cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parametrizing and fitting bounded algebraic curves and surfaces

An approach to fitting of implicit algebraic curves and surfaces to point data is introduced. Two families of polynomials with bounded zero sets are presented. Members of these families have the same number of degrees of freedom as general polynomials of the same degree. Methods for fitting members of these families of polynomials to measured data points are described. Experimental results for sets of points in R/sup 2/ and R/sup 3/ for curves and surfaces, respectively, are presented. >
Rebuilding Railroad Engineering Education in the United States with Industry-University Partnerships

Because of the growing volume of freight traffic, the increasing interest in intercity and in urban passenger rail, and the escalated retirement among industry professionals, the rail industry has been returning to university campuses in search of future leaders. In so doing, the industry has discovered that today's universities are a challenging environment in which to recruit because most of them eliminated railroad engineering from their curricula many years ago and graduates are not familiar with the rail industry. A research study at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) assessed whether greater participation by universities would help to encourage students to pursue rail careers. Surveys targeting industry managers, recently hired engineering graduates, and university professors were used to define the demand and supply for university engineering graduates and to determine the effect on students' career choices from pregraduation exposure to rail topics. The results indicated a high dema...
Production Theory of Land Rent

The production theory of land rent (PTLR) contributes to knowledge of the spatial distribution of production activities. The PTLR is a general theory of a multidimensional commercial landscape. The PTLR is a heuristic model that provides explanation and trajectory for the spatial pattern of commercial land use, land value, density, capital used, labor wages, and level of employment.
Work and home stress: associations with anxiety and depression symptoms

Background In the evolving work environment of global competition, the associations between work and home stress and psychological well-being are not well understood. Aims To examine the impact of psychosocial stress at work and at home on anxiety and depression. Methods In medically healthy employed men and women (aged 30-60), serial regression analyses were used to determine the independent association of psychosocial stress at work and at home with depression symptoms, measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and anxiety symptoms, measured using the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Psychosocial stress at work was measured using the Job Content Questionnaire to assess job psychological demands, job control, job social support and job insecurity. Psychosocial stress at home was assessed by 12 questions including stress at home, personal problems, family demands and feelings about home life. Results Serial regression analyses in 129 subjects revealed that job insecurity and home stress were most strongly associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Job insecurity accounted for 9% of the variation both in BDI-II scores and in STAI scores. Home stress accounted for 13 and 17% of the variation in BDI-II scores and STAI scores, respectively. In addition, job social support was significantly and independently associated with STAI scores but not BDI-II scores. Conclusions Work and home stress were associated with anxiety and depression symptoms in both men and women. Both work and home stress should be considered in studies evaluating anxiety and depression in working populations.
Patterns of authorship in major bibliographic databases: The European region

European authorship trends in fifteen major scientific and technical bibliographic databases on the DIALOG information system are examined for works published between 1970 and 1990. There was an increasing number of records with European authors in 21% of the data set. In 6%, an overall decline was found. In 52%, authorship increased into the 1980's, and then declined. The most heavily represented countries were the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Overall, with the exception of MEDLINE, BIOSIS, and INSPEC, coverage of the works of European authors has been declining over the past twenty years, and particularly so in the last five.
TEACHING CULTURAL COMPETENCE: AN INNOVATIVE STRATEGY GROUNDED IN THE UNIVERSALITY OF STORYTELLING AS DEPICTED IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STORYTELLING TRADITIONS

Social workers serve a varied population. Therefore, exemplary social work practice requires a depth of knowledge and skills that cut across diverse cultural contexts. Because of the universal characteristics of storytelling, this article proposes the use of storytelling as a viable conduit and instructional strategy for teaching cultural competence in schools of social work. By investigating the content, structure, and process of storytelling among, between, and across cultural groups, social work students will be able to develop and integrate an awareness, sensitivity, understanding, and appreciation for the experiential realities of diverse client groups.
Analysis and treatment of hemifacial microsomia

In the late forties, Braithwaite and Watson [1] reported this condition but it was not until the early sixties, that Gorlin and Pindborg provided a detailed description of hemifacial microsomia [2]. This complex and variable congenital anomaly involves the first and second brachial arches and the nasal placode. Usually it is unilateral, but in 5–15% it can be bilateral. A similar condition is Goldenhar’s syndrome, which is craniofacial microsomia and although other names have been coined, e.g. the first and second brachial arch syndrome, lateral facial dysplasia, facial auricular vertebral deformity, ocular auricular vertebral dysplasia and unilateral otomandibular dysostosis. Most cases are sporadic although autosomal dominant and recessive conditions have been reported. The syndrome has many features. In the ear area, there may be a microtia or preauricular abnormalities, and these can vary from severe to mild. There also may be cardiac or renal problems and deformity of the skeleton other than the facial skeleton. Goldenhar’s syndrome is characterized by the presence of epibulbar dermoids and involvement of the cervical spine, some patients have ear appendages. In terms of the hereditary aspect, this condition can occur in 1:5500 live births [3]. The full fledged Goldenhar’s syndrome, however, is seen only in 10% of cases. There have been many theories put forward as to why this condition occurs. Poswillo suggested that a hematoma in utero resulted in jaw and ear deformities because of the tissue damage produced by the hematoma [4]. It was suggested that this occurred at 30–45 days gestation. An alternative vascular causation was ischemia in the area supplied by the stapedial artery. Other causative factors can be thalidomide and primadone, accutane and isotretinoin, these substances cause neural crest cell damage. Acute exposure to alcohol can result in asymmetrical facial development. Hemifacial microsomia shows a low familial incidence [5, 6]. In addition to this, the expression of the condition is quite variable.
Effect of Macrocycle Type on the Extraction into Toluene of Ag+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ Using a Combination of a Macrocycle and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric Acid as Extractants

Abstract The nitrate salts of Ag+ and Pb2+ are extracted into toluene solutions of one of the following macrocycles: dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DC18C6); 1,10-dithia-18-crown-6 (DT18C6); 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 (2.2); hexathia-18-crown-6 (HT18C6); or cryptand 2.2.1. In addition, the nitrate salt of Cd2+ is extracted into toluene solutions of DC18C6 or DT18C6. Ag+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ are also extracted into toluene containing di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and toluene containing a combination of HDEHP and one of the macrocycles. Metal ion extraction is synergistic for the systems containing HDEHP and DC18C6, 2.2, or 2.2.1, but is antagonistic for the systems containing HDEHP and DT18C6 or HT18C6.
Cervical Cancer Prevention: Asian-American Women's Knowledge and Participation in Screening Practices

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to compare cervical cancer knowledge and prevention strategy participation among Chinese-American women compared with Southeast–Asian-American women. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of Chinese and Southeast Asian women in Rhode Island. Anonymous surveys were administered following informed consent. The survey included demographics and questions related to health care practices, cervical cancer, and the human papilloma virus (HPV). Categorical variables were compared by Fisher's exact test. Mean scores of correct answers on the knowledge questions were compared by Student's t -test and analysis of variance. Results Ninety-six Chinese women and 132 Southeast Asian women were included in the analysis. Sixty-seven percent of Chinese women had at least a college education compared with 37% of Southeast Asian women ( p p = .0003). Twenty percent of Southeast Asian women did not have health insurance compared with 10% of Chinese women ( p = .06). Among both groups, 25% of participants either never had a pap test or did not know if they ever had a pap test. There was a greater lack of knowledge about the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer among Chinese (mean 2.9 out of 8 questions) compared with Southeast Asian (mean 3.6 out of 8 questions; p = .02). Conclusions Regardless of ethnic subgroup, education, or income, all participants had a poor knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV. This study supports the need for improvement in cervical cancer prevention education among all Asian women.
Estimating negative binomial demand for retail inventory management with unobservable lost sales

The importance of effective inventory management has greatly increased for many major retailers because of more intense competition. Retail inventory management methods often use assumptions and demand distributions that were developed for application areas other than retailing. For example, it is often assumed that unmet demand is backordered and that demand is Poisson or normally distributed. In retailing, unmet demand is often lost and unobserved. Using sales data from a major retailing chain, our analysis found that the negative binomial fit significantly better than the Poisson or the normal distribution. A parameter estimation methodology that compensates for unobserved lost sales is developed for the negative binomial distribution. The method's effectiveness is demonstrated by comparing parameter estimates from the complete data set to estimates obtained by artificially truncating the data to simulate lost sales. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Longitudinal Growth Patterns in Cocaine-Exposed Children † 1132

Almost all studies of prenatal cocaine exposure document negative growth effects on the fetus. Few studies report a dose-response relationship or report data beyond birth. We report growth data from birth-18 months on children participating in a longitudinal study of the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure. Women were prospectively enrolled from rural health departments as they came in for prenatal care or arrived at the hospital for delivery. Of 2,526 women approached, 85% consented to the study's interviews and urine screens, from which 154 were identified as cocaine users and matched on prenatal risk, race, parity, and socioeconomic status to 154 consenters verified as non-users. Women were >18 y/o, had no prenatally diagnosed chronic illness, no use of other illicit drugs except marijuana, and no chronic use of prescription drugs or other medications. Urine toxicology screening was done at two unanticipated times. Histories were taken at the end of each trimester and along with child growth measures at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. Cocaine use was quantified using drug history. Four categories of use were analyzed: high (≥ $2/day), low, non-admitters (urine+;history -), and non-users. Analyses based on amount of drug usage used one-way ANOVA with comparison of means using a Multiple F Test. Analyses of growth, adjusting for prenatal exposure to alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana, race, gender, gestational age, and time were made using multiple regression with two-way interaction terms for all the variables. At birth, cocaine was significantly related to lower WT and smaller HC. The non-admitters differed significantly from the non-users with lower WT and smaller HC and from the high users with smaller HC. By 1 month, cocaine no longer had a significant effect on WT or HC. There was no relationship between cocaine exposure and growth from birth to 18 months, however alcohol had strong, significant effects on WT and LT. Our study shows catch-up growth in WT for the cocaine-exposed infants by 1 month of age. Unlike previous studies, we demonstrated catch-up growth in HC by 1 month, as well. We were unable to show a relationship between amount of cocaine exposure and growth. These findings are meaningful given our low attrition, resulting in a sample size large enough to show differences if they existed, and provide guarded optimism for the outcome of these children.
TRP channel Ca(2+) sparklets: fundamental signals underlying endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization.

Important functions of the vascular endothelium, including permeability, production of antithrombotic factors, and control of vascular tone, are regulated by changes in intracellular Ca2+. The molecular identities and regulation of Ca2+ influx channels in the endothelium are incompletely understood, in part because of experimental difficulties associated with application of patch-clamp electrophysiology to native endothelial cells. However, advances in confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and the development of fast, high-affinity Ca2+-binding fluorophores have recently allowed for direct visualization and characterization of single-channel transient receptor potential (TRP) channel Ca2+ influx events in endothelial cells. These events, called “TRP channel Ca2+ sparklets,” have been optically recorded from primary endothelial cells and the intact endothelium, and the biophysical properties and fundamental significance of these Ca2+ signals in vasomotor regulation have been characterized. This review will first briefly discuss the role of endothelial cell TRP channel Ca2+ influx in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, describe improved methods for recording unitary TRP channel activity using optical methods, and highlight discoveries regarding the regulation and physiological significance of TRPV4 Ca2+ sparklets in the vascular endothelium enabled by this new technology. Perspectives on the potential use of these techniques to evaluate changes in TRP channel Ca2+ influx activity associated with endothelial dysfunction are offered.
Analysis of Candida albicans mutants defective in the Cdk8 module of mediator reveal links between metabolism and biofilm formation.

Candida albicans biofilm formation is a key virulence trait that involves hyphal growth and adhesin expression. Pyocyanin (PYO), a phenazine secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, inhibits both C. albicans biofilm formation and development of wrinkled colonies. Using a genetic screen, we identified two mutants, ssn3Δ/Δ and ssn8Δ/Δ, which continued to wrinkle in the presence of PYO. Ssn8 is a cyclin-like protein and Ssn3 is similar to cyclin-dependent kinases; both proteins are part of the heterotetrameric Cdk8 module that forms a complex with the transcriptional co-regulator, Mediator. Ssn3 kinase activity was also required for PYO sensitivity as a kinase dead mutant maintained a wrinkled colony morphology in the presence of PYO. Furthermore, similar phenotypes were observed in mutants lacking the other two components of the Cdk8 module—Srb8 and Srb9. Through metabolomics analyses and biochemical assays, we showed that a compromised Cdk8 module led to increases in glucose consumption, glycolysis-related transcripts, oxidative metabolism and ATP levels even in the presence of PYO. In the mutant, inhibition of respiration to levels comparable to the PYO-treated wild type inhibited wrinkled colony development. Several lines of evidence suggest that PYO does not act through Cdk8. Lastly, the ssn3 mutant was a hyperbiofilm former, and maintained higher biofilm formation in the presence of PYO than the wild type. Together these data provide novel insights into the role of the Cdk8 module of Mediator in regulation of C. albicans physiology and the links between respiratory activity and both wrinkled colony and biofilm development.
Simplifying Fibromyalgia Assessment: The VASFIQ Brief Symptom Scale.

Objectives: We tested the ability of the VASFIQ, a seven-item scale composed of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) visual analog scales (VASs), to quantify fibromyalgia global disease severity...
A Cognitive-Ecological Approach to Elder Abuse in Five Cultures: Human Rights and Education

ABSTRACT The population of the world is aging rapidly—a development that the World Health Organization (2004) has labeled as “a demographic revolution.” According to its statistics, there are currently 600 million people in the world over the age of 60, a figure that will double by 2025 and double again by 2050. Within this age group, the numbers of the “oldest old” (people over 80) are increasing the most rapidly. With these dramatic changes, there is an escalating need for education around issues related to aging. Cross-culturally, elders are one of four groups (along with children, women, and individuals with disabilities) found to be consistently vulnerable to family violence (Levesque, 2002). While cross-cultural research on domestic violence and abuse generally has expanded, elder abuse, as a subtype of domestic violence, remains poorly understood cross-culturally. All of the authors in this issue mentioned that a dearth of research on elder abuse within the populations they sampled was a limitation...
Characterization of UV-visible filters for the Wide Field Camera 3 of the Hubble Space Telescope

A set of 48 ultraviolet-visible filters in the Wide Field Camera 3 will be deployed on the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004. We summarize the specifications for the filters, derived through interaction with the Science Oversight Committee. A detailed characterization of the 48 filters is presented.
Perioperative management of the diabetic patient

Diabetes mellitus is a significant global public health problem and is a major source of morbidity and mortality in the world today. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the predominant form of diabetes worldwide and represents approximately 90% of all cases. There is an epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the world today in both developed and developing countries. Globally, it is expected that the number of people with diabetes will increase from the current 150 million to 220 million by the year 2010 and to 300 million by the year 2025. In addition, there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. It is therefore increasingly likely that diabetic patients will appear for dental and oral maxillofacial surgical treatment in both the office and ambulatory surgery clinic setting. Surgical stress often produces hyperglycemia in the perioperative period. Hyperglycemia has been shown to cause a significant increase in perioperative morbidity and mortality. It is the general consensus that strict glycemic control is beneficial and should be achieved for diabetic patients in the perioperative period. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management protocols for improved perioperative glycemic control of both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are presented.
Coccidioidal meningitis and brain abscesses: Analysis of 71 cases at a referral center

Objective: Coccidioides species are the most common etiologic agents of chronic meningitis in regions endemic for coccidioidomycosis. Occasionally, even short-term travel to endemic regions results in the acquisition of meningeal disease, so awareness of this complication of coccidioidomycosis is important even in nonendemic areas. The prognosis depends on the early recognition and treatment of the disease, so it is important to be familiar with the varied clinical manifestations, risk factors associated with meningeal involvement, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic modalities. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 71 cases with coccidioidomycosis involving the CNS seen from 1996 to 2007 at a referral medical center in southern Arizona. Results: The only presenting symptom found in the majority of patients was headache. Those who were immunocompromised (most commonly HIV/AIDS and chronic steroid therapy) were at increased risk, but diabetics were not at increased risk. There was a preponderance of males (2:1) and people of Hispanic, African, and Asian (especially Pacific Isles) background. CSF anticoccidioidal antibody and culture were frequently negative on presentation, but in these cases, the serum antibody test was usually positive. Imaging studies were helpful in two thirds of cases, most commonly demonstrating basilar meningitis or hydrocephalus, which frequently required ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Most were treated with fluconazole, and prognosis was good for most of those who remained on treatment. Conclusions: Coccidioidal meningitis remains a diagnostic challenge, but the diagnosis can usually be made successfully when coccidioidal serum and CSF antibodies and cultures are combined with appropriate imaging studies.
A program for seismic wavefield modeling using finite-difference techniques

Abstract We discuss and present a general purpose computer program that uses finite-difference techniques to approximate the solution of the two-dimensional heterogeneous acoustic wave equation. The program (FDMODEL) uses explicit approximations of second-order accuracy for spatial and temporal sampling intervals and the energy-absorbing boundary conditions. In addition to creating snapshots and common-shot seismograms in standard data formats, the program can generate multiple synthetic seismograms in a common-depth-point data-acquisition mode. Synthetic seismograms produced by FDMODEL are examined analytically herein and verify the accuracy of the program. A comparison between high-resolution, seismic-reflection field data and synthetic seismic data demonstrates the program's usefulness. The program is suitable for demonstrating the concepts of acoustic wave-field spreading and providing synthetic seismograms for use as an interpretive tool. The code was written in FORTRAN 77 for a PC-compatible computer but can be modified easily for use on other computing environments.
From Candidate Genes to Genome-wide Association: The Challenges and Promise of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Genetic Studies

Although most persons are exposed to traumatic events throughout their lives, many to multiple traumatic events, only a minority develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (1), suggesting that individual vulnerability and resilience factors are important in PTSD pathophysiology. Posttraumatic stress disorder is heritable (2), suggesting that these individual differences might, in part, be explained by genetic factors. Two articles in this issue, Wilker et al. (3) and Xie et al. (4), use different study designs and methods to reach the same goal: to understand the genetic basis of PTSD.
Role of agitation conditions in nitrification

The objective of this study was to determine the role of agitation conditions in the oxidation of nitrite ions by Nitrobacter. Batch reaction kinetic experiments were conducted in baffled stirred tanks. The range of agitation conditions studied was 6200 ↔ 95700 ergs/cm3 sec. This power input corresponds to 3.2 ↔ 45.6 hp/ 1000 gal, or a “hem Scale” of 3 ↔ 9. After a lag phase, the reaction kinetics were found to be zero order with respect to nitrite over a concentration range of 590 to 10 mg/liter nitrite nitrogen (NO2−-N). The zero-order rate constants were found to significantly decrease with increasing impeller power input per volume of liquid (P / V).
Anti-retroviral activity of methionine enkephalin and AZT in a murine cell culture

Previously, this laboratory has demonstrated that azidothymidine used in combination with methionine enkephalin, an opioid pentapeptide, was more effective than AZT alone in inhibiting disease progression due to murine retrovirus infections. In order to study the mechanism(s) by which Met-ENK mediates-antiviral effects, when used in combination with AZT in Friend leukemia virus infected mice, an in vitro focus forming assay was used. AZT at 1 ng/ml inhibited FLV replication by 30-50% in the susceptible Mus dunni cell line. By contrast, the immunostimulatory neuropeptide, Met-ENK, displayed no direct inhibition of viral replication. This suggests that Met-ENK does not have any direct anti-retroviral activity. Subsequent testing of Met-ENK in the presence of AZT showed no ability of this peptide to promote inhibition of viral replication due to AZT. By contrast, in the presence of mouse spleen cells, as a source of lymphocytes, in vitro combination treatments using AZT and Met-ENK reduced FLV replication by 67%, compared to 47% using AZT alone. The inhibition due to Met-ENK was abrogated when spleen cells were pretreated with naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Therefore, we conclude that Met-ENK effects are mediated via opioid receptors on spleen cells and that the observed anti-FLV activity is dependent on the use of Met-ENK stimulated spleen cells in combination with AZT.
Defect Detection Using Quiescent Signal Analysis

IDDQ or steady state current testing has been extensively used in the industry as a mainstream defect detection and reliability screen. The background leakage current has increased significantly with the advent of ultra deep submicron technologies. This increased background leakage noise makes it difficult to differentiate defect-free devices from those with defects that draw significantly small amount of currents. Therefore it is impossible to use single threshold IDDQ testing for today’s technologies. Several techniques that improve the resolution of IDDQ testing have been proposed to replace the single threshold detection scheme. However, even these techniques are suffering from loss of resolution that is required for detection of subtle defects in the presence of leakage currents in excess of a few mA. All these techniques use a single IDDQ measurement for detection and thus the scalability of these techniques is limited. Quiescent Signal Analysis (QSA) is a novel IDDQ defect detection and diagnosis technique that uses IDDQ measurements at multiple chip supply pads. Implicit in our methodology is a leakage calibration technique that scales the total leakage current over multiple simultaneous measurements. This helps in decreasing the background leakage component in individual measurements and thus increases the resolution of this technique to subtle defects. Defect detection is accomplished by applying linear regression analysis to the multiple supply port measurements and using outlier analysis to identify defective devices. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated in this paper using simulation experiments on portion of a production power grid. Predicted chip size and leakage values from the International Technology Roadmap for semiconductors (ITRS) are used in these experiments. One of the other major concerns expressed in ITRS is that of significant increase in intra-die process variations. The performance of the proposed technique in presence of such variations is evaluated using three different intra-die process variation distribution models.
Real Time Development of Structure in Partially Molten State Stretching of Polypropylene as Detected by Spectral Birefringence Technique: Effect of Isotacticity

The uniaxial deformation behavior of three polypropylene films with isotacticity indices varying from 43 to 95 was investigated in the partially molten state using real time, true stress, true strain, and birefringence measurement system. These polymers generally exhibit three regime stress‐birefringence behaviors during stretching. The unmelted crystalline regions act as physical junctions. If the films contain crystallinity that is too low (less than ca. 10%) the Regime I disappears. Under these conditions, the films were found to exhibit large linearity in strain and stress optical behavior. If, however, too low a deformation rate is employed, these relationships become non‐linear. The increase of isotacticity increases the magnitude of the birefringence at all deformation levels primarily as a result of the increase in crystallinity that helps in establishing a long‐range physical network. This increase in the long‐range connectivity was found to promote not only the orientation in crystalline domains...
Microbially mediated enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic acetates

Abstract The enantioselective hydrolyses of a series of racemic hydroaromatic acetates by Rhizopus nigricans to produce optically active alcohols are described. A rule predicting the absolute stereochemistry of the resulting alcohols is proposed.
A method for aquatic multiple species toxicant testing: Acute toxicity of 10 chemicals to 5 vertebrates and 2 invertebrates

Abstract A method was developed to simultaneously ascertain 96 h LC50 values for seven freshwater species in a single flow through test with measured concentrations. It allows interspecific comparisons, easy determination of the most sensitive species, and cuts cost of labour, materials and chemical analysis for measured concentration tests. Species tested included fathead minnows Pimephales promelas, goldfish Carassius auratus, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri, crayfish Orconectes immunis and snails Aplexa hypnorum. Compounds tested were pentachlorophenol, 2-chloroethanol, 2,4-pentanedione, hexachloroethane, α-bromo-2′,5′-dimethoxyacetophenone, benzaldehyde, 1,3-dichloro-4,6-dinitrobenzene, dursban, sevin and cadmium chloride. The LC50 values from these multiple species tests compared favourably with those determined using single species tests at this laboratory, usually within 20%.
Culture, freedom and economic growth: Do cultural values explain economic growth?

Abstract Economic freedom, the ability of a society to conduct business in an unfettered manner without government intrusion, is a key determinant of economic s significant role in shaping a nation's business environment. This article combines data from a benchmark report, the Index of Economic Freedom, with tw a significant relationship between measures of culture, economic freedom, and economic growth. We discuss the implications of this relationship for business and for further academic research.
Psychotherapy as religion: Pros and cons

Psychotherapy and religiousness are closely linked without being identical. This theme is explored in the relationship between therapist and client, in a faith development theory, and in feminist perspectives which present potentials for transforming religiousness and psychotherapy. The main critique of psychotherapy as religiousness is its lack of both communal and ecological dimensions.
Negative contrast effect obtained with downshifts in magnitude but not concentration of solid sucrose reward

In Experiment I, hungry rats first received 10 pellets of either 4% or 16% sucrose, and later received one pellet of the same concentration as before. Control subjects received one pellet of either 16% or 4% throughout. A significant negative contrast effect was obtained with both concentrations. In Experiment II, three groups received four pellets of either 4%, 8%, or 16% sucrose concentration before receiving the same number of pellets of 8% concentration. Neither a positive nor a negative contrast effect was found. The results were discussed in terms of both the frustration and generalization-decrement hypotheses.
Geochemistry and paleomagnetism of Keweenawan basalt in the subsurface of Nebraska

Abstract Basalts of Keweenawan age (Mesoproterozoic) extend from the Lake Superior region southwestward into the subsurface of Nebraska and Kansas. One of the best examples of these subsurface basalts occurs in the Williams #1 Radenslaben well in Saunders County, Nebraska. The well is located on the flank of a linear, magnetic high within the confines of the Midcontinent Rift System. A core from the well preserves 186 continuous feet (56.7 m) of Keweenawan basalt. Five lava flows are present in the core. The flows have a coarse ophitic texture and consist of labradorite + augite + FeTi oxides + olivine pseudomorphs (chlorite). The primary mineralogy is well preserved in the top three flows (A through C), which represent almost 75% of the total core interval. Sporadic small patches of low-grade secondary minerals are concentrated in the upper portions (flow tops) of flows A through C, but decrease to minimal amounts in the massive flow interiors. In contrast, the bottom two flows (D and E) and an alteration zone on the top of flow B show the effects of incipient burial metamorphism and contain chlorite, albitized plagioclase, prehnite ±, epidote ±, and K-feldspar ± (megacrysts). A paleomagnetic reversal is recorded in the middle of flow C. The rock below the reversal has reversed polarity, and the rock above normal polarity. There is no evidence that any part of the core has been faulted. The original stratigraphic sequence is preserved. The age of the reverse-normal polarity in these rocks is not constrained but is similar in sequence to the main Keweenawan reversal recorded at 1097 Ma. The geochemical data suggest, however, that the polarity reversal may be later and record an event that is not presently recognized in the exposed flows of the Lake Superior region. The overall tholeiitic character of these basalts is demonstrated by their primary mineralogy, CIPW-normative chemistry, and immobile trace element concentrations. Trace element abundances in flows A, B and C are primary and have not been modified by the burial metamorphism. When normalized to chondrites, the trace elements form in a tight, coherent array. However, flows D and E clearly show the chemical effects of the burial metamorphism, and some of the trace elements, for example Ba, Rb, Sr, Na and to a lesser extent K, have been mobilized. The Radenslaben basalts have geochemical similarities to E-MORB, but with an additional LREE and LILE enrichment component. They are similar in trace element and Nd isotopic characteristics to the main later sequence of Keweenawan flood basalts exposed at Lake Superior in containing relatively depleted LREE and LILE enrichment vectors and initial positive ϵ Nd values
How product quality drives profitability: the experience at Holiday Inn

Abstract Quality-management gurus have always assumed that maintaining product quality would improve profitability. It turns out that they are correct.
Multimedia update: Advances in computer-based applications relevant to fish and fish health

Abstract Computer software has become an important tool for fish health managers, diagnosticians, veterinarians, researchers and educators. This article reviews selected software applications which are either currently available, under development, or which may serve as inspiration for future development of appropriate applications in the fields of fish health. Computer-based multimedia is exemplified using the interactive fish anatomy and necropsy program FishGuts. The utility of other applications including programs for fish health (Aqua Medic, Aqua-Vet, AquaPath), data archiving (“Animal Care System” by Relevant using 4th Dimension, Nutshell Plus II, Filemaker Pro), and general resources and entertainment (LIFEmap, OceanLife, World of Sharks, Fishes of the Red Sea, Fishes of the Caribbean, Oceans Below, Aquazone, Undersea Adventure, Sakana Hakkei) are also discussed. Development costs, effort, and the compartmentalized expertise of educators/scientists and programmers tend to hinder the production of quality software products. Collaboration and networking are necessary and fundamental to the expansion of utilitarian computer-based applications in aquatic animal health.
Effect of a NAPL on migration of PCP in soil columns

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used wood-treating chemical that is applied to wood under pressure in the form of concentrated solution in solvents that are nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPL). As a result, any spill at a wood-treating site using PCP results in soil contamination with PCP in the presence of a NAPL. Hence, a study of migration of PCP was conducted in presence of kerosene as a NAPL in unsaturated soils. Addition of kerosene to soil caused a change in the effective size of soil particles; the porosity, pore velocity, and dispersion coefficients, all changed (as measured by bromide break-through) in soil columns contaminated with kerosene. Moisture content of soil was found to be a key parameter determining the residual NAPL content in the soils. PCP/kerosene breakthrough experiments showed that the organic phase penetrated deeper and faster into soils with higher moisture content, and the residual kerosene acted as a sorptive phase that retarded the migration of PCP.
Does the ingestion of alcohol influence the development of arteriosclerosis in fowls

The effect of alcohol ingestion upon the development of naturally occurring and stilbestrol-induced arteriosclerosis was studied in the domestic fowl. In two experiments, a 15 per cent ethyl alcohol solution was used for drinking purposes, and in a third experiment wine containing 12 per cent of it was administered. The caloric intake of both food and alcohol was carefully controlled by pair-feeding, a glucose solution being used for drinking purposes to equalize the caloric intakes of the control birds with those of the alcohol-treated birds. A total of 224 cockrels was studied, and the period of observation for each experiment lasted 12 months. The degree of arteriosclerosis in the thoracic and abdominal aortas was determined in the gross and microscopically, and the degree of lipide infiltration was determined microscopically. The gross grading of arteriosclerotic lesions agreed closely with the microscopic analysis of intimal thickening and lipide infiltration of the arterial wall. The gross gradings were subjected to a critical statistical analysis which allowed precise statements to be made on the probability that a real effect would be overlooked. This analysis yielded no evidence that alcohol or the wine used had affected the degree of gross arteriosclerosis or lipide infiltration.
Pleiotropic Effects of Neurotransmission during Development: Modulators of Modularity

The formation and function of the mammalian cerebral cortex relies on the complex interplay of a variety of genetic and environmental factors through protracted periods of gestational and postnatal development. Biogenic amine systems are important neuromodulators, both in the adult nervous system, and during critical epochs of brain development. Abnormalities in developmental programming likely contribute to developmental delays and multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders, often with symptom onset much later than the actual induction of pathology. We review several genetic and pharmacological models of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin modulation during development, each of which produces permanent changes in cerebral cortical structure and function. These models clearly illustrate the ability of these neurotransmitters to function beyond their classic roles and show their involvement in the development and modulation of fine brain circuitry that is sensitive to numerous effectors. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate the need to consider not only gene by environment interactions, but also gene by environment by developmental time interactions.
Induction of type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase to prevent the nonthyroidal illness syndrome in mice

Essentially all serious illness is associated with a decrease in circulating T3, a condition known as the nonthyroidal illness syndrome. Substantial evidence suggests that a contributing factor to this syndrome is a cytokine-induced decrease in hepatic type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (D1), an enzyme that converts T4 to T3. The type 1 deiodinase is induced at the transcriptional level by T3, but illness-associated cytokines block this induction, resulting in decreased T3 and hence a further decline in D1 expression. We demonstrated that IL-1 blocks the ability of T3 to induce D1 in rat hepatocyte primary cultures and that forced expression of steroid receptor co- activator 1 (SRC-1) prevents this cytokine effect. This led us to test whether forced hepatic expression of SRC-1 can prevent the nonthyroidal illness syndrome in vivo. Pretreatment of endotoxin-treated mice with an adenovirus that expresses SRC-1, compared with a control adenovirus, prevented the endotoxin-induced decreases in hepatic D1 and plas...
Baseline tumour measurements predict survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The association between tumour measurements and survival has been studied extensively in early-stage and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analysed these factors in patients with advanced NSCLC. Data were derived from the E4599 trial of paclitaxel-carboplatin±bevacizumab. Associations between the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) baseline sum longest diameter (BSLD), response rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using univariate and multivariable Cox regression models. A total of 759 of the 850 patients (89%) in the E4599 trial had measurable diseases and were included in this analysis. The median BSLD was 7.5 cm. BSLD predicted OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1.41; P<0.001) and had a trend towards association with PFS (HR 1.14; P=0.08). The median OS was 12.6 months for patients with BSLD <7.5 cm compared with 9.5 months for BSLD ⩾7.5 cm. This association persisted in a multivariable model controlling multiple prognostic factors, including the presence and sites of extrathoracic disease (HR 1.24; P=0.01). There was no association between BSLD and response rate. Tumour measurements are associated with survival in the E4599 trial. If validated in other populations, this parameter may provide important prognostic information to patients and clinicians.
Assessment of zinc status in man.

The assessment of human zinc nutritional status has proven to be difficult and challenging task over the course of many years. Dietary and medical history and physical examination may all provide important clues. Of the many laboratory assays for measurement of tissue zinc concentration and functional indices of zinc status, plasma zinc, despite many limitations, remains the assay of choice. Utilization of stable isotope techniques to evaluate zinc homeostasis include measurement of absorption of exogenous zinc, excretion of endogenous zinc and estimation of the combined size of the pools of zinc that are readily available on a whole organism level. Such measurements are starting to yield useful new insights into zinc status. While this approach appears to offer the potential for significant progress on a research basis, it does not provide techniques that are readily applied on a large scale or under ‘field’ conditions. Carefully designed, randomized, placebo controlled supplementation trials are almost invariably required to delineate the clinical and metabolic effects of correcting putative deficiency states. In the case of zinc, these can serve the additional role of confirming the underlying zinc deficiency state.
Graphical diagnostics for regression model determinations with consideration of the bias/variance trade-off

Abstract Estimates of model parameters (regression coefficients forming the regression vector) for a multivariate linear model have been the subject of considerable discussion. Regression diagnostics utilized in chemometrics for a multivariate linear model are often based on a single number such as the coefficient of determination, root mean square error of cross-validation, selectivity, etc. Additionally, regression diagnostics commonly applied focus on model bias and do not include variance or model complexity. This paper demonstrates that substantial information is available through a graphical study of trends in model parameters as determined by plots of regression diagnostics using bias, variance, and/or model complexity measures. Also illustrated is that by using harmonious graphics which simultaneously use bias and variance information, determination of proper model parameters without cross-validation is possible. This paper concludes with comments on the next level of regression diagnostics, including use of color, sound, and virtual reality.
A parallel implicit incompressible flow solver using unstructured meshes

An incompressible flow solver based on unstructured grids is implemented on a parallel distributed memory computer architecture. An important phase in the flow solver is the solution of the elliptic equations for the velocities and pressure. This elliptic solver is parallelized and incorporated into both the explicit and implicit versions of the incompressible flow solver. Performance and scalability studies are carried out on both Intel iPSC 860 and the Intel Delta prototype, and these studies show that the code is scalable. A parallelizable load balancing algorithm is developed to be used in conjunction with the incompressible flow solver. Steady and unsteady flows over a tri-element airfoil and NACA0012 airfoil are computed using the parallel incompressible flow solver.
THE EFFECT OF TIME AND TEMPERATURE ON THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF A 'PLASTICIZED' EPOXY RESIN UNDER DIFFERENT LOADING MODES

Epoxy–Versamid specimens were loaded in tension, compression, and flexure at different strain rates and temperatures to determine mode of failure, yield stress and strain, and tangent and relaxation moduli. Stress-strain curves were used to define brittle, ductile, ductile-rubbery, and rubbery modes of behavior which prevailed in different temperature-strain rate regions. The time-temperature superposition principle was applied to yield stress, initial tangent moduli, and relaxation moduli data for all three types of loading. The transition regions, tangent and relaxation moduli, and shift factors were the same in tension, compression, and flexure. Thus the most convenient mode of loading can be used to determine the general time-temperature dependence. The ratio of compressive-to-tensile yield stress was almost constant over the entire ductile region. Flexural yielding data were used to predict yield stress in tension and compression, and stress relaxation master curves were shown to be related to elastic modulus vs. strain rate curves. The yielding phenomenon was interpreted using Eyring's theory of non-Newtonian viscoplastic flow. The apparent activation energy and activation volume were larger for tension than compression. A theory is offered to explain why yielding can occur in a cross-linked system.
Transport measurements on a high mobility, ultralow carrier concentration inverted GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure

We have measured the low temperature magnetoresistance and Hall Voltage on an inverted high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure with ultra low carrier concentration in the dark . We have observed Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and quantized Hall voltages at very low magnetic fields.