cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas transport properties of polysulphones: 3. Comparison of tetramethyl-substituted bisphenols

Abstract The gas sorption and transport properties of a series of polysulphones with tetramethyl ring substitution are reported. The results for tetramethylhexafluorobisphenol A polysulphone (TMHFPSF) and tetramethylbisphenol F polysulphone (TMPSF-F) are compared to tetramethylbisphenol A polysulphone (TMPSF) and bisphenol A polysulphone (PSF). The effect of the substituents on chain mobility and chain packing has been related to the gas transport properties. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to judge chain mobility, while X-ray diffraction and free-volume calculations give information about chain packing. Permeability measurements were made for He, H2, O2, N2, CH4 and CO2 at 35°C over a range of pressures up to 20 atm. Sorption experiments were also done for N2, CH4 and CO2 under the same conditions. The permeability coefficients of the methyl-substituted polymers rank in the order TMHFPSF ⪢ TMPSF > TMPSF-F for all of the gases. This is the same order as the unsubstituted materials, hexafluorobisphenol A polysulphone (HFPSF), PSF and bisphenol F polysulphone (PSF-F), which suggests that the effects of tetramethyl substitution are somewhat additive with other structural modifications. Relative gas permeability values are in agreement with relative fractional free-volume values as well as with γ transition temperatures.
Medical services utilization and prognosis in Parkinson disease: a population-based study.

Objectives To investigate prognostic outcomes and utilization of medical services by patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and to identify predictors of such use. Patients and Methods Using the medical records linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified an incidence cohort of 89 PD cases (Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1979-1988) and a reference group of 89 subjects without PD of the same age and sex and from the same population. Both patients with PD and reference subjects were followed up historically by medical record review from onset of PD (or index year) through death, last contact with the system, or end of study. Results Patients with PD had significantly more physician consultations per year (median, 7.9 vs 5.9; P =.001) and more emergency department visits per year (median, 0.6 vs 0.4; P =.05) than did reference subjects. Response to dopaminergic medications and higher education predicted more physician consultations among patients. The PD patients used neuroleptics and antidepressants significantly more frequently than reference subjects. The risk of nursing home placement was significantly increased for PD patients compared with reference subjects (relative risk, 6.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.7-12.1; P>.001). Poor response to dopaminergic medications, lower education level, older age at onset of PD, and dementia predicted a shorter time between onset and nursing home placement among PD patients. Survival was significantly reduced in PD patients compared with reference subjects (relative risk, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.4; P>.001). Good response to dopaminergic medications, higher education, younger age at onset of PD, and absence of dementia predicted better survival among PD patients. Conclusions Patients with PD used outpatient and nursing home services more often than subjects without PD. Patients with PD also experienced a reduced survival time. Demographic and clinical characteristics influenced utilization patterns and outcomes.
Therapy outcome questions requiring control of credibility and treatment-generated expectancies*

The control of “nonspecific” treatment factors in behavior therapy has led to the frequent use of “attention-placebo” control procedures. Research has suggested that control procedures commonly used may be less credible and generate lower expectancies for improvement in the clients than do veridical treatments. This has created somewhat of a dilemma for outcome research. On the one hand, further work is needed to develop adequate control procedures. On the other hand, developing and implementing adequate control procedures raise tremendous conceptual, methodological, practical, and ethical problems. The problems may be addressed, in part, by examining research questions raised in outcome research and whether attention-placebo controls are needed. The present paper examines commonly investigated questions and their respective evaluation strategies. Attention-placebo control conditions appear to be essential for a relatively narrow set of questions, i.e., those pertaining to the mechanisms of treatment or the reasons for differences among separate treatments. These questions probably are most appropriately addressed in laboratory settings where highly controlled conditions can be implemented.
The Undergraduate “Consulting Classroom”: Field, Research, and Practicum Experiences

The use of field, research, and practicum experiences in the atmospheric and related sciences within higher education's under-graduate curriculum is not new. However, how such experiences are employed and integrated according to pedagogical principles and methods while providing authentic research experiences to the students beyond the capstone are more critical questions. The framework of the “Meteorological Instrumentation” course offered at Kean University in the context of the environmental sciences demonstrates the integration of the theoretical principles of atmospheric and environmental sciences with application in the classroom through field, research, and practicum settings. The course is topically focused on an overarching research project posed as a current issue or problem to be resolved, and choreographed through creation and management of a “consulting classroom” that provides a professional setting for cross-training. This simulation of a consulting environment during the semester requires ...
Krüppel-like factor 5 mediates the transforming activity of oncogenic H-Ras.

Previous studies indicate that Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), also known as intestinal-enriched Kruppel-like factor (IKLF), is a positive regulator of cell proliferation and gives rise to a transformed phenotype when overexpressed. Here we demonstrate that levels of KLF5 transcript and protein are significantly elevated in oncogenic H-Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells. These cells display an accelerated rate of proliferation in both serum-containing and serum-deprived media and form anchorage-independent colonies in soft agar assays. H-Ras-transformed cells also contain elevated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. When treated with inhibitors of MEK (MAPK kinase), H-Ras-transformed cells lose their growth advantage and no longer form colonies. Significantly, levels of KLF5 transcript and protein are substantially reduced in H-Ras-transformed cells treated with MEK inhibitors. Moreover, inhibition of KLF5 expression in H-Ras-transformed cells with KLF5-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) leads to a decreased rate of proliferation and a significant reduction in colony formation. H-Ras-transformed cells also contain elevated levels of Egr1 that are diminished by MEK inhibitors. Inhibition of Egr1 by siRNA results in a reduced level of KLF5, indicating that Egr1 mediates the inductive action of MAPK on KLF5. Lastly, KLF5 activates expression of cyclin D1. These findings indicate that the increased expression of KLF5 in H-Ras-transformed cells is secondary to increased MAPK activity from H-Ras overexpression and that the elevated level of KLF5 is in part responsible for the proproliferative and transforming activities of oncogenic H-Ras.
Identification and partial characterization of sperm receptor associated with the newly formed fertilization envelope from sea urchin eggs

Abstract Prior studies from this laboratory have identified a proteoglycan-like component of high molecular weight from the surface of the egg of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus that serves as a receptor for sperm. In the present study, a glycoconjugate has been isolated from uncrosslinked fertilization envelopes prepared from eggs activated by treatment with ionophore. Based on its high molecular weight (greater than 5 × 10 6 ) and its ability to inhibit fertilization by acrosome-reacted sperm, this glycoconjugate has the properties of the previously described sperm receptor. Components of the fertilization envelope of lower molecular weight (less than 10 6 ) showed little or no ability to inhibit fertilization.
Global dimensions of right coherent rings with left Krull dimension

The weak global dimension of a right coherent ring with left Krull dimension α ≥ 1 is found to be the supremum of the weak dimensions of the β-critical cyclic modules, where β < α. If, in addition, the mapping I → assl gives a bijection between isomorphism classes on injective left R-modules and prime ideals of R, then the weak global dimension of R is the supremum of the weak dimensions of the simple left R-modules. These results are used to compute the left homological dimension of a right coherent, left noetherian ring. Some analogues of our results are also given for rings with Gabriel dimension.
Perceptual Negativity Predicts Greater Reactivity to Negative Events in Daily Life

Reinforcement sensitivity theory includes the idea that people differ in their sensitivity to negative events, but relevant process-based assessments have not been developed. The present studies assessed sensitivity to negative events in terms of the extent to which negative word stimuli were perceived to be larger than neutral word stimuli. There was a general tendency to overestimate the size of negative relative to neutral words, but individuals differed substantially in this form of what is termed perceptual negativity. Of more importance, two studies (total N = 151) found systematic relationships between individual differences in perceptual negativity and reactivity to negative events in daily diary protocols. Study 1 found that within-person variations in the occurrence of daily negative events undermined goal-related optimism to a greater extent at higher, relative to lower, levels of perceptual negativity. Study 2 conceptually replicated this interaction in the context of within-person associations between the occurrence of daily negative events and antisocial behavior. These findings are important in advancing reinforcement sensitivity theory, in operationalizing a particular component of it, and in extending it to reactivity processes in daily life.
A practical multigram-scale synthesis of allo-inositol

Abstract allo -Inositol was prepared on a multigram scale starting with bromobenzene in seven steps by three different cis -dihydroxylations (enzymatic, OsO 4 and RuO 4 catalyzed) employed in tandem.
A dynamical approach to chemical kinetics: mass-action laws as generalized Riccati equations.

It is shown how the fundamental laws of chemical kinetics for either open or closed systems with an arbitrarily large number of reactants can be represented as a system of Riccati-like differential equations. Through the use of a concise tensor notation, it is shown when and how the differential system is exactly reducible to linear form, a reduction without approximation that parallels the well-known similar reduction of a single simle Riccati equation. An example is worked out to show how open kinetics can lead to oscillatory chemical concentrations of the Change-Higgins type. The biologically central problem of great chemical speciation is discussed from the viewpoint of Gibbs ensemble theory within the linearized kinetics and, approximately, within the starting nonlinear kinetics where it is shown roughly how to estimate, from an overall temperature-like parameter characterizing the whole system, mean chemical levels and mean frequencies of oscillation, and where a gross oscillation of the total mass is estimated in terms of an anharmonic oscillator whose general structure is fixed from the structure of the chemical kinetic laws.
Paleolithospheric structure revealed by continental geoid anomalies

Abstract Lithospheric geoid anomalies record changes in elevation and potential energy experienced by continental lithosphere. Estimates of local isostatic equilibration and potential energy, in tandem with lithosphere-related geoid anomalies, can be used to estimate paleolithospheric thickness, providing a clearer understanding of how and why continental topography is developed. We employ several simplifying assumptions about the crustal and mantle lithosphere density and structure (and readily acknowledge that our results are therefore first-order approximations) to predict the pre-orogenic structure of the lithosphere. At the outset we emphasize that while this approach does not provide an exhaustive evaluation of the deformation mechanism, it does serve to quantify the relative role played by the variations in the crustal and upper mantle components of the lithosphere. In this way we are able to use independent measurement of lithospheric geoid anomalies, current (post-orogenic) elevation and lithospheric structure, and paleoelevation information to estimate topographic development and structural support over time. Application of this technique to the southwestern United States indicates that the uplift of the Colorado Plateau is the result of processes in both the crust and mantle lithosphere and that the lithosphere of the pre-orogenic Southern Basin and Range was thinned relative to the Northern Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau. Although we use the southwestern U.S. as an example, this method can help constrain uplift mechanisms for any region for which the structure and geoid anomaly of the modern lithosphere is well understood.
Oxygen affinity of sea turtle blood

The oxygen binding properties of whole blood in adult sea turtles (green, Chelonia mydas; loggerhead, Caretta caretta) were measured as a function of pH, and carbon dioxide partial pressure using the 'Hemoscan Oxygen Dissociation Analyser' with modifications that improved the performance of the method. Under approximately physiological conditions (25.7 degrees C, PCO2 = 37 Torr; pH 7.45) there is a marked affinity difference between the two species (green, P50 = 29 Torr; loggerhead, 47 Torr). It is suggested that the large affinity difference between blood of green and loggerhead turtles may be related to differences in depths to which they typically dive. The Hill coefficient at 50% saturation is 2.4 in the green under these conditions, and 2.7 in loggerhead. Hill plots of both species curve upward and have significant regions with n approaching 1 at low saturation with the effect that the lower end of the binding curve is more hyperbolic than sigmoidal. The fixed acid and CO2 Bohr effects in both species are strongly saturation dependent, being very low at low saturation and increasing markedly at higher saturation. The fixed acid Bohr effects are similar in the two species but the green is more sensitive to CO2, at constant pH, and so has a larger CO2 Bohr effect. The hyperbolic shape of the lower end of the binding curves, and low pH sensitivity in this region, would tend to favor oxygen loading during a dive, when lung PO2 and blood pH are falling. These properties might therefore favor more complete utilization of the lung oxygen store. We suggest that diving vertebrates can usefully be divided into two groups, those that use the lung as the main oxygen stores and those that use tissue (blood and myoglobin) stores.
Relaxation Training in Treating Recurrent Non-Malignant Pediatric Headaches

Recurrent migraine and tension headache is a common somatic complaint which often begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. Until recently, this has been an under-researched area in children and adolescents. Medical and behavioral management approaches for these headaches will be discussed in this paper with the conclusion that relaxation training appears to be a promising treatment intervention. Specific guidelines for relaxation training and the role of the treating physical or occupational therapist are offered.
Familial, Balanced Insertional Translocation of Chromosome 7 Leading to Offspring with Deletion and Duplication of the Inserted Segment, 7p15 → 7p21

We report an uncle and niece with duplication and deletion, respectively, of segment 7p15 leads to 7p21 originating from a balanced, intrachromosomal insertion in their mothers. The proposita had prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, retarded psychomotor development, microcephaly, wide cranial sutures, ocular hypertelorism, small palpebral fissures, apparently low-set and malformed ears, cleft palate, congenital heart defect, hypoplasia of the distal phalanx of first fingers, rocker-bottom feet, persistent cloaca, and imperforate anus. She died at three months. Her maternal uncle has duplication of this segment and is alive at 32 years. He has severe mental deficiency, but normal growth; communicating hydrocephalus was diagnosed at three months.
Electromagnetic Stimulation of Two-Phase Transport in Water for Geoenvironmental Applications

Air sparging is a popular remediation technology for contaminated soils. However, the application is not efficient due to the limitations of airflow that result from the formation of random preferential air channels. Controlling the formation of these air channels and enhancing diffusion surrounding them can considerably improve the effectiveness of air sparging. This work is a study on how electromagnetic (EM) waves—without a measureable increase in temperature—enhance the transport of a nonreactive dye in water as a visible analogy of air sparging (i.e., airflow within groundwater). This paper explains the details of the experimental setup and procedures required to conduct the EM-stimulation experiment as well as electric-field mapping and digital imaging of dye transport for the purpose of digital visual analysis. Several antenna designs and the way they direct the transport mechanism are studied. The results of EM-stimulation tests with no measureable temperature increase show that EM waves enhance and direct the dye transport in accordance with the EM source (transmitting antenna) and its radiation pattern. The rate of transport of the dye is studied and compared for unstimulated and EM-stimulated tests. Because of the small size of the dye molecules and existence of an alternating electric field, dielectrophoresis is the most likely potential transport mechanism. However, the existence of other competing factors dominating dielectrophoresis interferes with this type of study. Future modifications in the experimental design seem to have the potential to improve the investigation of the transport phenomenon.
Effect of different tacrolimus levels on early outcomes after kidney transplantation.

Background There is a paucity of modern data on the impact of high tacrolimus levels early after kidney transplantation. Material/methods This study analyzed the impact of various trough levels of tacrolimus in the first 2 weeks post-transplant on rates of delayed graft function (DGF), length of stay (LoS), hyperkalemia, hyperglycemia, and biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) rates in the first 3 months post-transplant in a retrospective single-center cohort of patients. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the average of two highest 12-hour trough tacrolimus levels: 15 ng/mL. Results The incidence of DGF was noted to be significantly higher in the 15 ng/mL and the 12-15 ng/mL tacrolimus groups as compared to the 10-12 ng/mL group (49%, 25% and 4%, respectively, p≤0.0001). Mean LoS was also noted to be significantly higher in the >15 ng/mL tacrolimus group as compared to the 10-12 ng/mL group (7.4 days and 6.1 days respectively, p=0.0007). There was no difference in the rates of hyperkalemia, hyperglycemia or BPAR. Conclusions This is a modern confirmation of the association between higher tacrolimus levels early after kidney transplantation and increased rate of DGF and increased LoS.
Adaptive neuro-control for spacecraft attitude control

Abstract Spacecraft attitude control is approached as a nonlinear adaptive control problem and neuro-control, which combines concepts from artificial neural networks and adaptive control, is investigated as an alternative to linear control approaches. Three capabilities of neuro-controllers are demonstrated using a nonlinear model of the Space Station Freedom. These capabilities are: (a) synthesis of robust nonlinear controllers using neural networks; (b) copying an existing control law using neural networks; and (c) adaptively modifying neuro-controller characteristics for varying inertia characteristics. The main components of the adaptive neuro-controllers are an identification network and a controller network. Both these networks are trained using the back-propagation of error learning paradigm. To ensure robustness of the neuro-controller, optimally connected neural networks are synthesized for the identification and the controller networks. For the on-line adaptive control problem, a backpropagation of error technique using a linear adaptive critic is introduced in place of the backpropagation through time technique. Performances of the nonlinear neuro-controllers for the three cases listed above are verified using a nonlinear simulation of the Space Station. Results presented substantiate the feasibility of using neural networks in robust nonlinear adaptive control of spacecraft.
The role of religious beliefs and practices on emerging adults' perceived competencies, perceived importance ratings, and global self-worth

Although religious participation declines during emerging adulthood (18 years through middle 20s), most emerging adults still claim that their religious beliefs are important to them. However, little research has been conducted to examine the role that religious beliefs and practices may play in the development of self-perceptions during emerging adulthood. This study investigated: (1) the extent to which perceived competence and importance ratings of competence varied as a function of religious beliefs and practices as well as gender; and (2) the relationship between self-discrepancies in domains of importance and global self-worth as a function of the two religious factors and gender. Findings from responses of 232 university students revealed that perceived competence, perceived importance ratings, and the effect of success or failure in domains of importance on self-worth all differed based upon both religious factors and one's gender. The results underscore the importance that religiosity plays in th...
Time of antibody absorption in neonatal foals

During the first several weeks of life, the foal has virtually no immunity against pathogenic organisms except for what has been obtained through the colostrum from the mare. The colostrum produced by the mare should contain antibodies (generally immunoglobulins of type G IgG) against environmental pathogens and conditions against which the mare was vaccinated. However, the concentration of IgG in colostrum, and the foal’s ability to absorb these immunoglobulins decrease rapidly in the first day following foaling.1 It has been suggested that foals may not obtain sufficient serum antibodies due to low colostral IgG concentration, failure of the foal to ingest a sufficient amount of colostrum, or failure to absorb sufficient amounts of IgG due to delayed colostral intake.1 Many references recommend that foal serum IgG be determined when the foal is 18-24 hours of age to determine the possibility of failure of passive transfer.1,2,3 Failure of passive transfer (FPT) has been defined as 200 mg but 800 mg/dl to insure adequate protection.1,5 Additionally, Lewis suggests that foals greater than 12-16 hours of age can no longer absorb significant amounts of IgG from the
Time horizon in distributed object societies

In a distributed system, it takes time for a software event to reach remote clients. In the same sense as used in physics, only when the event had reached the time horizon of a client, client becomes aware of it. Using this metaphor , we have developed a simple yet powerful model for software components to get back in sync after interruptions. The ideas described in this paper have been implemented on En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) program, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) effort aimed at replacing the aging en route assets and planting a seed for the many future enhancements that the projected increase in air traffic requires. In many ways, this paper is a compendium to another paper at this same conference titled Publisher Framework (PFW), because it is within the auspices of PFW that these ideas have been implemented.
Adverse effects of corticosteroids: I. Topical and intralesional.

Abstract Topical corticosteroids may have adverse systemic effects and/or adverse local effects. Many of the adverse reactions seen with topical corticosteroids are related to their potency. Thus, side effects may frequently be avoided by using low-potency topical agents. Generally, fluorinated steroids are more potent than nonfluorinated steroids.
CIVIL: support geo-collaboration with information visualization

Teams of specialized experts, such as emergency management planning teams, while making decisions need to efficiently pool domain-specific knowledge, synthesize relevant information, and keep track of collaborators activities at a low interaction cost. This requires tools that allow monitoring both low-level information (e.g., individual actions and external events) and higher-order activities (e.g., how members contribute to groupwork). This paper presents design of CIVIL, a system prototype developed to support map-based decision-making. We report our empirical evaluation of the effects of visualizations on the decision process and the final product.
Common genetic variation within IGFI, IGFII, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 and endometrial cancer risk.

Abstract Objective. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway plays a critical role in the growth and development of the uterus and is believed to function as a mediator of steroid hormone actions in the endometrium. The local expression of genes encoding IGFs and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) is important in determining IGF bioactivity in the uterus. Genetic variation in key genes within the IGF pathway may influence the rate of cellular proliferation and differentiation in the uterus and ultimately affect the risk of endometrial cancer. Our hypothesis is that variant alleles in key genes involved in the IGF pathway will influence the development of endometrial cancer. Methods. We conducted a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Women's Health Study (WHS) to investigate the association between forty-four polymorphisms within IGFI, IGFII, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 with endometrial cancer risk using 692 invasive endometrial cancer cases and 1723 matched controls. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the risk of endometrial cancer. Results. We observed an inverse association with IGFII rs3741211 and endometrial cancer risk (OR=0.79 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.99)) and IGFII rs1004446 and endometrial cancer risk (OR=0.80 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.94)). We also observed an inverse association with IGFBP-3 rs2453839 and endometrial cancer risk (OR=0.81 (95%CI: 0.67, 0.98). However, we did not observe any statistically significant associations with the polymorphisms in IGFI and IGFBP1 and endometrial cancer risk. Conclusions. Genetic variation with IGFII and IGFBP-3 may influence endometrial cancer risk in Caucasians. Polymorphisms in IGFI and IGFBP-1 were not associated with endometrial cancer risk, but further research is needed.
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing: an assessment of genetic counselors' knowledge and beliefs.

Purpose: Direct-to-consumer genetic testing is a new means of obtaining genetic testing outside of a traditional clinical setting. This study assesses genetic counselors' experience, knowledge, and beliefs regarding direct-to-consumer genetic testing for tests that would currently be offered in genetics clinics. Methods: Members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors completed a web-administered survey in February 2008. Results: Response rate was 36%; the final data analysis included 312 respondents. Eighty-three percent of respondents had two or fewer inquiries about direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and 14% had received requests for test interpretation or discussion. Respondents believed that genetic counselors have a professional obligation to be knowledgeable about direct-to-consumer genetic testing (55%) and interpret results (48%). Fifty-one percent of respondents thought genetic testing should be limited to a clinical setting; 56% agreed direct-to-consumer genetic testing is acceptable if genetic counseling is provided. More than 70% of respondents would definitely or possibly consider direct-to-consumer testing for patients who (1) have concerns about genetic discrimination, (2) want anonymous testing, or (3) have geographic constraints. Conclusions: Results indicate that genetic counselors have limited patient experiences with direct-to-consumer genetic testing and are cautiously considering if and under what circumstances this approach should be used.
Linking Leader Skills, Follower Attitudes, and Contextual Variables via an Integrated Model of Charismatic Leadership

A charismatic leadership model consisting of leader social and emotional skills, follower openness to organizational change, and organizational-change magnitude was tested using data from 108 leaders and 325 direct followers in 64 organizations. Leader social control and emotional expressivity skills predicted charismatic leadership whereas follower openness to change mediated the relationship between charismatic leadership and leadership effectiveness. Surprisingly, organizational-change magnitude did not moderate the relationship between charismatic leadership and leadership effectiveness. Implications for leadership theory, practice, and future research are discussed.
Presenting blood pressure in traumatic brain injury: a bimodal distribution of death.

Background:Recent research explores the relationship between vital signs on arrival to the emergency department and early outcomes. This work has not included traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to evaluate the relationship of the initial emergency department systolic blood pressure (EDSBP) with
Quantitative analysis and paleoecology of the Secor Coal and roof-shale floras (Middle Pennsylvanian, Oklahoma)

The Secor Coal of Oklahoma (Boggy Formation, lower Desmoinesian/Westphalian D equivalent) is one of the few coals discovered, to date, in which Anabathra pulcherrima (=Paralycopodites brevifolius) was a dominant element. Anabathra and Lepidophloios define the major assemblages in the coal, which also contains elements of medullosan pteridosperms and Cardiocarpus spinatus producing cordaites. The Lepidophloios to Medullosa gradient is not obscured by the numerous Anabathra-dominated zones, and a disturbance element is suggested in association with Anabathra abundance. Comparison of the coal-ball flora with a clastic-compression flora from the roof of the coal reveals widely divergent patterns of dominance and diversity. The compression flora is strongly dominated by medullosan pteridosperms with subdominant marattialean tree ferns. As in most instances, the compression flora from the immediate roof of the coal is not an accurate representation of the peat-forming vegetation, at either the level of species composition or the relative abundance of major groups of plants. The swamp and surrounding clastic deltaic environments were edaphically distinct and supported separate floras between which there was limited species exchange.
Is there a need for health care rationing

Rising expenditures on health care have become a major cause for public concern. Attention focuses on the level of expenditures and the increasing share they take of GNP, but for most Americans, the real issue is not how much society spends, but what it gets for the money. There are several ways in which it could be said that the United States fails to get full value for the dollars spent on health care. Some care does not benefit, or even harms, those who receive it. Some care is beneficial but could be produced with fewer resources. Some care is efficiently produced and yields benefits, but the benefits are not worth their cost. And finally, despite the system's cost, many people are excluded from it and thus fail to receive care of great benefit. The need to address the problem of wasteful care is relatively uncontroversial. Everyone agrees that it would be desirable to eliminate care of no benefit and to produce beneficial care as efficiently as possible. There is also a growing consensus that steps must be taken soon to improve access. There is far less agreement on what, if anything, needs to be done about care whose benefits are not worth their cost. The public's limited understanding of this issue is an obstacle to good health policy. Meaningful debate about health care reform must include open and informed discussion of the extent to which different reform proposals will restrict beneficial care, how they will do it, and how well the results will reflect the preferences and values of the© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis.

Three cases of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIP) are described and the literature reviewed. We conclude that EIP is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by dilatation of the esophageal submucosal glandular elements. The classic radiographic picture which is that of collar-button-shaped outpouchings projecting in a perpendicular fashion from the luminal surface is mainly related to dilatation in the glandular ductal system. It is usually diagnosed in the sixth and seventh decades, but all ages may be affected. Dysphagia is a very common but not universal symptom of the disease process. Approximately one third of these patients have diabetes mellitus. Strictures of the esophagus are frequently seen, and varying degrees of esophagitis may be manifest endoscopically. Esophageal motility disturbances are common and may be severe.Candida infestation with and without tissue invasion has been seen in a number of patients and should be searched for in all cases of EIP.
Object-free adaptive meshing in highly heterogeneous 3-D domains

Traditional approaches to the generation of finite element meshes are well suited for modeling the homogeneous or mildly heterogeneous domains presented by man-made objects, but are difficult to apply to the complex 3-D domains encountered in some biomedical applications. In this paper, we describe an adaptive algorithm that automates the modeling of these domains. The method differs from traditional approaches in that no explicit description is required of the boundaries between objects with dissimilar material properties. The algorithm uses images of the tissue class to build irregular meshes, and continuity is enforced by constraining the solution at irregular nodes. Local estimates of the error in the flux solution are used to refine the mesh. For an analytic problem with a rapid change along a spherical boundary, the adaptive method converges to a 1% voltage error using 25% of the degrees of freedom required by a uniform refinement, and to a 5% voltage gradient error using 11% of the degrees of freedom. For a defibrillation model in a pig thorax, the voltage gradient solution in the ventricles of the heart converges to within 5% of a uniform mesh solution using less than 8% of the memory and processing resources required by a uniform mesh, which has been the only practical alternative for subject-specific modeling.
A fully nonlinear Boussinesq model in generalized curvilinear coordinates

Abstract Based on the fully nonlinear Boussinesq equations in Cartesian coordinates, the equations in generalized coordinates are derived to adapt computations to irregularly shaped shorelines, such as harbors, bays and tidal inlets, and to make computations more efficient in large near-shore regions. Contravariant components of velocity vectors are employed in the derivation instead of the normal components in curvilinear coordinates or original components in Cartesian coordinates, which greatly simplifies the equations in generalized curvilinear coordinates. A high-order finite difference scheme with staggered grids in the image domain is adopted in the numerical model. The model is applied to five examples involving curvilinear coordinate systems. The results of these cases are in good agreement with analytical results, experimental data, and the results from the uniform grid model, which shows that the model has good accuracy and efficiency in dealing with the computations of nonlinear surface gravity waves in domains with complicated geometries.
Mixed-Handedness and Achievement Test Scores of Grade School Children:

Normal Curve Equivalent Scores on subtests of the California Achievement Test for mixed-handed children, 52 boys and 58 girls from Grades 3 and 4, who are right- and left-handed writers, indicate no differences by handedness in girls, but among the mixed-handed fourth grade boys, those who wrote right-handed scored lower on Study Skills than the boys who wrote left-handed.
Asthma medication adherence among urban teens: a qualitative analysis of barriers, facilitators and experiences with school-based care

AbstractObjective: Teens with persistent asthma do not always receive daily preventive medications or do not take them as prescribed, despite established clinical guidelines. The purpose of this study was to understand urban teens’ experiences with asthma management, preventive medication adherence and participation in a school-based intervention. Methods: Teens (12–15 years) with persistent asthma, and prescribed preventive medication, participated in a pilot study that included daily observed medication therapy at school and motivational interviewing. Semi-structured interviews occurred at final survey. Qualitative content analysis enabled data coding to identify themes. Results: Themes were classified as “general asthma management” or “program-specific.” For general management, routines were important, while hurrying interfered with taking medications. Forgetfulness was most commonly linked to medication nonadherence. Competing demands related to school preparedness and social priorities were barriers ...
Assessing marketing risk

Abstract A model for assessing the risks specific to a marketing strategy is developed and applied to data generated by executive decisions made in the Markstrat environment. The specific risks of a marketing strategy are those associated with changes in primary demand and market share. The riskiness and profitability of different strategies are assessed statistically. Primary-demand risk and return on investments are found to be positively correlated. More volatile, risky, market segments yield higher average returns. The strong temptation to harvest market share is isolated in the positive correlation between harvesting risk and rate of return. The pressure not to build long-term positions is found in the high negative correlation between building risk and return on investments. Overall, the model successfully explains risk-taking behavior in the Markstrat environment, and offers theoretical direction for future research in the real world.
The effects of feeding on heart activity in the terrestrial slug, Limax maximus : central and peripheral control

The role of the central nervous system (CNS) in the modulation of heart activity induced by feeding was investigated in the terrestrial slug,Limax maximus. Intact slugs and semi-intact preparations were used to examine the effects of food, non-nutritive bulk, digestive tract distension, and the concentration of hemolymph glucose on the control of heart activity. The heart rate of intact slugs increased following ingestion of food or nonnutritive bulk and in response to injections of glucose. The heart rate of semi-intact preparations increased in response to gradual crop inflation and to perfusion of the heart with a glucose solution for longer than 30 min. The present results indicate that the increase in heart rate observed in intact slugs following a meal is mediated in part by the CNS and in part is a direct response of the heart musculature. The CNS mediates an immediate response to proprioceptive input from stretch of the crop while the heart musculature responds directly to increased hemolymph glucose concentration following ingestion of food.
Careful planning created the Society for Neuroscience.

The description of the origins of the Society for Neuroscience in the News Focus article “Neuroscience meeting draws crowds, gripes, loyalty” by Laura Helmuth (27 Oct., p. [698][1]) suggests trivial beginnings for the society. Helmuth refers to how crowded the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology meetings in Atlantic City, New Jersey, had become in the late 1960s and says the resulting difficulties (getting a hotel room, finding someplace to eat) “[were] enough to make the neurophysiologists in the meeting decide to split off and look for someplace a little more private.” But this was by no means a major factor leading to the society's founding in 1969. At least a year of discussion and debate occurred regarding the ground swell under way for new experimental approaches to research problems in brain and behavior. Those deliberations took place at the quarterly meetings of the Committee on Brain Sciences of the National Research Council and resulted in tapping one of its members, Ralph Gerard, to assess the feasibility and, if warranted, to implement the formation of a new organization dedicated to promotion of this broad, interdisciplinary biomedical field. The outcome was articulated by Helmuth's quotations from various neuroscientists in high positions about the creation of the spectacularly successful organization. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.290.5492.698
Heparan Sulfate-Binding Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Enters Cells via Caveola-Mediated Endocytosis

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) utilizes different cell surface macromolecules to facilitate infection of cultured cells. Virus, which is virulent for susceptible animals, infects cells via four members of the αV subclass of cellular integrins. In contrast, tissue culture adaptation of some FMDV serotypes results in the loss of viral virulence in the animal, accompanied by the loss of virus' ability to use integrins as receptors. These avirulent viral variants acquire positively charged amino acids on surface-exposed structural proteins, resulting in the utilization of cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) molecules as receptors. We have recently shown that FMDV serotypes utilizing integrin receptors enter cells via a clathrin-mediated mechanism into early endosomes. Acidification within the endosome results in a breakdown of the viral capsid, releasing the RNA, which enters the cytoplasm by a still undefined mechanism. Since there is evidence that HS internalizes bound ligands via a caveola-mediated mechanism, it was of interest to analyze the entry of FMDV by cell-surface HS. Using a genetically engineered variant of type O1Campos (O1C3056R) which can utilize both integrins and HS as receptors and a second variant (O1C3056R-KGE) which can utilize only HS as a receptor, we followed viral entry using confocal microscopy. After virus bound to cells at 4°C, followed by a temperature shift to 37°C, type O1C3056R-KGE colocalized with caveolin-1, while O1C3056R colocalized with both clathrin and caveolin-1. Compounds which either disrupt or inhibit the formation of lipid rafts inhibited the replication of O1C3056R-KGE. Furthermore, a caveolin-1 knockdown by RNA interference also considerably reduced the efficiency of O1C3056R-KGE infection. These results indicate that HS-binding FMDV enters the cells via the caveola-mediated endocytosis pathway and that caveolae can associate and traffic with endosomes. In addition, these results further suggest that the route of FMDV entry into cells is a function solely of the viral receptor.
Behavior Modification and Child Abuse and Neglect Current Status and Future Directions

Clinical research on child abuse and neglect has truly come into its own in the past decade. Although child maltreatment has been a recognized phenomenon for almost 30 years, only recently has empirical attention been focused on remedial interventions. Behavior therapy has been in the forefront of this endeavor
Polarized light scattering by aerosols in the marine atmospheric boundary layer.

The intensity and polarization of light scattered from marine aerosols affect visibility and contrast in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL). The polarization properties of scattered light in the MABL vary with size, refractive index, number distributions, and environmental conditions. Laboratory measurements were used to determine the characteristics and variability of the polarization of light scattered by aerosols similar to those in the MABL. Scattering from laboratory-generated sea-salt-containing (SSC) [NaCl, (NH4)2SO4, and seawater] components of marine aerosols was measured with a scanning polarization-modulated nephelometer. Mie theory with Gaussian and log normal size distributions of spheres was used to calculate the polarized light scattering from various aerosol composition models and from experimentally determined distributions of aerosols in the marine boundary layer. The modeling was verified by comparison with scattering from distilled water aerosols. The study suggests that polarimetric techniques can be used to enhance techniques for improving visibility and remote imaging for various aerosol types, Sun angles, and viewing conditions.
Culture and information manipulation theory: The effects of self‐construal and locus of benefit on information manipulation

This paper offers a preliminary exploration into how culture and cultural orientation influence the perception of deceptive messages. Information manipulation theory (IMF) posits that covert violations of Grice's four conversational maxims give rise to messages that are functionally deceptive. This study (N = 323) attempted to replicate previous IMT results regarding the perceptions of information manipulation in an academic situation, and with a culturally diverse sample. Locus of benefit (self and other) was manipulated, and the respondents’ self‐construal was assessed. Previous IMT findings were replicated, and the effects for self‐construal on honesty ratings varied considerably by manipulation type. Explanations for these findings are provided, as are suggestions for future research.
Doubts about the role of the locus coeruleus in learning and the phosphorylation mechanism engaged in the cerebellum

Doubts about the role of the locus coeruleus in learning and the phosphorylation mechanism engaged in the cerebellum