD, n = 179), and relative to other activities. Parents completed measures assessing children's screen-based and other extracurricular activities. Children with ASD spent approximately 62% more time watching television and playing video games than in all non-screen activities combined. Compared with TD siblings, children with ASD spent more hours per day playing video games (2.4 vs. 1.6 for boys, and 1.8 vs. 0.8 for girls), and had higher levels of problematic video game use. In contrast, children with ASD spent little time using social media or socially interactive video games.
Distributed amplifiers: survey of the effects of lumped-transmission-line design on performance

A survey of the effects of lumped-transmission-line design on the performance of distributed amplifiers is presented. A general formula for the gain of a distributed amplifier using nonuniform lines, but with image-impedance match at each connection, is given. The general formula for gain reduces to all the special formulas derived in the literature under assumed constraints in the network structure, and these results are tabulated. In order to make the paper more useful to research workers, an extensive bibliography of contributions related to distributed amplification is included.
Study of Interesting Length and Temperature Effect on Ultrafast Electron Relaxation in CdSe Nanorods

Time-domain non-adiabatic ab initio simulations are performed to study the phonon-assisted hot electron relaxation dynamics in CdSe QD, EQD and LQD, which are of the same diameter but an increasing length along c axis. Our work shows that both the length and system temperature have a strong impact on the electronic properties and electron relaxation dynamics of the CdSe QRs. Higher frequency phonons are excited and scattered with electrons at higher temperatures. The band gap shows a negative dependence on the temperature. The band gap decreases and the electron and hole density of states increase with increasing the length. However, not all the properties studied here vary with the length in a straight way. The band gap shows a stronger negative temperature dependence for the EQD than the QD and LQD. The electron-phonon couples stronger in the EQD than the QD and LQD. The hot electron relaxation proceeds faster in the EQD than the QD and LQD. Furthermore, the hot electron decay rate varies linearly with the average electron density of states and this linear relationship can be well described by the Fermi’s golden rule and of practical use in predicting the hot electron decay rate with the knowledge of the average NA coupling and electron density of states.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Photoperiod manipulation to control diapause in the pink bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella

Im 12-h Kurztag gehaltenePectinophora gossypiella gehen zu 78% in Diapause. Zusatzlich applizierte, einstUndige Perioden mit 15 Lichtpulsen von je 1 min Dauer reduzieren die Diapauserate. Die besten Resultate ergeben 2 Pulsperioden, je 1,5 h vor und nach der Hellphase appliziert.
Nutrition-related practices and attitudes of Kansas skipped-generation(s) caregivers and their grandchildren.

Despite growing numbers, the nutrition practices and attitudes of skipped–generation(s) kinship caregivers regarding feeding the dependent children in their care have not been examined. In this qualitative study, transcriptions of semi-structured interviews with 19 female and four male skipped-generation(s) Kansas caregivers (ages 47 to 80, 92% non-Hispanic whites, 83% female, 78% grandparents and 22% great-aunt or great–grandparent caregivers; caring for a range of one to four children, ages three to 18, for an average of nine years) were content analyzed for how their nutrition-related practices and attitudes had changed since parenting the first time. Sub-themes regarding practices included: being more nutrition and food safety conscious now, and shifting their child feeding style. The children seemed to be adversely affected by an on-the-go lifestyle and the use of more electronics. Caregivers described their sources for child feeding advice as being based mostly on information from their mothers, physicians, and their past parenting experiences. Sub-themes for attitudes included opinions that nutrition and safe food handling are important and that nutritious food is expensive. They preferred printed or video nutrition education materials and wanted to receive information through organizations they trusted. This population could benefit from education on: infant, child, adolescent, and sports nutrition; feeding “picky eaters”; healthful recipes, “fast foods” and packaged foods; quick, inexpensive meals and snacks low in fat, sugar, and salt; limiting sedentary time; family meals; using food thermometers; and intergenerational gardening and cooking.
Constructing fuzzy measures in expert systems

Abstract This paper is an overview of results regarding various representations of fuzzy measures and methods for constructing fuzzy measures in the context of expert systems, which were obtained by the authors and their associates during the last three years. Included are methods for constructing fuzzy measures by various transformations, by extension, by statistical inference, and by various data-driven methods based either on the Sugeno-integral or the Choquet-integral and using neural networks, genetic algorithms, or fuzzy relation equations.
Mechanisms of Arrhythmias in Ventricular Hypertrophy

Mechanisms of Arrhythmias in Ventricular Hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptative process by which the heart accommodates to abnormal pressure and volume overloads. However, hypertrophy of the left ventricle is associated with a high incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. The cellular mechanisms responsible for the abnormal rhythmic activity in hypertrophied myocardium has not been clearly defined, but left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with characteristic electrical abnormalities in experimental models and in hypertrophied human tissue. The most consistent electrical alteration is prolonged duration of the action potential in hypertrophied myocardium. The prolonged duration of depolarization predisposes hypertrophied tissue to develop early afterdepolarizations, which can encourage the development of arrhythmias by a variety of mechanisms. Early afterdepolarizations interrupt repolarization and can lead directly to sustained triggered activity. Early afterdepolarizations can depolarize adjacent excitable fibers and thereby induce triggered activity. The prolonged duration of repolarization can enhance influx of calcium, which can in turn lead to delayed afterdepolarizations that can give rise to triggered activity. Early afterdepolarizations can also produce conduction block or delay, which could contribute to the development of reentrant arrhythmias. Early afterdepolarizations are the most likely electrical abnormality to arise from the prolonged time course of repolarization in hypertrophied myocardium. Therefore, therapeutic measures aimed at preventing the development of early afterdepolarizations in hypertrophied myocardium could prove to be a fruitful approach to inhibiting the development of arrhythmias. The development of agents that selectively reduce the duration of the action potential requires a better understanding of the ionic mechanisms responsible for prolonging the action potential in hypertrophied myocardium. In the meantime, avoiding factors known to favor the development of afterpotentials (e.g., extremes of heart rate, electrolyte abnormalities, certain antiarrhythmic drugs) in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy seems prudent.
Studies of texture in nuclear graphites using laser ultrasonic line source measurements

Laser ultrasonic line sources have been used to study the ultrasonic properties of nuclear graphites. These materials exhibit varying degrees of porosity and texture that relate directly to the conditions imposed during material processing-extruded materials display significant texture while the anisotropy of molded materials is significantly lower. Both the texture (related to grain orientation) and porosity impact the long term performance of graphite under service conditions and methods are needed to assess the microstructural states of these materials during service. Laser ultrasonic measurements can be used to assess aspects of material microstructure by measuring longitudinal and shear wavespeeds as a function of propagation direction and polarization. While porosity-related effects are independent of propagation direction for materials with spherical pores, material texture (related to preferred grain orientation) produces anisotropic wave propagation effects. In particular, propagation perpendicular to extrusion directions can produce shear wave birefringence effects that can be used to assess texture. Ultrasonic measurements in this work were made using laser ultrasonic methods that yield waveforms that can be interpreted using elastodynamic models for wave propagation in anisotropic materials. In particular, models for laser ultrasonic line sources in transversely isotropic materials have been used to simulate laser sources in nuclear graphites. The effects of optical penetration (related to material porosity) have been incorporated to produce synthetic waveforms that can be used to extract modulus information from experimental measurements. Current results hold open the opportunity for porosity and texture assessment using limited sets of ultrasonic measurements.
Aspects of the Life History of the Calico Crayfish with Special Reference to Egg Hatching Success

Abstract Life history data were collected on adult (≥25 mm carapace length) female calico crayfish (Orconectes immunis) in conjunction with an egg-hatching study during 1986–1988. Eggs stripped from 10 females in October 1986 and 10 females in September 1987 were pooled each year and hatching success was monitored for samples of 100 eggs placed in each of eight diluter aquaria at 12°C. In fall 1987, berried calico crayfish were cultured at 12, 25, and 30°C and hatching was monitored. Data on length, weight, and number of eggs produced were collected for 28 females in September 1987 and 36 females in April 1988. An additional 456 female crayfish were checked for the presence of eggs. Hatching success was 86% in 1986 and 89% in 1987. The eggs on berried females held at 12°C started to hatch within 33 d. At 25°C, hatching started within 10 d. At 30°C, no hatching occurred, the eggs became orange (indicating death), and most of the eggs later developed fungal infections. The average number of eggs carried was...
U.S. Military Discharges and Pre-existing Personality Disorders: A Health Policy Review

The Department of Defense (DoD) is facing allegations service members were wrongfully discharged for pre-existing personality disorders. From 2001 to 2007, 26,000 enlisted service members were discharged for a pre-existing personality disorder (2.6 % of total discharges). With national media attention of the issue, personality disorder discharges were reduced by 31 % in 2008 with new discharge procedures issued by the DoD. Even with the reduction, a government review found the DoD did not adhere to its discharge protocols. The objective of this paper is to explore personality disorders in the military, analyze various costs to stakeholders, and identify potential policy alternatives.
Novel in vitro perfusion system for the determination of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses.

Introduction: The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a three-gland component of the endocrine system and a key modulator of the stress response. We have developed a novel in vitro perfusion system to enable the study of pharmacological and hormonal challenges to tissue components of the HPA axis. In vivo studies have shown functional sex differences (sexual diergism) in HPA responses to cholinergic drugs, and in the present in vitro study, we examine these differences at several levels of the HPA axis. Methods: Hypothalami, pituitaries, and adrenal glands were collected from male and female rats (n=3 per sex). One-half hypothalamus, one-half pituitary, and one adrenal gland were placed individually into three Erlenmeyer flasks connected by tubing. Flasks were perfused with medium (pH 7.4) at 37 -C. Sampling ports between the flasks were used to collect buffer for determination of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) release from the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal flasks, respectively, over an extended baseline period, to determine stability of the system, and after nicotine administration. Results: The perfusion system produced steady CRH, ACTH, and CORT baselines, the ACTH and CORT values being comparable to in vivo basal ACTH and CORT values in jugular-vein-cannulated rats. In vitro CRH, ACTH, and CORT responses to nicotine were significantly increased at 10 min and returned to baseline by 30 min, the CRH and ACTH responses from female tissues being greater than responses from male tissues. These sex differences were similar to those following nicotine administration in vivo. Discussion: The ability of this novel, dynamic in vitro system to replicate in vivo HPA axis responses supports its potential as a new method for pharmacological and toxicological studies. D 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Multi-Detector Row CT Angiography of the Neck in Blunt Trauma

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is uncommon but potentially catastrophic; 80% are caused by vehicle collisions. Ischemic events secondary to untreated BCVI are common, with high injury-specific mortality. This has led to implementation of screening programs based on mechanism of injury, clinical presentation, and injury patterns identified on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) imaging. The standard of reference for diagnosis is four-vessel digital subtraction angiography. Given its availably in trauma service institutions, use of multidetector CT angiography has increased. This article presents the evidence and the controversies surrounding its use. Available protocols, injury description, and grading, as well as potential pitfalls are reviewed.
Surface Tension of Slick Patches near Kelp Beds

DURING a voyage off southern California near Santa Catalina Island some surface tension measurements were made on the open sea and over and around the slick areas associated with kelp beds. The usual methods of measuring surface tension involve laboratory equipment which is not feasible for use aboard a small sailing ship. For this reason, these tests were made with drops of a series of ten oil solutions, calibrated so that each solution would just spread against a different specific surface pressure, or lowering of surface tension. This calibrated series made it possible to measure, by inspection, surface tensions in the range 76–30 dynes/cm.