cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning in Technologically Enriched Study Environments: Will Students Study Effectively?.

Results of a study designed to evaluate a multicomponent, computer‐supported study environment in a university‐level course. Three major questions were examined: (a) Does use of the study environment improve students' performance on tests? (b) What are the characteristics of students who choose to use the study environment? (c) What is the relative impact on student performance of using the study environment in different ways? Although the computer‐supported study environment provided students with multiple study tools, students chose almost exclusively to limit their activities to reviewing multiple‐choice questions prepared in advance by the teacher. Students using the study environment performed better on course examinations but also had higher grade point averages and were more prone to use methodical study methods. Contrary to predictions, less able students who paused for a longer period of time after learning that an answer was incorrect performed least well on course examinations. It is argued tha...
Utility of Acculturation in Physical Activity Research in Latina Adults: An Integrative Review of Literature

Latina adults in the United States have a disproportionately higher prevalence of chronic diseases related to low physical activity levels than non-Hispanic women. Literature indicates that acculturation may be a contributing factor to being physically active, but the extent of this association remains unclear. An integrative review of literature was conducted on studies that examined acculturation as it relates to physical activity in Latinas in the United States. Our review of 33 studies revealed inconsistent measurement and conceptualization of acculturation and physical activity across studies. Findings from this review reinforce the importance and continued use of acculturation by behavioral researchers; however, acculturation, as conceptualized in the studies reviewed, may not have had an influence on health as much as traditions, life patterns, and resources of Latinas.
Adaptive mobility aids for the elderly

Loss of mobility in the elderly causes a significant economic burden to caregivers and is one of the most significant determinants of depression and loss of muscle strength and productivity in this age group. Mobility aids can assist with locomotion by providing physical support, however they fail to provide direction guidance and avoidance of obstacles and hazards. This talk will focus on design of intelligent adaptive wheeled walkers. By allowing the user varying degrees of control, from complete to collaborative, these walkers afford the user with the feeling of control, while helping to increase the ease and safety of their daily travels. The control systems of these walkers differ from those of other mobility aids and mobile robots because they must both assist in mobility and provide balance and support, but also give directional aid if necessary. These functions must be performed in a tight loop adaptation with a human whose input may be difficult to predict. Through the use of a wheeled walker equipped with force and sonar sensors, we were able to develop an intelligent self-guided mobility aid that can provide improved independence, autonomy, and quality of life for the elderly.
Cloning and sequence of the cDNA encoding the rat oligodendrocyte integrin β1 subunit

Abstract We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding an integrin (Itg) β-subunit polypeptide from a rat cerebral cortex oligodendroglia cDNA library. This β-subunit was previously designated β OL (OL for oligodendroglia), since it had an M r that differed from that of the :rat fibroblast β 1 protein. The complete nucleotide sequence encoding the signal sequence and mature protein was determined. Comparison of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of β OL to those of integrin β subunits from other species revealed that β OL is a member of the integrin (Itg) β 1 class. The aa sequence of β OL shows 78.5–97.9% similarity to β 1 chains from four other species and displays all the features characteristic of the Itg β subunits, indicating the high degree of structural conservation seen in this subunit of the Itg receptors.
Decreased Substance P and NK1 Receptor Immunoreactivity and Function in the Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn of Morphine-Treated Neonatal Rats

Abstract Opiate analgesic tolerance is defined as a need for higher doses of opiates to maintain pain relief after prolonged opiate exposure. Though changes in the opioid receptor undoubtedly occur during conditions of opiate tolerance, there is increasing evidence that opiate analgesic tolerance is also caused by pronociceptive adaptations in the spinal cord. We have previously observed increased glutamate release in the spinal cord dorsal horn of neonatal rats made tolerant to the opiate morphine. In this study, we investigate whether spinal substance P (SP) and its receptor, the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, are also modulated by prolonged morphine exposure. Immunocytochemical studies show decreased SP- and NK1-immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of morphine-treated rats, whereas SP mRNA in the dorsal root ganglia is not changed. Electrophysiological studies show that SP fails to activate the NK1 receptor in the morphine-treated rat. Taken together, the data indicate that chronic morphine treatment in the neonatal rat is characterized by a loss of SP effects on the NK1 receptor in lamina I of the neonatal spinal cord dorsal horn. The results are discussed in terms of compensatory spinal cord processes that may contribute to opiate analgesic tolerance. Perspective This article describes anatomical and physiological changes that occur in the spinal cord dorsal horn of neonatal rats after chronic morphine treatment. These changes may represent an additional compensatory process of morphine tolerance and may represent an additional therapeutic target for the retention and restoration of pain relief with prolonged morphine treatment.
Immobilized anaerobic fermentation for bio-fuel production by Clostridium co-culture

Clostridium thermocellum/Clostridium thermolacticum co-culture fermentation has been shown to be a promising way of producing ethanol from several carbohydrates. In this research, immobilization techniques using sodium alginate and alkali pretreatment were successfully applied on this co-culture to improve the bio-ethanol fermentation performance during consolidated bio-processing (CBP). The ethanol yield obtained increased by over 60 % (as a percentage of the theoretical maximum) as compared to free cell fermentation. For cellobiose under optimized conditions, the ethanol yields were approaching about 85 % of the theoretical efficiency. To examine the feasibility of this immobilization co-culture on lignocellulosic biomass conversion, untreated and pretreated aspen biomasses were also used for fermentation experiments. The immobilized co-culture shows clear benefits in bio-ethanol production in the CBP process using pretreated aspen. With a 3-h, 9 % NaOH pretreatment, the aspen powder fermentation yields approached 78 % of the maximum theoretical efficiency, which is almost twice the yield of the untreated aspen fermentation.
Novel PCM and Jet Impingement Based Cooling Scheme for High Density Transient Heat Loads

Breakthroughs in the recent cutting-edge technologies have become increasingly dependent on the ability to safely dissipate large amount of heat from small areas. Improvements in cooling techniques are therefore required to avoid unacceptable temperature rise and at the same time maintain high efficiency. Jet impingement is one such cooling scheme which has been widely used to dissipate transient and steady concentrated heat loads. With constantly increasing transient cooling needs, conventional pin-fin cooling and conventional jet impingement cooling are not meeting the requirements. Considerable improvements are therefore required to meet such stringent requirements without any significant changes in the cooling system. A combined cooling scheme based on jet impingement and phase change materials (PCMs) is presented as one such alternative to existing cooling systems. A high heat storage capability of PCMs in combination with a high heat transfer rates from impingement cooling can help overcome the existing heat distribution and transient cooling problems in high heat flux dissipating devices. Preliminary conjugate CFD simulations show promising results. Additionally, experimental validation of the simulation predictions has also been performed. A reasonably good agreement was found between the predictions and experiments.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Biosynthesis of Carbon-14-Labeled Compounds. II. The Chromatographic Separation of the Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Trisaccharides from Plant Extracts.

During the development of a method for the separation of biosynthetically prepared C14-labeled glucose and fructose (4), it was found necessary" to remove sucrose from the plant extracts before the monosaccharide separation could be effected. Montgomery et al. (3) used the Tiselius displacement technique for isolating 6-(a-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-glucose from an enzymatic starch hydrolyzate, and indicated in a footnote that the method could be adapted to a separation of monosaccharides and disaccharides. Whistler and Durso (7) demonstrated that a mixture of charcoal (Darco G-60) and Celite (Celite 535) could be used for the column separation of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and trisaccharides. Using the former technique, we found that glucose and sucrose could be separated but that the method involved the use of three charcoal columns in series, and rather large volumes of solution were required to carry out the separation. The latter method does not need elaborate equipment and enables one to handle rather large amounts of sugar without resorting to excessively large volumes of desorbing solutions. It was found possible, by using this method to separate sucrose from the monosaccharide fraction of plant sugar extracts and, in addition, to isolate a trisaccharide fraction. The general procedure followed is that of Whistler and Durso (7) and is here briefly summarized. A mixture of Darco G-60 and Celite 535 was selected as the adsorbent. Other charcoals were tried but the Darco G-60
Differential cross sections for state-selective electron capture by low-energy Arq+ ions from He and Ar.

Doubly differential cross sections, in angle and energy, for state-selective single-electron capture from He and Ar by ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{\mathit{q}+}$ ions have been studied experimentally at laboratory impact energies between 25q and 100q eV (q=4 and 5, where q is the ion charge state) and scattering angles between 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, by means of translational energy-gain spectroscopy. The translational energy-gain spectra show that only a few final states were selectively populated depending on the charge state of the projectile, ionization potential of the target, and weakly on the impact energy. A resonable description of the populated final states is described qualitatively in terms of the reaction windows, which are calculated using a multichannel Landau-Zener model. The general features of the differential cross sections are discussed in terms of a semiclassical curve-crossing model.
Geothermal exploration using imaging spectrometer data over Fish Lake Valley, Nevada

Abstract The U.S. currently leads the world in installed geothermal capacity with power plants in eight states, and exploration for new electrical-grade geothermal systems is ongoing. Geothermal systems at depth may be identified at the surface by hot springs and fumaroles or by minerals produced by thermal fluids (hydrothermal alteration and hot spring deposits). Northern Fish Lake Valley, Nevada hosts two previously known geothermal fields. This study expanded prospects and identified new areas for future exploration within the valley. We demonstrated the potential for using remote sensing data to evaluate regions that are not well explored. We used visible, near, and shortwave infrared (0.4–2.5 μm) remote sensing data to map surficial mineralogy. Data were collected by three airborne imaging spectrometer instruments, AVIRIS, HyMap, and ProSpecTIR, each over different parts of Fish Lake Valley. Minerals were identified using diagnostic spectral features. We verified remote sensing results in the field using a portable spectrometer to confirm agreement between field and remote spectra. The discovery of additional geothermal resources in Fish Lake Valley may provide the necessary added incentive to build costly transmission lines to this remote location. We used remote sensing data to delineate four new targets for future geothermal exploration in northern Fish Lake Valley. Two new areas of sinter and travertine deposits were identified northwest of the playa, likely deposited around fault-controlled hot springs during the Pleistocene when the water table was higher. Previously undocumented Miocene crystalline travertine was identified within the Emigrant Hills. Argillic alteration was mapped within ranges, where thermal fluids were likely discharged from faults to alter rhyolite tuff. Here we explain our data processing techniques which include a novel decorrelation stretch designed for geothermal prospecting, and discuss how remote sensing results guided our interpretation of the region's geothermal systems.
Tandem repeats in the N-terminal sequence of a proline-rich protein from corn endosperm

Zeins, the prolamines of corn (Zea mays), are the most abundant storage protein fraction in corn endosperm. Like prolamines of other cereals, zeins are readily soluble in 60–70% alcohol solutions but are insoluble in aqueous buffer systems. The other major storage protein fraction in corn endosperm is glutelin, which is extractable with either dilute alkali or detergent. We have now extracted from corn endosperm a prolinerich, zein-like protein fraction which we have purified by chromatography on phosphocellulose. Study of the N-terminal sequences of three chromatographic fractions for homologies shows that they are essentially identical. These N-terminal sequences include a hexapeptide Pro-Pro-Pro-Val-His-Leu, which is repeated in tandem at least six times, and probably eight times or more.
Ask, advise and refer: hypothesis generation to promote a brief tobacco-cessation intervention in community pharmacies.

Objectives A preliminary qualitative study was conducted to identify key facilitators and barriers for pharmacists' adoption of a brief tobacco-cessation protocol, Ask-Advise-Refer (AAR). Methods Ten community pharmacists were interviewed using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with open-ended questions. Purposive and saturation sampling techniques were applied to identify participants and determine sample size respectively. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, two reviewers independently coded all transcripts to identify prominent themes. Appropriate measures were taken to ensure study rigor and validity. Key findings All facilitators and barriers identified were grouped into nine distinct themes. Pharmacists' fear of negative patient reaction was the most prominent barrier to initiating tobacco-cessation discussions with patients. Other themes identified in decreasing order of prevalence were pharmacists perceiving a rationale for initiating tobacco cessation, pharmacy environment, pharmacists' perception of/prior knowledge of patients' willingness to discuss tobacco cessation/to quit, patient initiation of tobacco-cessation or worsening-health discussion, pharmacists' perceptions of AAR characteristics, length of pharmacist-patient relationship/rapport with patients, low expectations of pharmacy patrons and pharmacists' communication ability. Conclusions This study highlights the potential fear among pharmacists about negative reactions from patients in response to initiating tobacco cessation discussions. Based on the results of this study it is hypothesized that the following strategies would facilitate adoption of AAR: (1) train pharmacists to initiate cessation discussions; (2) initially target discussions with patients who have a disease or medication adversely affected by tobacco use; (3) encourage patient enquiry about pharmacy cessation services through visual cues; and (4) help pharmacists set up a workflow system compatible with the AAR protocol.
The spatial extent of termite influences on herbivore browsing in an African savanna

Abstract Termite mounds form islands of fertility in savanna landscapes and create foraging hotspots for herbivores, but the magnitude and spatial extent of these influences is unknown. We mapped terrain, termite mound and woody vegetation three-dimensional (3-D) structure at 56 cm resolution across a large-scale (254 ha), long-term (34 years) herbivore exclusion experiment in the Kruger National Park, with the Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO). We compared vegetation 3-D structure in areas protected from herbivores with those accessible to herbivores, both on termite mounds and in the landscape matrix between termite mounds. Termite mound density was 1.1 ha −1 across the study area and mound size did not differ between protected and accessible areas. Woody vegetation canopy cover was ∼100% greater on protected than accessible mounds, but was only ∼20% greater in the protected inter-mound matrix when compared to the accessible matrix. Woody canopy height class distributions differed significantly between protected and accessible areas, with the tallest vegetation (>10 m) occurring on protected termite mounds. The impacts of herbivore browsing were evident at distances of up to 20 m from termite mound centres. Spatial analysis of mound distribution revealed that the sphere of termite mound influence constitutes ∼20% of the total landscape. Termite influences on herbivore browsing operate at scales much larger than the spatial extent of their mound building activities.
Perceived stress and substance use in methadone-maintained smokers.

Abstract Background In methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs), 80–90% of participants smoke cigarettes. Patients in MMTPs are at particular risk for life stress, and nicotine, as well as other substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, and opiates have been shown to reduce the effects of stress. Use of these addictive substances to cope with stress may precipitate illicit opiate relapse in MMTP patients. In the current study, we examined the relationship between perceived stress and substance abuse. Methods Participants were 315 cigarette smokers recruited from nine MMTPs for a smoking cessation study. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the adjusted association of perceived stress with dichotomous indicators of hazardous alcohol use and recent substance use at baseline. Results After controlling for demographic and smoking-related variables, perceived stress was associated positively and significantly with the likelihood of screening positive for hazardous drinking or alcohol-related problems (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.02; 1.25), with the likelihood of recent cocaine use (OR = 1.18, 95%CI 1.02; 1.37), and with the likelihood of recent benzodiazepine use (OR = 1.24, 95%CI 1.07). Conclusions Perceived stress may be a marker of patients’ risk for illicit substance use, a known risk factor for illicit opiate relapse. These findings indicate that cigarette use might not be sufficient in managing stress and methadone-maintained persons turn to other substances for relief.
XXIV. On the solar and lunar periods

(1821). XXIV. On the solar and lunar periods. The Philosophical Magazine: Vol. 57, No. 275, pp. 168-172.
Trends in the genetic influences on smoking.

Using twin pairs from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, we estimate that 35 percent of the variance in regular smoking is due to additive genetic influences. When we disaggregate the sample by birth cohort we witness strong genetic influences on smoking for those born in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1950s, but negligible influences for those born in the 1940s and 1960s. We show that the timing of the first Surgeon General’s Report coincides with an increase in the genetic influences on regular smoking, but subsequent legislation prohibiting smoking in public places has significantly reduced these influences. These results are in line with existing gene-environment interaction theory, and we argue that variation in genetic influences across cohorts makes it difficult and potentially misleading to estimate genetic effects on health behaviors from data obtained from a single point in time.
Ultracapacitor model with automatic order selection and capacity scaling for dynamic system simulation

An ultracapacitor model with automatic order selection of complexity and automatic scaling of capacity is created in Virtual Test Bed platform for complex system simulation and prototyping. The order selection is based upon the variable simulation time step for appropriate level of details of the model, and automatically executed by the model itself, therefore it applies to simulation for both high and low frequencies, or for both fast and slow transients, or even for multi-time scale resolutions. A simple trapezoidal algorithm, rather than the general stiff algorithm, which is complicated in implementation, is used for numerical integration. For a given time step, the truncation error is controlled to be negligible, so that numerical stability and accuracy are ensured for the given order of model complexity. The model is validated by comparing the simulation results to the experimental ones. The application example of the ultracapacitor model in complex system simulation is also presented.
Classification of Neogene Cones (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Genus Conus) from Southeastern United States and Caribbean: ABSTRACT

Fossil species of Conus from the southeastern United States and Caribbean areas never before have been studied systematically. Previously recorded Conus occurrences have appeared only as parts of faunal lists from certain localities. Thus, the resulting number of synonyms and inaccurate identifications have increased through the years. Because no study of the relations between described species, horizontally or vertically, has been made, this study was undertaken to evaluate and to revise the nomenclature of fossil cones from numerous localities in the southeastern United States and Caribbean regions. The extensive collections of Cenozoic mollusks at Tulane University provided much of the material studied, supplementing field collections made by the writer. Several institutions, including the United States National Museum, the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia, and the Paleontological Research Institution, kindly have loaned type specimens. More detailed study of this genus reveals that some forms designated as different species actually are variations of the same species. Morphological variability studies for the shells of each locality are being made. Ecology, where appropriate, is correlated with the morphological data. A new technique, the relation of color patterns on fossil shells to the morphological features, is used. The method for partly restoring color to fossils has been developed recently by Axel A. Olsson. Shells oxidized either artificially or by exposure to the sun exhibit their definitive color patterns clearly under ultraviolet light. Although the color of a shell may vary within a population, depending on its environment or diet, the basic patterns of dots in spiral rows, tent shapes, bands, or reticul tions are fixed for a given species. The color pattern is produced by the arrangement of excretory glands in the mantle, and as such is a physiological feature and, therefore, a record of the soft parts of the animal. Intensive study of one genus, with regard to its position in time and its distribution in space, helps resolve some of the taxonomic problems. Because Conus has a wide distribution (tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and their associated seas), an efficient study must be limited geographically. With the several techniques discussed, and the large collections and many references at hand, the more accurate classification of this genus is achieved. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2326------------
Epidermal growth factor receptor expression is related to post-mitotic events in cerebellar development: regulation by thyroid hormone.

Abstract It has been established that thyroid hormone and neurotrophic factors both orchestrate developmental events in the brain. However, it is not clear how these two influences are related. In this study, we investigated the effects of thyroid hormone on cerebellar development and the coincident expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α), a ligand in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Profiles of thyroid hormone expression were measured in postnatal animals and were found to peak at postnatal day 15 (P15). These levels dropped below detectable levels when mice were made hypothyroid with propylthiouracil (PTU). TGF-α and EGFR expression, as determined by RNAse protection assay, was maximal at P6 in normal animals, but remained low in hypothyroid animals, suggesting that thyroid hormone was responsible for their induction. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis of EGFR expression revealed that this receptor was present on granule cells within the inner zone of the external granule cell layer (EGL), suggesting that EGFR-ligands were not inducing granule cell proliferation. The persistence of EGFR expression on migrating granule cells and subsequent down-regulation of expression in the internal granule cell layer (IGL) implicates a role for EGFR-ligands in differentiation and/or migration. In hypothyroid animals, we observed a delayed progression of granule cell migration, consistent with the persistence of EGFR labeling in the EGL, and in the ‘pile-up’ of labeled cells at the interface between the molecular layer and the Purkinje cell layer. Taken together, these results implicate thyroid hormone in the coordinated expression of TGF-α and EGFR, which are positioned to play a role in post-mitotic developmental events in the cerebellum.
Abstract: Mediation Analysis of Poisson Distributed Count Outcomes

This study examines mediation with Poisson distributed count outcomes. Mediation analysis (Judd & Kenny, 1981) in its simplest form examines the linkage of an independent variable X through a media...
Self-consistent numerical-basis-set linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals investigation of the electronic structure and properties of TiS2

A fully-self-consistent numerical-basis-set linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals calculation of the electronic structure of Ti${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ is reported using the method described previously. The calculated band structure differs considerably from those previously obtained by non-self-consistent muffin-tin models. Comparison with experiment shows that the calculated optical properties for energies below 16 eV and the various characteristics of the valence and conduction bands agree very well with optical-absorption and electron-energy-loss data as well as with photoemission, x-ray absorption, and appearance-potential spectra. A small indirect gap (0.2-0.3 eV) occurs at the points $M$ and $L$ in the Brillouin zone with a larger direct gap (0.8 eV) at $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$. We suggest that the characteristic semi-metallic large $g$ value observed experimentally originates from a near coincidence of the band gap with the enhanced spin-orbit splitting which is consistent with the soft-x-ray data and our band model. The bonding mechanism in Ti${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ is discussed in detail; it is shown by a direct calculation of the self-consistent charge density and the transverse effective charge that the system is predominantly covalent with small static ionic character and large dynamic ionicity. In contrast with muffin-tin $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ models, the bonding is found to be largely due to Ti $4s4p$ to S $3p$ bonds and a much weaker Ti $3d$ to S $3p$ bond. The effects of muffin-tin approximation and self-consistency are discussed in detail. Extrapolation of these results to the case of Ti${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ is made and the possible origin of its charge-density wave is discussed.
Monte Carlo study of infinite-dimensional cellular automata

Abstract The well-known one-dimensional elementary cellular automata are generalized to an infinite number of dimensions. The generalization of the most interesting automaton in 1D, “Rule 22”, is studied in detail by means of Monte Carlo as well as enumeration methods. It is shown that Monte Carlo data extrapolate very smoothly to infinite system size. Numerical deviation from mean-field theory is analyzed.
Increased sensitivity of a vidicon optical multichannel analyzer with a detachable electrostatic image intensifier

A substantial gain in sensitivity is reported through the addition of a commercially available electrostatic image intensifier to a silicon-intensified target vidicon system. This comparatively low cost modification allows cooled or room temperature operation, CW or pulsed detection, and ease of removal or attachment. A 40-mm, first-generation technology image intensifier was used in a configuration in which the photocathode end was at negative high voltage and the phosphor end was at ground. Cooling the vidicon detector did not result in improved SNR; more generally, a 50-fold sensitivity increase was observed for the image intensifier/vidicon system.
Changing the culture of patient safety and medical errors: a symposium introduction and overview.

(2003). Changing the Culture of Patient Safety and Medical Errors. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 1-6.
2D crystal semiconductors: Intimate contacts

High electrical contact resistance had stalled the promised performance of two-dimensional layered devices. Low-resistance metal–semiconductor contacts are now obtained by interfacing semiconducting MoS2 layers with the metallic phase of this material.
At the Roots of a Never-Ending Cycle

Recent studies have yielded a number of important insights into the mechanisms of hair follicle development and cycling and have highlighted the particularly important roles played by stem cells and Wnt signaling pathways.
Characterization of shale oils. 1. Analysis of Fischer assay oils and their aromatic fractions using advanced analytical techniques

Abstract High-temperature, short-contact-time pyrolysis of oil shales was investigated in our laboratory to gain a better understanding of the reaction mechanisms of kerogen decomposition. In order to accomplish this goal, the chemical composition of condensable materials and compositional differences between these materials and oils produced by low-temperature slow-heating processes were obtained. Analytical techniques that can analyze samples in microgram quantities, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, field ionization mass spectroscopy (FIMS), and synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectroscopy were chosen for product characterization. Liquid chromatography was used in this work to separate shale oils into class types as well as in product characterization. Our work was in two phases. The first phase was on conventional oils. Here, HPLC as a tool for the separation of the aromatic fraction into subfractions according to the ring sizes and the possibility of using FIMS for a detailed compositional analysis of aromatic fraction of a fuel were investigated. The results were encouraging. The subfractions of the aromatic fraction were also analyzed using SF. The results of SF validated the HPLC separation procedure. In any case, the thrust of this research was to combine the results of several techniques to obtain meaningful and reliable characterization of oil shale pyrolysis products. This report covers the results obtained for oils produced by low-temperature slow-heating processes.
“Disturbing Phenomenology” in the Pain and Engagement Narratives of Cambodian American Survivors of the Killing Fields

In the clinical literature on trauma, the atrocity survivor’s attempt to engage others around the experience of chronic, intractable pain is often viewed as an instance of “help-seeking,” logotherapeutic “coherence-making,” or—more darkly—“patient malingering.” In this article, I challenge the utility of these rubrics through a close examination of the pain and engagement narratives of two survivors of the Cambodian Killing Fields. I demonstrate that survivor narratives can obtain a strategic multivocality, oscillating between phenomenological account and political critique, between clinical description and moral exhortation. This discursive oscillation, speaking “on and to several different levels of experience at the same time” [Levin DM (1998) Int J Philos Stud 6(3):345–392], radically disturbs the audience’s conventional sensibilities and distancing-making moves (for example, crafting totalizing accounts of the meaning of suffering or counterfactually speculating about the survivor’s experiences of pain). This disturbance allows the survivor’s narrative to function hermeneutically, enabling the audience to glimpse the moral significance of strategic multivocality for the survivor’s efforts to engage others while tracing its performative responsibilities and possibilities for ourselves. Reading pain and engagement narratives this way forces us into a place of equivocation and ambiguity that makes possible new configurations of sense, meaning, and response. It is, thus, as disturbing phenomenology that the women’s narratives derive their greatest practical power and urgency.
Describing viable technicolor scenarios

We construct an effective Lagrangian for new strong interactions at the LHC, including as a first step the two lightest triplets of spin-1 resonances. Our parametrization is general enough to allow for previously unstudied spectrum and couplings. Among available frameworks to describe the spin-1 sector, we rely on an extra-dimensional description. Our approach limits the number of parameters yet is versatile enough to describe the phenomenology of a wide range of new scenarios of strong electroweak symmetry breaking.
Long-term outcome of acellular dermal matrix when used for large traumatic open abdomen.

Background: The purpose of this study is to prospectively examine the use of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix (HADM) in trauma patients with large open abdominal wounds and assess the long-term outcome. Previous studies have not examined the long-term outcomes in trauma patients with abdominal wall reconstructions. Methods: An institutional review board approved prospective case series of consecutive patients admitted to a level I university trauma center, who were unable to have their abdomen closed primarily after trauma laparotomy. These patients had HADM placed to attain closure of the abdomen with skin advancement flaps to cover the HADM when possible. Our primary outcome measure was hernia formation and our secondary outcomes were laxity, fistulae, and infections associated with HADM. Results: Ten patients were enrolled during a 1-year period. Mean time to HADM placement was 17.2 days ± 3.6 days. Mean initial defect size was 425.1 cm 2 ± 75.9 cm 2 with the largest 770 cm 2 . Thirty day follow-up showed no recurrence in 100% patients. Six patients remained for long-term follow-up. Follow-up at 60 days demonstrated significant laxity or recurrent hernia or both in 67% of patients, and this increased to 100% by the end of 1 year follow-up. There were no bowel fistulae in these patients closed with HADM but 20% with infection. Conclusions: HADM is an alternative available to reconstruct the unclosable open abdomen with no fistulae formation, however, it is associated with a high rate of laxity in large abdominal wounds.
Broad band, tunable passive Q-switching with semiconductor doped glass filters

Passive Q-switching using semiconductor doped glass filters is demonstrated for the recently developed class of broad band, tunable, solid state lasers. Saturation of the absorption in such filters in the 800–900 nm region is reported along with data on efficient Q-switching of a Cr: LiSAF laser producing single pulses as short as 19 ns and energies as high as 95 mJ per pulse. Data on laser induced darkening of the filters is also presented.
A mechanistic model of acute platelet accumulation in thrombogenic stenoses.

Thrombosis on an atherosclerotic lesion can cause heart attack or stroke. Thrombosis may be triggered by plaque rupture or erosion, creating a thrombogenic stenosis. To measure and model this situation, collagen-coated stenoses have been exposed to nonanticoagulated blood in a baboon ex vivo shunt. The maximum rate of platelet accumulation, measured using a gamma camera, was highest in the throat region of moderate and severe stenoses, and increased with increasing stenosis severity. A species transport model of platelet accumulation was developed, which included mechanisms of convection, shear-enhanced diffusion, near-wall platelet concentration, and a kinetic model of platelet activation and aggregation. The model accurately reproduced the average spatial pattern and time rate of platelet accumulation in the upstream and throat regions of the stenosis, where shear-enhanced diffusivity increased platelet transport in the stenosis throat. Downstream of the throat where flow is complicated by recirculation, the model computed a transport-limited region with lower than measured platelet accumulation, suggesting that fluid-phase platelet activation may significantly affect both transport and adhesion rates in the poststenotic region. This model may provide an initial quantitative estimate of the likelihood of occlusive thrombus in individual patients due to plaque erosion, artery spasm, incomplete angioplasty, or plaque rupture. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Spatial dynamics for lattice differential equations with a shifting habitat

We study a lattice differential equation model that describes the growth and spread of a species in a shifting habitat. We show that the long term behavior of solutions depends on the speed of the shifting habitat edge c and a number c ⁎ (∞) c ⁎ ( ∞ ) that is determined by the maximum linearized growth rate and the diffusion coefficient. We demonstrate that if c>c ⁎ (∞) c > c ⁎ ( ∞ ) then the species will become extinct in the habitat, and that if c ⁎ (∞) c c ⁎ ( ∞ ) then the species will persist and spread along the shifting habitat at the asymptotic spreading speed c ⁎ (∞) c ⁎ ( ∞ ) . For our purpose the solutions to the model are formulated in the form of integral equations involving modified Bessel functions, for which new asymptotic estimates are provided. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the classical Bessel functions are used to describe the solutions of lattice differential equations, and this approach possesses its own interest in further studying lattice differential equations.
Attitudinal and experiential correlates of anorgasmia

Twenty-four orgasmic and 10 anorgasmic women, ages 21-40, provided continuous self-report measures of sexual arousal while viewing explicit videotape segments depicting a variety of sexual activities. They also completed several questionnaires designed to assess sexual attitudes, knowledge, and guilt. As compared to the orgasmic women, the anorgasmic women reported (i) greater discomfort in communicating with a partner regarding only those sexual activities involving direct clitoral stimulation, (ii) more negative attitudes toward masturbation, (iii) greater endorsement of sex myths, and (iv) greater sex guilt. Contrary to expectations, the groups failed to differ significantly on either the frequency of use of any of the sexual activities depicted or on arousal to viewing these activities. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are explored.
Incorporating intelligence into structured radiology reports

The new standard for radiology reporting templates being developed through the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) and DICOM organizations defines the storage and exchange of reporting templates as Hypertext Markup Language version 5 (HTML5) documents. The use of HTML5 enables the incorporation of "dynamic HTML," in which documents can be altered in response to their content. HTML5 documents can employ JavaScript, the HTML Document Object Model (DOM), and external web services to create intelligent reporting templates. Several reporting templates were created to demonstrate the use of scripts to perform in-template calculations and decision support. For example, a template for adrenal CT was created to compute contrast washout percentage from input values of precontrast, dynamic postcontrast, and delayed adrenal nodule attenuation values; the washout value can used to classify an adrenal nodule as a benign cortical adenoma. Dynamic templates were developed to compute volumes and apply diagnostic criteria, such as those for determination of internal carotid artery stenosis. Although reporting systems need not use a web browser to render the templates or their contents, the use of JavaScript creates innumerable opportunities to construct highly sophisticated HTML5 reporting templates. This report demonstrates the ability to incorporate dynamic content to enhance the use of radiology reporting templates.
An Interview with Jean Hirons, CONSER Coordinator

Jean Hirons, Cooperative Online Serials (CONSER) Coordinator, retired June 30 from the Library of Congress after a career of over thirty years in libraries. Jean plans to begin a new career as a pastel painter. I spoke to Jean in May 2003 to get her views on CONSER's role in developing standards for cataloging electronic resources. Serials Review 2003; 29:233–236.
A Phased Array Antenna for Deep Space Communications

This paper describes a phased array antenna that has been studied for use as the next generation deep space network (DSN) for NASA. The DSN currently consists of large reflector antennas located approximately equidistant around the earth and provides communications and navigation services to the NASA science missions to the solar system planets. These individual antennas range in size from 34-m to 70-m. In the future, there have been proposals to replace these antennas with a phased array, each element of which would consist of smaller reflector antennas than currently used. The total aperture could be increased as required by future missions, with total future aperture up to or more than 10 times that of the current DSN total aperture. One possible architecture for this phased array antenna is described. A breadboard phased array was constructed to demonstrate this concept. The performance of the individual antenna elements and their corresponding subsystems, and the performance of the phased array signal combiner developed for this breadboard phased array is described.
Antenna‐coupled VOx thin‐film microbolometer array

Two-dimensional arrays of log-periodic antenna-coupled microbolometers were fabricated using VOx and Nb thin films as bolo- metric materials, which have different temperature coefficients of resis- tance. Noise, response, and angular characteristics of both types of mi- crobolometer arrays were measured and compared. VOx-based devices presented a 4.5 better response and 5.5 better signal-to-noise ratio than Nb-based devices. Radiation patterns show that a further increase in response can be obtained by better matching the VOx bolometer to the antenna elements. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 235-237, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11024
Electronic commerce adoption: an empirical study of small and medium US businesses

By combining two independent research streams, we examined the determinant factors of strategic value and adoption of electronic commerce as perceived by top managers in small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in the midwest region of the US. We proposed a research model that suggested three factors that have been found to be influential in previous research in the perception of strategic value of other information technologies: operational support, managerial productivity, and strategic decision aids. Inspired by the technology acceptance model and other relevant research in the area, we also identified four factors that influence electronic commerce adoption: organizational readiness, external pressure, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness. We hypothesized a causal link between the perceived strategic value of electronic commerce and electronic commerce adoption. To validate the research model, we collected data from top managers/owners of SME by using an Internet survey.
A study of the effect of chain length on nearest neighbour interactions of immobilized species

Abstract The effect of varying the length and hydrophobicity of the molecular tether that binds an indicator to a substrate was studied. The length or hydrophobicity of the tether may affect the characteristics of the immobilized indicator in several ways. Of primary interest in this study was the extent to which the tether characteristics control interactions between adjacent immobilized species. We investigated two straight-chain tethers of variable length and two branched-chained tethers of different hydrophobicities. For each of these systems, we investigated nearest neighbour interactions as a function of surface coverage. The extent of this interaction was determined by measuring the degree of coupling between adjacent immobilized aromatic diazonium ions. Our results suggest that nearest neighbour interactions between immobilized species in an aqueous environment are controlled primarily by the hydrophobicity of the tether.
A model for the bio-oxidation process which incorporates the viability concept

Abstract A modification of the unified model for bio-oxidation is proposed wherein the viability of the culture depends upon the mean cell residence time. This is accomplished through the incorporation of a first order cell death rate and the assumption that both viable and non-viable cells are lost from the system through decay. The model is compared to published viability data obtained with both pure cultures of bacteria and activated sludge and found to be capable of simulating the changes in viability within each system. Furthermore the model offers a plausible explanation for the recent observations of a variable biomass decay rate constant in activated sludge systems. The proposed model is consistent both with recent reports of the theoretical soundness of the total oxidation concept, and with the known build-up of non-viable biomass at long mean cell residence times. The significance of the model is discussed and it is concluded that it can foster a better understanding of observed phenomena and serve as an aid to designers and researchers.