cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In search of universal principles of higher education management and applicability to Moldavian higher education system

Focuses on Moldavia, and its task of nation building – a task that depends, in part, on the effectiveness of the nation's educational system– following the demise of the Soviet Union. Provides a brief discussion of the growing importance of higher education, examines the evolution of higher education and management responses to the changing environment, and identifies current management practices in higher education. Concludes with a set of universal principles or characteristics of effective higher education and with an injunction to countries in transition and developing countries to reorient their educational policies in light of these principles.
Fishing for Ideas: Teaching and Learning in a University Ichthyology Course

Abstract To teach students effectively about fishes, it is important to understand what perceptions they bring to a course and the degree to which these may be resistant to modification. We surveyed junior/senior-level students before and after completing a university ichthyology course to assess how students perceived fish relatedness prior to and following training in phylogenetics. We found that students generally classified fish based on size and sporting/non-sporting attributes prior to our class. After a semester of ichthyological training, these same students clearly embraced the phylogenetic perspective. However, morphological factors such as size, shape, and appearance still had a heavy residual influence on their perceptions.
Mindfulness and Contemplation: Secular and Religious Traditions in Western Context

This article considers the growth of mindfulness as a secular practice embedded in a culture that is pluralistic but still primed by Western religion and spirituality. Eastern and Western meditational practices are compared and contrasted for greater understanding of the strengths of each. Western contemplative practices are described as an attentional training process with common factors related to mindfulness. Even as Eastern and Western meditational forms are distinguished, the shared concerns of those who value a religious–spiritual perspective in counseling are raised. Ethical implications are discussed related to informed consent, competence, and multicultural awareness.
Global boundaries, task processes and IS project success: a field study

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to better understand how global boundaries affect global information system (IS) project success and which mediating process variables increase the chance of success.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the literature on IS success and global teams, an input‐process‐output framework is adopted to develop the research model for the study. This research is based on semi‐structured interviews with 22 global IS project managers. An attribution analysis is used to identify common themes and patterns of the interview results.Findings – Global IS project managers identified time separation and cultural differences as the most significant barriers to project success. Our findings suggest that effective teams were able to overcome these barriers to achieve success, but this success was achieved through the implementation of special coordination, communication and cognitive processes tailored to help teams overcome global barriers and through considerable additional cost and ...
Graded or Nongraded Communicative Activities–What is the Answer?–An Update

An earlier study (Hahn et al., 1989) showed that grading classroom communicative activities did not by itself affect student performance. Because its sample was small (23), we have replicated it with a largergroup: 84 junior high school students, 47 in Levell classes and 37 in Levelll. At each level students were divided into an experimental group, whose oral performance was graded, and a control group, where it was not. An ACTFL-certified tester; who had evaluated the oral proficiency of Level II students at the beginning of the semester; tested all students after six months, using both the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Scale and the Bruschke Rating Scale. Results indicated no significant difference in scores between the experimental and control groups at either level. However, the ratings of ten Level II students (five in each group) increased from Novice to Intermediate, thus validating the conclusion of Hahn et al. that grading itself does not affect a student's oral proficiency
The Role of Vasodilating β-Blockers in Patients with Hypertension and the Cardiometabolic Syndrome

In the United States, a vast segment of the adult population is classified as having the cardiometabolic syndrome, and currently there are epidemic rates of both type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Hypertension is closely linked with these metabolic disorders and is a strong independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes. In addition, hypertension is an important contributor to increasing cardiovascular disease risk in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome. Lowering elevated blood pressure in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome or diabetes is a critical component of reducing global cardiovascular risk. However, aggressive management of hypertension in these patients is often challenging, and the presence of these conditions is associated with poor blood pressure control. The utility of β-blockers in patients with these conditions continues to be a subject of intense debate, given the adverse metabolic effects associated with conventional β-blockers. Data on vasodilating β-blockers, however, suggest that these agents have favorable or neutral metabolic effects and generally more favorable effects when compared with nonvasodilating members of this class. These agents may expand the utility of β-blockers to patient populations traditionally considered not to be optimal candidates for β-blocker therapy—a fact which has important clinical implications, because more antihypertensive agents are needed to diversify the therapeutic options available for clinicians treating hypertension in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.
Differential blockade of ganglionic transmission by extract from venom gland of black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans)

Abstract The effect of an extract from the venom gland of the black widow spider (BWSV) on transmission in the rabbit superior cervical ganglion was studied in vitro by electrophysiological techniques. Within 1 min after addition of BWSV to the bathing solution, spontaneous asynchronous postganglionic potentials were observed, but reduction of postganglionic action potentials evoked by stimulation of the preganglionic nerve occurred progressively over a 20–80 min period. BWSV had a selective depressive effect on one of the two major components of the compound postganglionic action potential; the second, S1, spike being depressed more readily than the first, S1, spike. Washing out the venom did not restore transmission but did stop the progressive reduction in postganglionic potentials. Increasing the calcium concentration three-fold in the external saline solution transiently stopped the progressive development of block. Repetitive stimulation of the preganglionic nerve at 5 or 10 Hz did not augment the BWSV-induced block.
Estimating the likelihood of an unpopular verdict in the electoral college

We use historical data to estimate the probability that a presidential candidate could win the popular vote and subsequently lose in the electoral college (a divided verdict). We replicate the model constructed by Merrill (1987b), and improve its robustness by replacing the normal distribution with the beta distribution, and by extending the historical time period to 1880–1984. The changes indicate greater inefficiency for the Democratic party, which was more likely to have unnecessarily large majorities in particular (Southern) states. We revise the model further to include the changes over time in electoral size and in voting patterns among the states. This dynamic model indicates that recent party realignments have decreased the probability of divided verdicts in moderately close elections.
Crater densities on the satellites of Mars

The density of craters larger than 1 km in diameter has been determined for the entire surface of Phobos, and half that of Deimos. Densities of craters as small as 10 m on Phobos and 5 m on Deimos have been measured for small areas of the satellites. On both objects, crater densities are similar and yield plots which have slopes close to -1.9 on both incremental and cumulative log-log graphs. These densities are close to those expected to obtain under equilibrium conditions. They are also near the maximum predicted, based on the fragmentation lifetimes of the two objects: that is, the densities are near to the maximum possible before such objects are likely to suffer an impact severe enough to disrupt them. While the observed crater densities cannot be converted to absolute ages in any rigorous fashion, they can be understood if the flux at Mars has been similar to that at the Moon and if the surfaces that we see today generally date back to the end of the period of heavy bombardment some 4 billion years ago. It is extremely unlikely that the surfaces are younger than 1 billion years. There are no large areas on Phobos for which crater densities differ by more than a factor of 3 from the average.
Environmental and Developmental Effects on External Gill Loss in the Red‐Eyed Tree Frog, Agalychnis callidryas

Abstract I examined the effects of development, hatching, and oxygen availability on external gill loss in red‐eyed tree frogs, Agalychnis callidryas. Under natural conditions, the arboreal embryos maintained large external gills until hatching, which occurred from 5–8 d after oviposition. At hatching, when tadpoles entered the water, external gills began to regress. In older hatchlings this process was extremely rapid. Gill circulation was lost on average within 16 min and sometimes within 5 min. Gills often regressed completely in under 2 h. Younger hatchlings reduced gill circulation, shortened and adducted their gills, then resumed normal circulation for some time after hatching; half had completely lost external gills within 24 h. Experimentally increasing the area of egg surface exposed to the air induced loss of external gills in unhatched embryos. Older hatchlings in hypoxic water without access to air maintained their external gills. This suggests that loss of external gills is a response to incr...
Refactoring tools for dynamic languages

Dynamic languages play an increasingly prominent role in modern software development. They are used in domains as diverse as web programming and scientific computing, for developing simple scripts as well as large applications.Tool-supported refactoring for these languages can bring important benefits to programmers. First, manual refactoring tends to be error-prone in dynamic languages since they impose very little static structure; hence, erroneous refactorings often cannot be detected until runtime. A tool can use static program analysis to check the soundness of a proposed refactoring, thus mitigating this problem. Second, dynamic languages tend to lack constructs for modularisation and encapsulation, which can be an obstacle to writing maintainable software. In many cases, such constructs can be emulated using other language features, but refactoring a program to make use of such patterns is often non-trivial and could benefit from tool support. Third, refactoring tools can be useful for adapting programs to use high-level features, thus supporting script to program evolution.However, specifying and implementing refactorings for dynamic languages is a challenging endeavour. We highlight some of the major issues in this area, and discuss recent progress towards solving them.
Residue Level Inverse Kinematics of Peptide Chains in the Presence of Observation Inaccuracies and Bond Length Changes

Dihedral angles as generalized coordinates define the geometric conformation of a peptide chain. Given the exact coordinates of the atoms, it is possible to rigorously calculate the dihedral angles. We will refer to this calculation process as the residue level inverse kinematics of peptide chains. However uncertainties and experimental observation inaccuracies in the atoms’ coordinates handicap this otherwise simple and straightforward process. In this paper, we present three new efficient methodologies to find all the dihedral angles of a peptide chain for a given conformation. Comparison of these results with the dihedral angle values reported in the PDB (Protein Data Bank) indicates significant improvements. While these improvements benefit most modeling methods in protein analysis, it is in particular, very significant in homology modeling where the dihedral angles are the structural variables. The first method presented here fits a best plane through five atoms of each peptide unit. The angle between the successive planes is defined as the dihedral angle. The second method is based on the Zero-Position analysis method. Successive links in this method rotate by the dihedral angles so as to minimize the structural error between respective atoms in the model conformation with given atoms’ coordinates. Dihedral angle final values correspond to the minimum structural error configuration. In this method, singular value decomposition (SVD) technique is used to best fit the atoms in the two conformations. The third method is a variant of the second method. In this instead of rotating all the links successively only three links are matched each time to extract the dihedral angle of the middle link. By doing so, the error accumulation on the successive links is reduced. This paper focuses on the Euclidean norm as the measure of merit (structural error) to compare different methods with the Protein Data Bank (PDB). This Euclidean norm is further, minimized by optimizing the geometrical features of the peptide plane.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Teaching students with autism spectrum disorder and moderate intellectual disabilities to use counting-on strategies to enhance independent purchasing skills

The demands of basic math skills often limit the ability of students with autism spectrum disorders to master purchasing skills. This study examined the use of counting-on math skills in conjunction with the next-dollar strategy to enhance independent purchasing skills. Four students with autism and intellectual disabilities successfully acquired and generalized counting-on and next-dollar skills to community settings. Students maintained both skills at a 100% level for up to 6 weeks. Intensifying instruction on functional skills that builds on basic academic skills represents one means of accessing the general education curriculum.
TOXICITY TO INSECTS AND MAMMALS OF FOODS CONTAINING SELENIUM

FOR MANY years it has been known that grains and forage plants grown on certain soils of the Great Plains produce fatal poisoning of livestock. Only recently, however, has the poison been identified as selenium, which is absorbed from the soil by the plants (for literature review, see Trelease and Martin, 1936). The problem assumes special importance through possible injury to human -beings from the consumption of seleniferous grains, vegetables, and animal products. In view of the high toxicity of seleniferous foodstuffs to mammals, birds, and some insects, we were surprised to find bruchids (beetles) and seed-chalcids (wasp-like insects) developing in seeds of Astragalus bisulcatus which were suspected of containing a high concentration of selenium. The present paper reports these observations and includes a comparison of the toxicity of similar seeds to white rats. THE INSECTS.-The seed pods of Astragalus bisulcatus (A. Gray) were collected by us in August, 1936, about five miles west of Laramie, Wyoming. Late in the following April the seeds were found to be heavily infested with bruchids (fig. 1, 2) and small hymenopterous insects. Both larvae and adults were present in large numbers. Mr. H. S. Barber, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, identified the bruchids (beetles)
Contained rupture following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: Long-term outcome

Coronary artery aneurysm formation can occur as a complication of balloon angioplasty. We present a case of a contained rupture of the left circumflex artery following angioplasty which resulted in an unusual pseudoaneurysm on angiography at 3-year follow-up. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In vitro investigation of the wear of human enamel by dental porcelain

Abstract Statement of problem. Metal ceramic systems are advocated when both esthetics and strength are required. A major drawback to many porcelains is their wear and destruction of opposing natural dentition. Purpose. This study evaluated the wear of enamel opposing 1 traditional and 2 recently introduced low-fusing feldspathic dental porcelains. Material and methods. Six blocks of Ceramco II, Finesse, and Omega 900 feldspathic porcelain materials were fabricated and fired according to manufacturer recommendations. Porcelain blocks were polished through 0.25 μm diamond polishing paste. Thirty-six enamel specimens were obtained and milled to a 2 mm (+0.5 mm) diameter. Enamel specimens were attached to an offset cam motor operating at 60 Hz. Enamel specimens were in constant contact with the stationary porcelain blocks under a load of 600 g and traversed a distance of 8 mm. Diameter and height of enamel specimens were measured at times of 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours and subsequent determination of enamel volume loss recorded. Profilometric surface roughness of the ceramic blocks was also measured for the corresponding times. Results. Statistical analysis revealed that both Finesse and Omega 900 feldspathic porcelains caused significantly less enamel volume loss when compared with Ceramco II porcelain at all time intervals. Surface roughness revealed no consistent significant differences among porcelains. Conclusion. Both Finesse and Omega 900 porcelains were not as destructive to human tooth structure as Ceramco II porcelain. These results suggest an advantage of the new, lower-fusing porcelains in conditions where natural dentition wear is a concern. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:356-64.)
Recognition of Transgressive Carbonate Sequence Within Epeiric Sea: Helderberg Group (Lower Devonian) of New York State: ABSTRACT

The regional Late Silurian-Early Devonian marine transgression of the central Appalachians is represented in New York State by a shallow-water carbonate rock sequence (Helderberg Group) which locally transgressed north and west. The resultant stratigraphic section comprises several hundred feet of fossiliferous limestone which has several distinctive sedimentary facies. Early workers interpreted each of the major facies as a separate time-stratigraphic lithologic unit or formation. However, from detailed field examination Rickard (1962) demonstrated that these formations are in fact time-transgressive toward the west and interfinger laterally with each other. Paleoecological study of the Helderberg Group supports this interpretation and shows that each of the formations represents a local sub-environment within the transgressive interval as a whole. These formations (facies) are: (1) Manlius Formation (25-50 feet), a complex of rock types interpreted to represent supratidal, intertidal, and shallow subtidal environments within a broad shelf lagoon (Laporte, 1964; 1967). (2) Coeymans Formation (20-100 feet), crinoidal-brachiopod skeletal calcarenite and carbonate siltstone which are commonly burrow-mottled toward the base of the unit but which show increasingly greater evidence of current reworking toward the top (high-and low-angle cross-stratification and sheet deposits). The Coeymans is interpreted to have been deposited in a wide belt of shallow, submerged crinoid mounds and banks which served as an effective, though discontinuous, barrier to circulation separating the more open-marine environment on the east from the restricted shelf lagoon of the Manlius on the west (Anderson, 1965). (3) Kalkberg Formation (50-100 feet), highly burrow-mottled carbonate mudstone with a very abundant, diverse, and well-preserved biota. The Kalkberg is interpreted to be a shallow-water, open-marine deposit which developed on an extensive shelf seaward from the Coeymans crinoid banks and meadows. (4) New Scotland Formation (50-150 feet), highly argillaceous and siliceous carbonate mudstone with a somewhat less diverse and abundant biota than the Kalkberg. The New Scotland is interpreted as having developed on a broad shelf like the Kalkberg (and marginal to it), but with significantly greater influx of terrigenous detritus which probably came from a distant easterly source. Lateral and vertical variations in constituent carbonate-grain types, mudstone-sparite ratios, fossil abundance and diversity, and presence of primary sedimentary structures provide criteria for recognizing the transgressive nature of the major sedimentary facies of the Helderberg Group. The inferred depositional framework, moreover, is very similar to that postulated by Shaw (1964) and Irwin (1965) for "clear water" sedimentation within an epeiric sea and demonstrates the predictive validity of their generalized sedimentary model. End_of_Article - Last_Page 473------------
Beyond gender stereotypes: Spouse caregivers of persons with Dementia

Abstract This study used data from 215 spouse caregivers of persons with dementia to examine if gender was a salient dimension in the ways that African-Amer-ican and white caregivers think about caregiving. Gender role stereotypes were reported by half of the 215 respondents. Many caregiving husbands and wives viewed caregiving in terms of emotional characteristics, household/childcare tasks, and physical strength. There were sex and race differences in these perceptions of caregiving work. Male and African-American caregivers were more likely to deny any difference between being a male or female caregiver than their counterparts. Male caregivers were less likely to refer to caregiving in terms of emotional work. African-Americans of both sexes were more likely to minimise gender differences than whites when mentioning household/childcare work. Black wives were much less likely than white wives to mention physical strength.
Esters highly attractive to Vespula spp.

Of 293 saturated organic esters tested in Oregon and California during the summers of 1968 and 1969 as attractants for yellow jacket wasps, Vespula spp., 24 were more active than the standard attractant, 2,4-hexadienyl butyrate. The most effective, the octyl and nonyl esters of pivalic and butyric acids, caught 2-2.5 times more wasps than the standard. In addition to the foregoing, 23 unsaturated esters were tested, and 3 strongly attractive chemicals were found; one of these. 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl propionate, was twice as attractive as the standard.
Note-A Note on the Optimality of the Modified Generalized Goal Decomposition Model

This note demonstrates that Freeland's Freeland, J. R. 1976. A note on goal decomposition in a decentralized organization. Management Sci.23 100-102. modification of Ruefli's Ruefli, T. W. 1971. A generalized goal decomposition model. Management Sci.17 505-518. Generalized Goal Decomposition model can generate nonoptimal solutions and shows how these difficulties can be corrected. In several papers on multi-level planning, it has been suggested that extending the hierarchical levels of the models from two to three or more levels is a straightforward process. This paper shows that this assertion is generally not true. The note points out that in Freeland's Freeland, J. R. 1976. A note on goal decomposition in a decentralized organization. Management Sci.23 100-102. three-level model, the interactions between the two lowest level of the hierarchy must be strictly controlled before information is passed to the highest level of the organization.
RPW: a hybrid reverse prediction method for level of detail.

Abstract In this paper, we propose a way of using multiple domain analysis methodology to speed up the image rendering process. We first apply wavelet transform to the original image, and then compress the wavelets in the frequency domain using histogram equalization techniques. When rendering the image, we uncompress the wavelets and reverse predict the upper level images. This process continues until it reaches a certain criteria. We use two terms—total image size (TIS) and total loading time (TLT) to measure the performance of level of detail (LOD) in a network environment. We compare traditional image-based LOD methods with the new method we are proposing. Experiments show that the proposed method can reduce both TIS and TLT. The image rendering speed on a remote client is approximately 2.5 times faster than the common image compression methods. Applications such as remote diagnostic systems and online museums can use this technique to achieve better real-time animation effects.
Survival of Clostridium Perfringens on Chicken Cooked with Microwave Energy

Abstract Chicken pieces, which had been inoculated with spores or vegetative cells of heat resistant or heat sensitive strains of Clostridium perfringens, were cooked in a microwave oven and browned in corn oil. The effects of freezing, thawing and frozen storage before and after microwave cooking on recovery of vegetative cells and spores were evaluated. Microwave cooking resulted in a two log cycle reduction in resident vegetative and inoculated C. perfringens cells. When chicken pieces were frozen and thawed, prior to microwave cooking, a greater reduction of the microbial load after cooking was found for both cells and spores of C. perfringens. Reduction of spores by microwave energy was minimal, however, the cooking environment provided an efficient activation and germination step. Cells or spores of C. perfringens were not recovered after microwave cooking followed by browning in heated vegetable oil at 190.5° C.
Microscopic pattern of healing of the cryogenic thalamic lesion

Summary Thirty-six cryogenic thalamic lesions were examined microscopically to determine their pattern of healing. Ten lesions have been selected for detailed description, since these were of different ages and inflicted under similar circumstances, i.e., at −70°C for 2 min. A cryogenic lesion is characterized by being well demarcated and consistent in size and shape. A fresh lesion is formed of a central area of necrosis with islands of trapped red blood cells, giving the appearance of a hemorrhagic infarct. It is gradually transformed into a gliotic scar often containing interspaced cavities surrounded by a dense wall 1 to 2 mm in thickness. As the lesion ages, it shrinks and becomes smaller with a less regular outline.
Using surface charge analysis to characterize the radiation response of Si/SiO/sub 2/ structures

We show that a surface charge analyzer (SCA) can be used to measure the total-dose radiation response of oxide-semiconductor structures noninvasively. A comparison of SCA measured radiation-induced oxide-trap charge and interface-trap densities with values from conventional metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) and mercury probe C--V measurements shows good agreement up to the highest total doses considered here (1000 krad(SiO/sub 2/)). The measured values of oxide-trap charge and interface-trap densities monotonically increase as total dose increases. Surface charge analysis has an advantage over the C--V measurement method because it does not require a direct gate contact for measurement. The SCA also does not require extra device fabrication or special test structures for measurement, circumventing the need for post-processing that could alter the charge trapping within a thermal oxide.
Systematics of chemical and structural disorder on band-edge properties of semiconductor alloys.

A comparison between the coherent-potential approximation and second-order perturbation theory (SPT) shows that the SPT can be used to calculate the band-edge properties, e.g., band gaps, effective masses, and the low-field alloy scattering of electrons and holes of semiconductor alloys. The SPT is used in a systematic study of the effects of chemical and structural disorder on band-gap bowing and scattering rates near the band edge. The effects of these two disorders can be constructive or destructive, depending on the relative signs of the disorder parameters. Numerical examples are presented for several III-V and II-VI pseudobinary semiconductor alloys.
Long-term stability of pairwise social dominance in squirrel monkeys

Three separate measurements of pairwise social-dominance relations between 10 feral adult squirrel monkeys were conducted at 6-month intervals. The monkeys were housed individually throughout the experiment and were undisturbed between the dominance tests. These conditions permitted the assessment of both short-term stability of individual animals’ dominance behaviors and long-term stability of the group dominance structure in the absence of interpolated social experiences. Each dominance test consisted of observing all 45 possible pairs of monkeys in a competitive water-incentive situation. Dominance hierarchies were formed by ranking the animals on the basis of the total number of pairmates dominated within each separate test. A high level of stability in individual animals’ dominance ability was observed within each of the three tests. Very high correlations were also obtained between successively measured dominance hierarchies. The status position changes which were observed in the successive dominance tests were very similar to changes reported for free-living squirrel monkey males observed under seminatural conditions.
The game of “N questions” on a tree

Abstract We consider the minimax number of questions required to determine which leaf in a finite binary tree T your opponent has chosen, where each question may ask if the leaf is in a specified subtree of T. The requisite number of questions is shown to be approximately the logarithm (base &0slash;) of the number of leaves in T as T becomes large, where O = 1.61803… is the “golden ratio”. Specifically, q questions are sufficient to reduce the number of possibilities by a factor of 2 F q+3 (where F, is the ith Fibonacci number), and this is the best possible.
Aqueous insulin and alcohol macromolecules and multiphasic molecular systems with enhanced photophysical signal characteristics and multifunctional properties

This study presents a theoretical formalism accompanied with experimental evidence which demonstrates that aqueous insulin macromolecules, and complex metaphase macromolecules exhibit enhanced photophysical and metamaterial-like characteristics leading to an overall enhancement of the interacting optical fields. Clathrate-like structures, filled with different index of refraction water, introduce a 'lensing' or guiding effects of the incident photons. Changing the ratio between hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces of multiphasic composites by several mechanisms give rise to an enhanced index of refraction contrast. The outcome of this study opens new horizons in the exploring of applications related to molecular imaging, nanophotonics, and optical devices.
Instrumental Rationality and Carroll's Tortoise

Some philosophers have tried to establish a connection between the normativity of instrumental rationality and the paradox presented by Lewis Carroll in his 1895 paper “What the Tortoise Said to Achilles.” I here examine and argue against accounts of this connection presented by Peter Railton and James Dreier before presenting my own account and discussing its implications for instrumentalism (the view that all there is to practical rationality is instrumental rationality). In my view, the potential for a Carroll-style regress just shows us that since instrumental rationality involves a higher-order commitment to combine our willing an end with our taking the necessary means, it therefore cannot, on pain of regress, itself be added as a conjunct to one of the elements to be combined. This view does not support instrumentalism.
SU-GG-T-414: Directional Dependence of the Response of Plastic Scintillation Detectors in Photon Beams

Purpose: The plastic scintillation detector(PSD) is a promising dosimeter for in vivodosimetry due to its high spatial resolution and excellent water equivalency. The arbitrary orientation of PSD, when placed inside a patient body, may affect its relative response. This study investigates the directional dependence of the response of PSD in photon beams by Monte Carlo simulations.Method and Materials: Two PSDs (BC‐400 and BCF‐12), each coupled to an optical fiber stem, are modeled. The directional dependences of the response of both PSDs in a water phantom are studied for a 6 MV spectral photon beam and a 300 keV mono‐energetic photon beam. Different optical fiber core materials (plastic, glass, and air) are used in the calculation model to study the influence of the optical fibermaterials upon the directional dependence of the detector response. Results: For the majority of angles between the detector axis and the incident beam direction, the response of the PSDs is within 1∼2 % irrespective of the photon energy or the optical fibermaterial used. For the case when the optical fiber stem is pointing to the source, the PSDs with glass or air cored optical fibers show larger deviations (6 % for 6 MV beam and 15 % for 300 keV beam) while the response for the PSDs with plastic cored optical fibers is still within 2 %. Conclusion: If plastic is used for the fiber core, the directional dependence is not of concern at 2 % level in photon beams. If glass or air is used for the fiber core, the PSD response has a 6 % deviation or more when the optical fiber stem is pointing to the source, which is probable for in vivo applications as the orientation of the detector cannot be guaranteed. Supported by the NCI (1R01CA120198‐01A2)
Evaluation of the relationship between endometrial thickness and failure of single-dose methotrexate in ectopic pregnancy

Objective: To test the hypothesis that endometrial stripe thicker than 12 mm increases treatment failure of single-dose methotrexate for the management of ectopic pregnancy. Study design: Seventy-three patients with ectopic pregnancy and measured pretreatment endometrial stripe were divided into two groups based on the endometrial stripe thickness (>12 mm or ≤12 mm). All patients were candidates for single-dose methotrexate treatment. Variables analyzed between the two groups were endometrial stripe thickness, initial beta human chorionic gonadotropin level (hCG), size of the ectopic mass, presence of fetal heart tones, previous ectopic pregnancy, and clinical outcomes. Results: Sixty patients had endometrial stripe thickness ≤12 mm and 13 patients >12 mm. The two groups were similar in initial hCG, size of ectopic mass, presence of fetal heart tones and rate of previous ectopic pregnancy. The failure rate was significantly higher in the group with endometrial stripe >12 mm compared to the group ≤ 12 mm (n=7, 53% vs. n=3, 5%, P 12 mm compared to the group ≤12 mm (mean ± SD, 17.64±5.82 mm vs. 7.69±2.82 mm, P<0.01). Conclusion: Endometrial stripe thicker than 12 mm increases the risk for treatment failure with single-dose methotrexate.
Nondifferentiable Potentials for Nonequilibrium Steady States

In the weak noise limit of Fokker-Planck models, the stationary probability density can be expressed in the form P∼exp(-1/ϵϕ(χ)), where ϵ measures the strength of the noise. We show firstly that, although in general ϕ is not differentiable, it is regular enough to allow its use as a Lyapunov function for the underlying deterministic dynamical system. This justifies the interpretation of ϕ as a generalized thermodynamic potential for systems away from equilibrium. Secondly, we show that the nondifferentiability of ϕ does not presuppose any kind of irregular behavior in the underlying deterministic system, nor the presence of several stationary points. We construct a simple model with one single attractor and trivial deterministic dynamics, which has a nondifferentiable quasipotential ϕ. We relate the nondifferentiability to the existence of caustics and shock lines in the associated variational problem.
Application of Wavelet Transform to Seismic Data

A recently developed method called the Wavelet Transform and its modifications such as Wavelet Packet Decomposition provide better frequency and time resolution compared to a Short Time Fourier Transform. Although the Wavelet Transform has the property of excellent localization for lower frequencies, it does not provide fine resolution at higher frequencies. A Wavelet Packet Decomposition uses adaptive algorithms to decompose a signal into 2D frequency-time components in such a way that low frequencies as well as high frequencies are very well localized. In the present study these transform techniques have been applied to seismic data with results compared. Various seismic events such as shallow and deep reflections and surface waves are well localized by the wavelet based methods as opposed to the Short Time Fourier Transform. These waveletbased methods can be used to analyze seismic data. Consequently new filtering applications can be developed which will make use of this precise localization property. As an example, a synthetic trace contaminated with random noise is filtered. The filtering removes almost all of the noise, without changing any of the signal energy. A recently developed technique called the Wavelet Transform (WT) and its modifications such as Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) provide better time and frequency resolution by using variable sized analysis window.
β-Carotene from Red Carrot Maintains Vitamin A Status, but Lycopene Bioavailability Is Lower Relative to Tomato Paste in Mongolian Gerbils

Red carrots contain lycopene in addition to alpha- and beta-carotene. The utility of red carrot as a functional food depends in part on the bioavailability of its constituent carotenoids. Lycopene bioavailability was compared in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) fed freeze-dried red carrot and tomato paste (Study 1, n = 47) and whole food extracts dissolved in cottonseed oil (Study 2, n = 39). Diets and supplements were equalized for lycopene and intakes did not differ. Both studies utilized negative (oil) and positive [purified lycopene (Lyc)] controls. In Study 1, vitamin A liver stores (0.68 +/- 0.13 micromol/liver) of the red carrot group did not differ from baseline (0.63 +/- 0.13 micromol/liver) and were greater than those of the tomato paste (0.43 +/- 0.12 micromol/liver), Lyc (0.51 +/- 0.14 micromol/liver), and control (0.38 +/- 0.17 micromol/liver) groups (P < 0.003). A similar pattern was observed in Study 2. In both studies, hepatic lycopene was higher in the tomato paste (82.7 +/- 26.7 and 80.7 +/- 20.2 nmol/liver) groups compared with red carrot groups (59.3 +/- 21.9 and 39.5 +/- 14.1 nmol/liver, P < 0.0001). Hepatic lycopene from tomato paste was higher than Lyc in Study 1, but tomato paste extract and Lyc did not differ in Study 2, when both were dissolved in oil. Red carrot maintains vitamin A status, but constituent beta-carotene may interfere with lycopene bioavailability. These results confirm prior studies in humans on the relative bioavailability of lycopene from red carrots and tomato paste and expand them by suggesting the mechanism and determining vitamin A value.
Feasibility of Horseback Riding as a Therapeutic and Integrative Program for Handicapped Children

The passage of Public Law 94-142, to alleviate the educational isolation of handicapped children, has resulted in some integration of handicapped children into community activities.1 Unfortunately, this integration is usually characterized by groups of handicapped people enjoying an activity together rather than with nonhandicapped persons. Developing activities that can realistically effect integration is a challenge both to lay and professional people concerned with the quality of life for handicapped persons. Horseback riding is one activity that has been identified as possibly serving this purpose, and which has the additional benefit of being therapeutic. Reports from England, Australia, and the United States have demonstrated that in a well-planned and carefully controlled program, horseback riding for the handicapped can provide a safe means of facilitating physical improvement in both minimally and extensively handicapped individuals.2–4…
Honey-pot constrained searching with local sensory information

In this paper we investigate the problem of searching for a hidden target in a bounded region of the plane using an autonomous robot which is only able to use local sensory information. The problem is naturally formulated in the continuous domain but the solution proposed is based on an aggregation/refinement approach in which the continuous search space is partitioned into a finite collection of regions on which we define a discrete search problem. A solution to the original problem is obtained through a refinement procedure that lifts the discrete path into a continuous one. We show that the discrete optimization is computationally difficult (NP-hard) but there are computationally efficient approximation algorithms for solving it. The resulting solution to the continuous problem is in general not optimal but one can construct bounds to gauge the cost penalty incurred due to (i) the discretization of the problem and (ii) the attempt to approximately solve the NP-hard problem in polynomial time. Numerical simulations show that the algorithms proposed behave significantly better than naive approaches such as a random walk or a greedy algorithm. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Natural history of asymptomatic pancreatic cystic neoplasms

Abstract Background The management of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts is controversial and indications for excision are based on pathology and natural history. Objectives This study aimed to examine outcomes of asymptomatic lesions using a protocol based on size and cyst fluid analysis. Methods Asymptomatic cysts were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Sequential cross‐sectional imaging studies were assessed, and results of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided aspiration were co‐analysed. Results A total of 338 asymptomatic patients underwent evaluation. Overall, 84 cysts were 12 months post‐presentation in six (9.5%) patients. A total of 70.6% of resected specimens were identified as malignancies or mucinous lesions. conclusions Asymptomatic cysts of
Formocresol Pulpotomy on (Young) Permanent Teeth

Permanent teeth with necrotic pulps can be treated with the same procedure that is used for the treatment of similarly involved deciduous molars—a two-step pulpotomy with use of Formocresol. Forty-three teeth have been treated with the procedure and clinical and radiographic data substantiate the success of the pulpotomy. The procedure can be used if complete endodontic therapy is not available or as an alternative to extraction. However, complete endodontic therapy should be anticipated at a later date.
The effects of phenylephrine on right ventricular performance in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension causes right ventricular ischemia and failure as a result of increased afterload combined with reduced coronary blood flow. Increasing coronary driving pressure by raising aortic pressure with phenylephrine has been shown to reverse right ventricular ischemia from pulmonary hypertension in animals. Since vasodilators often fail to reduce afterload, we tested whether raising the coronary driving pressure would improve right ventricular function in man. Ten patients with pulmonary hypertension had hemodynamics and right ventricular coronary driving pressure measured before and 10 minutes after a steady state was reached with a phenylephrine infusion titrated to raise aortic pressure by 25 percent. Phenylephrine caused a significant (p
Strategic market planning for value-added natural beef products: A cluster analysis of Colorado consumers

In the past decade, sales of meat products labeled as natural (minimally processed) and produced without antibiotics and hormones have increased dramatically. In response to growing demand for meat products differentiated by various production attributes, many smaller-scale beef enterprises are considering direct marketing of their beef products to end-consumers as a viable approach to sustaining their family farming operations. This research uses survey data from Colorado consumers, and factor and cluster analysis to determine market segments for various (varied by production protocols and other meat attributes) natural beef products. Findings from the cluster analysis indicate that there are multiple segments of consumers who are likely to purchase natural beef, and that different segments are motivated by different factors. The most important factor explaining almost two-thirds of the differences among consumer responses relates to consumers' perceptions of the importance of meat attributes related to production practices (e.g. use of antibiotics, hormones and environmentally friendly grazing). Interestingly, the two consumer segments that are willing to pay a significantly higher premium for natural, local beef are motivated by different aspects of the meat and its intrinsic production attributes. One segment, representing 12.5% of consumers, ranked the importance of all production attributes significantly lower than the sample average. Consumers in this segment appear to be motivated by their perceptions of the extrinsic quality of natural beef products. The other segment, 13% of consumers, appears to be altruistic, ranking all production attributes such as ‘no antibiotics’, ‘no hormones’, and ‘humane treatment’, significantly higher than all of the other clusters. These results indicate the potential strength of production methods (and marketing of such quality differences) as product differentiation criteria. This paper illustrates the type of market research that may be useful for beef producers seeking value-added marketing opportunities, and portrays the types of consumers who are fueling the growth in natural meats in the United States. Such market analysis can facilitate producers' ability to effectively develop product concepts, labeling and promotional strategies targeted at the most receptive consumer segments, and illustrates that there is more than one type of consumer interested in purchasing products differentiated by sustainable production methods.
Geometry Refinement of 3D Surfaces Using Kriging

3D imaging is a popular method for acquiring accurate models for a variety of applications. However, the size of the geometric features that can be modeled in this manner is dependant on the scanning system?s resolution. This paper presents a method that attempts to accurately reconstruct regions whose features are at or below the system?s scanning resolution, combining automatic region selection with a form of kriging. A curvature-based segmentation is followed by an automated geometry refinement procedure in which the model of spatial correlation between the irregularly sampled 3D data is automatically determined. Geometry refinement is done by a regularized kriging approach that is designed to preserve the sharp features typical to many 3D laser range applications. This method is validated on synthetic data, showing that the accuracy of our method is higher than that of its standard competitors. Then, the performance on real data is demonstrated through several examples.