cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mother and child speaking rates and utterance lengths in adjacent fluent utterances: Preliminary observations

Speech-Language Pathologists often recommend that parents of children who stutter reduce their own speaking rates and utterance lengths in an apparent attempt to improve their children's speech fluency; however, it is not clear why such changes in parents' speech reduce children's stuttering. One possibility, given findings that children appear to stutter less when they speak more slowly or use shorter utterances, is that the changes in parents' speaking rates and utterance lengths may lead to similar changes in children's speech, which, in turn, facilitate the children's fluency. The purpose of this study was to begin exploring this possibility by examining relationships between parents' and children's speaking rates and utterance lengths in immediately adjacent, perceptibly fluent utterances. Subjects were 20 mother-child dyads, including 10 boys who stutter (mean age = 58.5 months; range = 48 to 70 months) and 10 boys who do not stutter (mean age = 57.0 months; range = 48 to 67 months). No significant differences were found between groups in either mothers' or children's speaking rates or utterance lengths or in children's response time latencies, nor were any significant relationships found among these variables. However, a significant positive correlation was found between children's stuttering severity and the difference between mother and child speaking rates. Results indicate that improvements in children's stuttering that accompany reductions in parents' speaking rates and utterance lengths may be related to factors other than concomitant reductions in children's absolute speaking rates and utterance lengths, for example, a reduction in the difference between parent and child speaking rates.
Evaluating telephone follow-up of a mail survey of community pharmacies.

Abstract Background Mail and telephone are commonly used modes of survey with pharmacists. Research conducted using general population surveys consistently describes mail surveys as being less expensive but yielding lower response rates than telephone surveys. However, findings obtained from the general population may not be generalizable to pharmacist surveys. Objectives This study evaluates the effectiveness of telephone follow-up of mail survey nonrespondents by comparing the 2 survey modes on response rates, cooperation rates, cost per sample unit, and cost per usable response and evaluating potential nonresponse bias in the context of immunization activities. Methods A census mail survey of 1,143 Washington State community pharmacies and a follow-up telephone survey of 262 randomly selected mail survey nonrespondents were compared. Both surveys included the same 15 yes/no-type questions to ask respondents about their pharmacy's involvement in immunization activities. Results The mail survey yielded a response rate 1 of 26.7% and a cooperation rate 1 of 26.7%, compared with 83.6% and 87.8%, respectively, for the follow-up telephone survey. With respect to cost per sample unit, the mail survey was the least expensive option ($1.20). However, when comparing cost per usable response, the mail survey was the most expensive ($4.37), and the follow-up telephone survey without an advance notification was the least expensive ($1.99). Furthermore, results suggest the presence of nonresponse bias: compared with pharmacies participating in the follow-up telephone survey, pharmacies participating in the mail survey were more likely to be involved in in-house immunization services but less likely to be involved in outsourced services. Conclusions The telephone survey achieved higher outcome rates with reduced cost per usable response. A telephone survey is a viable mode that holds promise in pharmacy practice research. Maximizing response rates and assessing potential nonresponse bias should be a standard practice among pharmacy practice researchers. More methodology research specific to pharmacist surveys is needed.
Multi-time scale Markov decision process approach to strategic network growth of reverse supply chains

This paper addresses a complex set of decisions that surround the growth over time of reverse supply chain networks that collect used products for reuse, refurbishment, and/or recycling by processors. The collection network growth problem is decomposed into strategic, tactical and operational problems. This paper focuses on the strategic problem which is to determine how to allocate capital budget resource effectively to grow the network to meet long term collection targets and collection cost constraints. We model the strategic problem as a Markov decision process which can also be posed as multi-time scale Markov decision problem. The recruitment problem in a tactical level appears as a sub-problem for the strategic model. Using dynamic programming, linear programming and Q-Learning approaches, an heuristic is implemented to solve realistically sized problems. A numerical study demonstrates that the heuristic can obtain a good solution for the large-scale problem in reasonable time which is not possible when trying to obtain the optimal solution with the exact DP approach.
Uniform Multisummability and Convergence of a Power Series

The purpose of this paper is to give a sufficient condition for convergence of a multisummable power series. Previously, similar results had been obtained for formal solutions of ordinary differential equations and also of a completely integrable Pfaffian system. In those cases, proof was based heavily on the form of equations. But, in relatively recent developement, it was shown that formal solutions of ordinary differential equations at an irregular singular point are generally multisummable. In this paper, proof of convergence is totally independent of any equations and based only on multisummability of power series.
Selective Adsorption of Heteropolymer onto Heterogeneous Surfaces: Interplay between Sequences and Surface Patterns

Monte Carlo simulations are performed to study selective adsorption of heteropolymers on heterogeneous surfaces. We focus on how statistical correlation between sequence types and surface patterns affects critical adsorption points (CAP), the point that marks the transition of a polymer chain, in contact with a surface, from preferring a nonadsorbed state in bulk solution to an adsorbed state on the surface. A large difference in the CAP’s of different sequence types over the same surface identifies a window of interaction energies where selectivity is maximized. Our results show that statistical random surfaces (i.e, neighboring surface sites have no statistical correlation) cannot differentiate among different heteropolymer sequences. Conversely, random heteropolymers cannot differentiate different surface types. However, when neighboring surface sites have statistical correlations, selective adsorption of different heteropolymers is observed.
Nuclear Magnetic Dipole Moment of 165Ho

The first energy interval of the 4f116s configuration of Ho ii was recently found by Spector and Sugar to be 637.8 cm−1. The hfs of four of the lines defining this interval have been measured with an HYPEAC spectrometer at a resolution of 600 000. Seven independent equations relating the splitting factors a6s, a4f, and b4f to the measured hfs were derived. Known values of a4f and b4f from Ho i (deduced in an atomic-beam magnetic-resonance experiment) were inserted in these equations, giving a6s = 0.4437 cm−1 (corrected for core polarization) with a probable error of 0.0004 cm−1. From a6s, a value for the nuclear magnetic dipole moment μI = (3.94±0.05)μN was derived. The uncertainty of μI is the rms deviation due to uncertainties of a6s, and ψ6s2(0), the value of the probability density of the 6s electron at the nucleus.
Dietary triorganotins affect lymphatic tissues and blood composition of mice

Abstract Ph 3 SnCl, Ph 3 SnAc (Brestan), Cy 3 SnOH (Plictran), and (Bu 3 Sn) 2 O (TBTO) markedly reduce the weight of the spleen and the gain in body weight of young mice feeding for 7 days on diets containing 260 μequiv organotin/kg diet. With mature mice feeding for 4 days on diets containing 780 μequiv organotin/kg, these compounds result in a loss in spleen weight and body weight and an alteration in the blood composition (reduction in lymphocytes and total leucocytes and an increase in erythrocytes, hemoglobin level, and hematocrit value). Four other organotins, [(PhCMe 2 CH 2 ) 3 Sn] 2 O (Vendex), PhSnCl 2 , Ph 2 SnCl 2 , and Ph 4 Sn, are much less toxic based on these parameters. Poisoning by these dietary triorganotins was not related to cerebral edema or alterations in adrenal epinephrine level, liver nonprotein -SH groups, or the activity of digestive enzymes (intestine and stomach proteases and intestine amylase and invertase). The most sensitive indices of triorganotin toxicity appear to be those associated with changes in the lymphatic tissues and blood composition.
Marcel Poëte's Bergsonian Urbanism Vitalism, Time, and the City

Marcel Poete was a founding figure of French urbanisme, or town planning, both its pedagogy and its codification as a discipline and practice in the early twentieth century. The philosophy of Henri Bergson was central to his writings on the city and teaching at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Urbaines. I argue that Poete's use of Bergson's philosophy, his ideas of the vital impulse and duration, may be understood in two ways. First, Poete's Bergsonian urbanism participates in the greater context of continental fascism wherein Bergson's vitalism fomented a critique of scientific positivism and class hierarchy. Second, Poete imports Bergson's ideas of time, la duree or duration, and “creative evolution,” into urbanisme as a means of resistance to vulgar functionalism in architecture and town planning.
Teaching Qualitative Research

Explicitly qualitative research has never before been so popular in human geography, and this article hopes to encourage more graduate students and faculty members to undertake the teaching of qualitative geography. The article describes one such course for graduate students, highlighting its challenges and rewards, and focusing on exercises undertaken by the students that encourage them to explore various qualitative approaches, techniques, strategies and theoretical perspectives including archival research, interviewing, transcription, participant observation, writing field notes, analytic memos, coding data and thinking/writing reflexively.
System-Level Model and Stochastic Optimal Control for a PEM Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

System-level modeling and control strategy development for a fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) are presented in this paper. A reduced-order fuel cell model is created to accurately predict the fuel cell system efficiency while retaining dynamic effects of important variables. The fuel cell system model is then integrated with a DC/DC converter, a Li-ion battery, an electric drive, and tire/vehicle dynamics to form an FCHV. In order to optimize the power management strategy of the FCHV, we develop a stochastic design approach based on the Markov chain modeling and stochastic dynamic programming (SDP). The driver demand is modeled as a Markov process to represent the future uncertainty under diverse driving conditions. The infinite-horizon SDP solution generates a stationary state-feedback control policy to achieve optimal power management between the fuel cell system and battery. Simulation results over different driving cycles are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed stochastic approach.
Gravitational interactions in a general multibrane model

The gravitational interactions of the four-dimensional effective theory describing a general $N$-brane model in five dimensions without radion stabilization are analyzed. Both uncompactified and orbifolded models are considered. The parameter space is constrained by requiring that there be no ghost modes in the theory, and that the Eddington parametrized post-Newtonian parameter $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ be consistent with observations. We show that we must reside on the brane on which the warp factor is maximized. The resultant theory contains $N\ensuremath{-}1$ radion modes in a nonlinear sigma model, with the target space being a subset of hyperbolic space. Imposing observational constraints on the relative strengths of gravitational interactions of dark and visible matter shows that at least 99.8% of the dark matter must live on our brane in this model.
Evaluation of Pentaproline-Based Chiral Stationary Phase by LC

A pentaproline-based chiral stationary phase was prepared and the selectivity of the column was evaluated with 194 racemic compounds in three mobile phase modes: normal-phase mode, polar organic mode and reversed-phase mode. 94 racemates out of 194 were separated and the normal-phase mode proved to be the separation mode of broadest applicability. The column is stable in all common organic solvents and no degradation in column performance was observed in any mode even after more than 1,000 injections. A brief sample loading test was performed on the 250 mm × 4.6 mm column and 13.2 mg of α-methyl-9-anthracenemethanol was baseline separated. Retention behavior in the normal-phase mode and the effect of analyte structure on retention and enantioselectivity are discussed.
Metal Adsorption by Activated Carbon: Effect of Complexing Ligands, Competing Adsorbates, Ionic Strength, and Background Electrolyte

Abstract Cadmium and nickel adsorption isotherms were performed using three activated carbons in ligand-free systems and in the presence of EDTA, succinic acid, PO4 (Ni only), NH4BF4 (Cd only), competing metals (Ni and Cd), and differing ionic strengths and background electrolytes. Generally, all carbons removed metals from the ligand-free systems. Four scenarios were forwarded which described metal adsorption in the presence of various organic and inorganic compounds. The effect of organic and inorganic ligands on metal removal was dependent on the carbon, metal, and ligand type and concentration. The presence of a second heavy metal did not affect removal of the primary metal ion. Increasing ionic strength decreased metal removal for all carbons and metals investigated while the type of background electrolyte had no effect on metal removal.
Variation with mass of B(E3; 0+1 → 3-1) transition rates in A = 124-134 even-mass xenon nuclei

$B(E3;{0}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{3}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ transition matrix elements have been measured for even-mass $^{124\ensuremath{-}134}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei using subbarrier Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics. The trends in energy $E({3}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ and $B(E3;{0}_{1}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{3}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ excitation strengths are well reproduced using phenomenological models based on a strong coupling picture with a soft quadrupole mode and an increasing occupation of the intruder ${h}_{11/2}$ orbital.
Crown-Gall Tumorigenesis: Effect of Temperature on Wound Healing and Conditioning

Temperatures which inhibit crown-gall tumorigenesis in Kalanchoe daigremontiana plants also accelerate the rate of wound healing and the rate at which cells in the wound area become competent to react to the tumorigenic stimulus. The concept that the "tumor-inducing principle" is thermolabile and of high molecular weight may be invalid since it is based in part on the lack of effect of temperature on wound healing and conditioning. The rate of division of host cells may determine the success of crown-gall tumorigenesis.
Predictors of verbal fluency (FAS) in the healthy elderly

The Verbal Fluency Task (FAS), sensitive indicator of brain injury, was examined in a population of healthy elderly (N = 199, aged 40 to 89 years). The present study was conducted to examine the relative contributions of age, sex, education, verbal intelligence, and specific cognitive abilities to FAS performance. Significant effects were found for vocabulary and sex, although no aging effect was found. Separate norms for sex and level of verbal intelligence are presented. Results indicated that ability to quickly organize information and formulate effective recall strategies played a critical role in good FAS performance.
Redistribution of Pb and other volatile trace metals during eruption, devitrification, and vapor-phase crystallization of the Bandelier Tuff, New Mexico

A diverse suite of micron-scale minerals was deposited from vapor during eruption and post-emplacement crystallization of the Bandelier Tuff, New Mexico. The mineral suite is rich in sulfides, oxides, and chlorides of both common and rare metals (e.g., Fe, Pb, Bi, Cu, Ag, Re), and oxides and silicates of incompatible elements (e.g., P, Zr, Y, Nb, Ba and LREE). Minerals preserved in glassy samples grew from magmatic vapor trapped during emplacement, or from vapor migrating along contacts with more impermeable rocks; minerals observed in devitrified samples also grew from crystallization of glass and vapor liberated during this process. In devitrified samples, mafic silicate phenocrysts were partially replaced by an assemblage dominated by smectite and hematite. The syn- to post-eruptive mineral assemblage observed in upper Bandelier Tuff (UBT) samples bears striking similarity to those deposited by cooling gases near active volcanic vents. However, several differences exist: (1) the mineral suite in the UBT is disseminated throughout the unit, and formed over a broad temperature range (> 700 to < 150 °C) at higher rock:gas ratios; (2) the highly evolved composition of the UBT yielded a greater abundance of minerals rich in incompatible elements compared to sublimates from less evolved volcanoes; and (3) the UBT has suffered over 1 million years of post-emplacement exposure, which resulted in solution (or local re-precipitation in fractures) of soluble compounds such as halite, sylvite, and gypsum. Pb was enriched toward the roof of the UBT magma body due to its affinity for the melt and vapor phases relative to crystals (Bulk Dpb < 0.2). Micron-scale Pb minerals appear to have grown from vapor exsolved during eruption, as well as vapor liberated during later devitrification. Additional Pb was scavenged by smectite and hematite that probably formed during the later stages of the devitrification and cooling process. Up to ten-fold increases in Pb concentrations are seen in zones of fumarolic concentration in the UBT, however, most bulk tuff samples have Pb values that appear to preserve magmatic values, indicating only very local trace-metal redistribution. The concentration of Pb and other heavy metals in micron-scale mineral coatings in porous tuff indicates that these metals could be readily mobilized and transported by acidic groundwaters or hydrothermal fluids, and thus locally concentrated into ore-grade deposits in long-lived systems.
Effect of manganese deficiency on seed yield of soybean cultivars

Abstract Manganese (Mn) deficiency is a problem in soybeans grown on high pH soils, which to date can only be controlled by chemical fertilizers. In view of the success of genetic resistance in reducing yield losses associated with iron (Fe) deficiency chlorosis, a one year study was initiated to determine whether genetic resistance could be used to control Mn deficiency related yield losses. For this study, twenty soybean genotypes ranging from Group I maturity to Group III maturity were planted at five locations which had previously exhibited symptoms of Mn deficiency. Individual plots were rated for Mn‐deficiency symptoms on a 1–5 scale (1 = no yellowing to 5 = severe yellowing with some necrosis) at the Rl growth stage and plants in the center rows were harvested for yield. The mean Mn‐deficiency rating was 2.8 with a range from 1.8 for NKS 23–03 and P9181 to a 3.9 for A3205. The mean yield was 3059.3 kg/ha with a range from 3670.6 for A3205 to 2567.5 kg/ha for Chapman. The correlation between Mn‐defi...
Acoustic Emission Behavior of Flawed Unidirectional Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Composites

This paper reports an experimental investigation on mechanical and acoustic emission behavior of specially designed and manufactured carbon fiber epoxy composites. Uni directional composite laminates with various flaw configurations were tested in tension and their mechanical and acoustic emission responses were determined. Fiber fracture, delamination, splitting (or cracking along fibers) and friction of delaminated faces contrib uted to characteristic acoustic emission behavior. These can be discrimination on the basis of peak amplitude and event duration of observed acoustic emission signals.The short duration ( 70 dB) have long ( > 200 μs) event durations and are caused by rapid advances of delamination. Splitting or cracking along the fibers produces low...
Cost-benefit analysis in screening. Unexplained visual loss

Abstract Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) are accounting techniques that have been applied to medical decision-making. These techniques are applied here to two alternative diagnostic strategies in the work-up of patients with “unexplained visual loss.” The first uses the results of visual field examination to decide if patients should have a CT scan (“visual field strategy”), the second bypasses visual fields and orders a CT scan on all patients (“CT strategy”). The analysis reveals that the visual field strategy is cost-effective only if perimetrists are able to identify hemianopic field defects in more than 80% of cases. It is doubtful that perimetrists are presently as accurate as that. These conclusions must be considered tentative since the epidemiologic data that support them are often weak. Another drawback in applying such an analysis to medical problem-solving is that costs may not accurately reflect patient valuations and choices. Nevertheless, in forcing a more comprehensive consideration of the effects of medical decisions, CEA CBA is likely to promote increased cost-consciousness and epidemiologic research.
Nonverbal Communication Among Black Female Dyads: An Assessment of Intimacy, Gender, and Race

Research in the area of the effects of gender and race on social and psychological behavior has been limited in its approach, only reporting differences between blacks and whites or males and females. This paper expands race and gender effects to include both within and between race comparisons as well as gender comparisons across race. Using the results of a naturalistic observation of nonverbal cues between same sex dyads, the behavior of black women is compared to white women and black men. Similarities and differences among the groups provide further evidence for previously reported race and gender effects. Other examples from the nonverbal literature are discussed using this “simple effects” comparative strategy.
Adaptive training of multilayer neural networks using a least squares estimation technique

A technique is developed for the training of artificial neural networks, using a modification of the Marquardt-Levenberg optimization technique. An adaptive choice of the convergence rate factor mu , based on the contribution of each neuron in the minimization of the error function, is presented that can be very useful in handling the problem of local minima of the error function. The proposed algorithm is more powerful but also more elaborate than backpropagation. Moreover, it can be shown that in some applications its computational complexity can be made similar to that of backpropagation by using fast implementations of the least-squares method. >
Traveling-wave solutions of the diffusively corrected kinematic-wave model

We review both observational data that are qualitatively inconsistent with the classical (Lighthill-Whitham) kinematic-wave model (KWM) of traffic flow, and continuum alternatives to that model. It is suggested that the diffusively corrected kinematic-wave model (DCKWM) is the simplest possible such alternative, and therefore, should be explored in regard to its ability to reproduce data that are inconsistent with the classical KWM. Traveling-wave solutions of the DCKWM are shown to reproduce flows corresponding to the interior of shock waves, and to the edges of acceleration waves. Elements of such traveling waves are demonstrated to be consistent with several well-known phenomena that are inconsistent with the classical KWM, including the scatter in density-flow diagrams at higher densities, the ''inverted @l'' shape of density-flow diagrams, and the heretofore published details of synchronized flow (Types (i) and (ii).
A New Method for a Spatially Incoherent Source for the Analysis and Design of Photonic Crystal Spectrometers

We present a new technique for modeling wide-band spatially incoherent sources. We implement this technique using finite difference time-domain (FDTD) method and apply it to the design of ultra-compact spectrometers using photonic crystals.
Implementing and Sustaining Standards-Based Curricular Reform

This paper presents a model for implementing and sustaining standardsbased curricular reform and seven recommendations for principals that are grounded in the results of a comprehensive, longitudinal study. The study examined the characteristics of five schools through data from principals, teachers, students, and external observers over a 6-year period-I year before and 5 years after the implementation.
Inverse attribute functions and the proposed modifications of the power law

Three prominent modifications of Stevens’ power law, designed to account for the curvature at low stimulus intensities, were examined in the light of previously reported inverse attribute functions and five new experiments scaling loudness and softness by magnitude estimation. One hundred and seven students served as observers in the five experiments. Lack of curvature in the inverse functions at low stimulus intensities, plus the lack of parameter invariance, pointed to the inadequacy of the effective threshold and physiological noise modifications. The additive constant model of zero-point response bias, previously advanced by Irwin and Corballis (1968)and McGill (1960)was found more satisfactory. A discussion of the implications of the research findings for subsequent formulations of the modified power law was included.
Multi‐carrier platform for wireless communications. Part 2: OFDM and MC‐CDMA systems with high‐performance, high‐throughput via innovations in spreading

Multi-carrier technologies in general, and OFDM and MC-CDMA in particular, are an integral part of the wireless landscape. In this second part of a two-part survey, the authors present an innovative set of spreading codes known as CI codes, and demonstrate how these significantly increase performance and capacity in OFDM and MC-CDMA systems, all the while eliminating PAPR concerns. Regarding OFDM: the spreading of each symbol over all N carriers using CI spreading codes (replacing the current one symbol per carrier strategy) are presented. CI codes are ideally suited for spreading OFDM since, when compared to traditional OFDM, CI-based OFDM systems achieve the performance of coded OFDM (COFDM) while maintaining the throughput of uncoded OFDM, and, at the same time, eliminate PAPR concerns. When applied to MC-CDMA, CI codes provide a simple means of supporting 2N users on N carriers while maintaining the performance of an N-user Hadamard Walsh code MC-CDMA system, i.e., CI codes double MC-CDMA network capacity without loss in performance. The CI codes used in OFDM and MC-CDMA systems are directly related to the CI pulse (chip) shapes used to enhance TDMA and DS-CDMA (see part 1): hence, the CI approach provides a common hardware platform for today's multi-carrier/multiple-access technologies, enabling software radio applications. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase in the Mouse Angiotensin Slow Pressor Response

Low rates of angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion raise blood pressure, renal vascular resistance (RVR), NADPH oxidase activity, and superoxide. We tested the hypothesis that these effects are ameliorated by extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD). EC-SOD knockout (−/−) and wild type (+/+) mice were equipped with blood pressure telemeters and infused subcutaneously with Ang II (400 ng/kg per minute) or vehicle for 2 weeks. During vehicle infusion, EC-SOD −/− mice had significantly ( P <0.05) higher MAP (+/+: 107±3 mm Hg versus −/−: 114±2 mm Hg; n=11 to 14), RVR, lipid peroxidation, renal cortical p22phox expression, and NADPH oxidase activity. Ang II infusion in EC-SOD +/+ mice significantly ( P <0.05) increased MAP, RVR, p22phox, NADPH oxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation. Ang II reduced SOD activity in plasma, aorta, and kidney accompanied by reduced renal EC-SOD expression. During Ang II infusion, both groups had similar values for MAP (+/+ Ang II: 125±3 versus −/− Ang II: 124±3 mmHg; P value not significant), RVR, NADPH oxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation. SOD activity in the kidneys of Ang II–infused mice was paradoxically higher in EC-SOD −/− mice (+/+: 8.8±1.2 U/mg protein−1 versus −/−: 13.7±1.6 U/mg protein−1; P <0.05) accompanied by a significant upregulation of mRNA and protein for Cu/Zn-SOD. In conclusion, EC-SOD protects normal mice against oxidative stress by attenuating renal p22phox expression, NADPH oxidase activation, and the accompanying renal vasoconstriction and hypertension. However, during an Ang II slow pressor response, renal EC-SOD expression is reduced and, in its absence, renal Cu/Zn-SOD is upregulated and may prevent excessive Ang II–induced renal oxidative stress, renal vasoconstriction, and hypertension.
Sense and Nonsense in St. Vincent: Speech Behavior and Decorum in a Caribbean Community1

Speech behavior, among the Afro-American peasants of St. Vincent, British West Indies, is the focus of a high degree of interest, self-consciousness, and value judgment. A segment of the speech economy of Vincentian peasants is analyzed in terms of a native taxonomy of speech acts and related terms, illuminating Vincentian ideas concerning proper and improper behavior as well as the realm of speech behavior itself. The analysis paves the way for a consideration of the conduct and significance of the tea meeting, one of the most popular performance events on the island and a key to the dynamics of social change in contemporary Vincentian society.
Structural analysis of composites with porosity defects based on X-ray computed tomography

Advanced structural analysis methods that account for manufacturing defects in composite parts are needed to enable accurate assessment of their capability and useful life and to enhance current design and maintenance practices. In particular, porosity/voids are typical defects in carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composite aircraft flight-critical components. High-fidelity nondestructive evaluation by X-ray computed tomography allows accurate defect measurement and automatic conversion to structural models to assess the effects of defects on structural properties. This study presents a comprehensive structural analysis methodology, which includes nondestructive detection and finite element modeling of the defects in composites. Effects of porosity/voids on interlaminar tensile and shear strength of unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite specimens are investigated. Failure predictions and subsequent test correlations are presented.
Dangerous seas: Moral panic and the Somali pirate:

Piracy in the coastal waters of Somalia has received significant attention from the news media and international political community, both of which have been major actors in defining the issue of p...
Connecting geographical distributions with population processes

The geographical distribution of a species is determined by a large number of complex processes operating over spatial scales spanning 10 orders of magnitude. Patterns in population processes have been described at numerous scales. We show that two patterns, measured at different scales, jointly allow us to infer heretofore unknown patterns in the distribution of demographic patterns across the geographical range of a species. The resulting model describes three fundamentally different modes of geographical variation in vital rates of populations. One mode is characterized by a positive nonlinear relationship between the maximum rate of population growth and the intensity of intraspecific competition across a geographical range. That is, populations that grow rapidly are also those where individuals experience the greatest per capita negative effect of the presence of other individuals. The second mode of behaviour is described by a negative nonlinear relationship between maximum growth rate and density dependence. Under this scenario, populations with low capacity to grow rapidly have highest intensities of intraspecific competitive effects. A third mode of behaviour is characterized by a weak positive relationship between growth rate and intraspecific competition, with very little geographical variation in maximum growth rate. A survey of studies relating temporal means and variances in population abundance for a variety of species indicate that the second mode of geographical variation in population dynamics across species ranges is the most common, though a few species appear to be characterized by the third mode.
The araC promoter: Transcription, mapping and interaction with the araBAD promoter

The start sites of the araC and araBAD gene messenger of E. coli were located by transcription in vitro from short DNA fragments, by high magnification electron microscopy and by genetic mapping. Transcription for these messengers proceeds in opposite directions from the start sites that are 150 base pairs apart. Transcription from the araBAD promoter requires araC protein plus arabinose and CAP protein plus cyclic AMP. In the experiments performed in vitro, inducing the araBAD promoter represses activity of the araC promoter.
Determination of Hexachlorophene in Liquid Soaps

Abstract A differential spectrophotometric method of assay for hexachlorophene in liquid soaps has been developed. Measurement of the absorbance, at 312 millimicrons, of a dilution of the sample at pH 8 in the solute cell vs. the same dilution atpH 3 in the solvent cell of the spectrophotometer eliminates irrelevant absorption due to the soap base and permits assay of the sample without removal of the soap. The method is proposed for assay of the U. S. P. XV hexachlorophene liquid soap.
A Serial Cross-sectional Study of Pediatric Inpatient Hospitalizations for Non-traumatic Dental Conditions

Investigators have examined children’s dental utilization in various settings (e.g., dental offices, emergency departments, operating rooms), but no studies have examined inpatient hospitalizations for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs). The authors examined NTDC-related hospitalization trends in the United States and identified the relationship between complex chronic condition (CCCs) and NTDC-related inpatient hospitalizations. We analyzed data from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2000-2010) for children ages 3 to 17 years (N = 3,030,970). The predictor variable was number of CCCs (0/1/2+). The outcome variable was whether the child had a NTDC-related hospitalization (no/yes). Covariate-adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence odds ratios (PORs). From 2000 to 2010, there were 17,993 NTDC-related hospitalizations (0.59%) and a slight increase in NTDC-related hospitalizations (p = .049). This increase was not significant in the final regression model. T...
Oxidation protection of carbon materials by acid phosphate impregnation

Abstract Acid phosphate impregnation, with ozone pre-treatment, improves the oxidation resistance of carbon materials (polycrystalline graphite and pitch-based carbon fiber), as shown by weight measurement in air up to 1500 °C. The impregnation involves using phosphoric acid and dissolved aluminum hydroxide in the molar ratio 12:1 and results in a rough, white and hard aluminum metaphosphate coating of weight about 20% of that of the carbon before the treatment. Without ozone pre-treatment, the impregnation is not effective. Without aluminum hydroxide, the impregnation even degrades the oxidation resistance of the carbon.
A simple and robust modulation classification method via counting

Automatic modulation classification (or recognition) is an intrinsically interesting problem with a variety of regulatory and military applications. We developed a method which is simple, fast, efficient and robust. The feature being used is the counts of signals falling into different parts of the signal plane. Compared with the likelihood method and the high order correlation method, it is much easier to be implemented, and the execution is much faster. When the channel model is correct, our method is efficient, in the sense that it will achieve the "optimal" classification rate. When unknown contamination is present, our method can automatically overcome it to certain degree. At SNRs of 10 and 15 dB, examples of classifying two modulation types-QAM4 and PSK6-are given. Simulations demonstrate its ability to deal with unknown noise.
Evidence of cue synergism in termite corpse response behavior

Subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes are known to build walls and tubes and move considerable amounts of soil into wood but the causes of this behavior remain largely unexplored. In laboratory assays, we tested the hypothesis that Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks) would carry more sand into wooden blocks containing corpses compared to corpse-free controls. We further predicted that the corpses of predatory ants would elicit a stronger response than those of a benign beetle species or nestmates. As hypothesized, significantly more sand was carried into blocks containing corpses and this material was typically used to build partitions separating the dead from the rest of the colony. Contrary to expectations, however, this behavior did not vary among corpse types. We then tested the hypothesis that oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid released during arthropod decay and used by ants and other arthropod taxa in corpse recognition, would induce a similar building response in R. virginicus. To additionally determine the role of foreign objects in giving rise to this behavior, the experiment was carried out with and without imitation corpses (i.e., small glass beads). As predicted, oleic acid induced building (a tenfold increase) but only when applied to beads, suggesting strong synergism between tactile and chemical cues. Oleic acid also significantly reduced the amount of wood consumed by R. virginicus and may possess useful repellent properties.
Treatment of Non-Melanomatous Skin Cancer with Radiotherapy

Non-melanomatous skin cancer (NMSC) is the leading cause of cancer in the United States. Treatment with surgical excision is considered the gold standard, but radiotherapy is an excellent alternative to surgical excision. Radiotherapy for NMSC takes many forms including a variety of external beam treatments as well as brachytherapy. Radiotherapy is indicated in a broad range of patients and is particularly useful in elderly patients who are poor surgical candidates or prefer not to have surgery. Radiotherapy is also employed in certain cases of recurrence and perineural invasion and when margin control is a concern. In addition to discussing standard techniques and indications for radiotherapy, this article will review specific considerations for radiotherapy in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, the article will examine new developments in the treatment of NMSC with radiotherapy including electronic brachytherapy and Helical TomoTherapy.
A New Uncertainty Calculus For Rule-Based Expert Systems

The solution of non-deterministic expert systems consists of two components –the solution reached and a calculated measure of belief in each solution. This measure of belief is often the most critical factor in analyzing the solution. Unfortunately, as this paper reviews, the issue of how best to implement uncertainty calculi in expert systems has never been settled. Some popular rulebased approaches have in fact been shown to produce results no better than random guessing. To improve the accuracy of rule-based systems, we propose a new calculus we call gamma factors. This calculus combines ideas from two popular certainty factor calculi the product method, and the probability sum method. It includes a tuning mechanism which the expert can use in a rule pre-processing step to compensate for dependent parallel evidence combination.
The Effect Of The 1994 Redefinition Of The FORTUNE 500 On Its Usability As A Benchmark For Corporate Profitability

Virtually every Strategic Management casebook has an “advice on how to prepare cases” section. Within this section invariably is an admonition to “crunch some numbers” (e.g., ROE, ROA). A weakness of these advice sections is that they do not give good guidance to the student as to what to compare the “crunched numbers” to. This paper will argue that the FORTUNE 500 is an appropriate benchmark for evaluating corporate profitability. With 48 years (1954 to 2001) of data we are able to effectively place a given firm’s profitability in perspective. One relatively major problem exists however. Prior to 1994, the FORTUNE 500 was really two separate 500's–the traditional “manufacturing” 500 and the “service” 500. Beginning in 1994 FORTUNE combined these two lists. While this might not appear to be an overwhelming problem, an examination of the profitability components of the “Dupont” equation for the FORTUNE 500 reveals some substantial dissonance. This paper suggests a relatively minor adjustment that can be made to the recent (post ‘94) numbers such that we can have a relatively congruent 48 year data set that can be used as a benchmark for all corporations except “financial institutions.”
Human vascular and cardiac endothelia express mu opiate receptor transcripts.

Pharmacologic and immunologic evidence suggests that nitric oxide-coupled μ-subtype opiate receptors are expressed in human vascular endothelium. In this study, we present molecular evidence of μ opiate receptor expression. Using primers derived from the human neuronal μ1 opiate receptor, we used RT-PCR to detect expression of μ transcripts from human endothelia. Sequence analysis of the RT-PCR products revealed 100% identity with the neuronal human μ 1 receptor. We further show that pretreatment of human internal thoracic artery and cardiac atrial endothelium with the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1-α and -β led to a significant increase in both the expression of the μ transcript and in morphine-stimulated nitric oxide release measured amperometrically. Taken together, these studies provide molecular evidence that μ-type opiate receptors are expressed in human vascular endothelia and that their expression can be upregulated by proinflammatory cytokines.
Abstract 303: Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) among Patients with Neurologic Disease and Leg Paresis: A Population-based Case-control Study.

Background: Whether VTE risk can be further stratified among patients with neurologic disease and leg paresis is unknown. Objective: To identify independent risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients with neurologic disease and leg paresis. Methods: Using the population-based resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all Olmsted County, MN residents with incident DVT or PE over the 45-year period, 1966 to 2010. We performed a case-control study nested within the Olmsted County population with incident VTE associated with neurologic disease and leg paresis over the 18-year period, 1988-2010 (n=192). For each VTE case, we identified 1 Olmsted County resident with neurologic disease, leg paresis and no VTE (control) matched to each case on sex, date of birth (+/- 5 years), calendar year (+/- 1 year) and duration of medical records. Using conditional logistic regression, we tested duration of paresis (index-3 months, 3-12 months, and > 12 months), paresis etiology, and degree of immobility as potential risk factors for VTE after adjusting for other known VTE risk factors, including hospitalization for major surgery or acute medical illness, trauma/fracture, and active cancer. Results: In univariate analyses of the 192 pairs, trauma/fracture, hospitalization for major surgery or for acute medical illness, active cancer, duration of paresis, and degree of immobility were associated with VTE. In the multivariable analysis, hospitalization for acute medical illness, active cancer, degree of immobility (ambulatory without/with assistance, function from a wheelchair base, bed bound; OR: 2.60; 95%Cl: 1.65-4.11); p= Conclusion: Among patients with neurologic disease and leg paresis, VTE risk can be further stratified by hospitalization for acute medical illness, active cancer and degree of immobility; these patients should be considered for VTE prophylaxis.
Effects of plasma from pregnant women on iron absorption by the rat.

The effect on iron absorption of plasma and ultrafiltrates of plasma and serum from pregnant and iron-deficient subjects was measured in the rat. Mucosal cell iron uptake, measured by chemical and radioactive iron balance techniques, was enhanced when plasma from iron-deficient and pregnant subjects was added to test doses of iron. This effect was confirmed by radioactive iron absorption measurements in intact rats. Stimulation of iron absorption was of the same magnitude in all stages of pregnancy studied and was usually greater than that produced by plasma from iron-deficient subjects. Preliminary studies indicate that the substance in plasma promoting iron absorption is of relatively small molecular weight, heat-stable, and destroyed by alkali and ashing. Limited evidence is presented for chelation of intraluminal iron as a mechanism by which this plasma substance promotes iron absorption.
Interaction of Insulin Resistance and Related Genetic Variants with Triglyceride-Associated Genetic Variants

Background— Several studies suggest that some triglyceride-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have pleiotropic and opposite effects on glycemic traits. This potentially implicates them in pathways such as de novo lipogenesis, which is presumably upregulated in the context of insulin resistance. We therefore tested whether the association of triglyceride-associated SNPs with triglyceride levels differs according to one’s level of insulin resistance. Methods and Results— In 3 cohort studies (combined n=12 487), we tested the interaction of established triglyceride-associated SNPs (individually and collectively) with several traits related to insulin resistance, on triglyceride levels. We also tested the interaction of triglyceride SNPs with fasting insulin–associated SNPs, individually and collectively, on triglyceride levels. We find significant interactions of a weighted genetic risk score for triglycerides with insulin resistance on triglyceride levels ( P interaction=2.73×10−11 and P interaction=2.48×10–11 for fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, respectively). The association of the triglyceride genetic risk score with triglyceride levels is >60% stronger among those in the highest tertile of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance compared with those in the lowest tertile. Individual SNPs contributing to this trend include those in/near GCKR , CILP2 , and IRS1 , whereas PIGV-NROB2 and LRPAP1 display an opposite trend of interaction. In the pooled data set, we also identify a SNP–by–SNP interaction involving a triglyceride-associated SNP, rs4722551 near MIR148A , with a fasting insulin–associated SNP, rs4865796 in ARL15 ( P interaction=4.1×10−5). Conclusions— Our findings may thus provide genetic evidence for the upregulation of triglyceride levels in insulin-resistant individuals, in addition to identifying specific genetic loci and a SNP–by–SNP interaction implicated in this process.