cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Mediating Role of Virtual Experience in Online Purchase Intentions

Research and practice underscore the importance of online web-based virtual reality applications that mimic product interactions in the physical world and its consequence of end-user decision making. This study examines a model that traces how certain characteristics of online virtual reality applications increase virtual experience, subsequently contributing to online purchase intentions. Virtual reality applications are demarcated by their ability to empower consumers with control and their ability to richly render content. Findings from the empirical study reveal the growing importance of demand-centric virtual reality application design where manipulation and control is more important than the richness of the content. It is seen that online virtual reality applications that offer a perceived level of manipulation and control elevate consumer experience more than just the rendering and delivery of rich condition, subsequently aiding consumer purchase intentions. The study offers new insights into how virtual reality applications should be designed and deployed to guide consumer decision making in an online environment.
A multilevel treatment approach for culture shock experienced by sojourners

Abstract This article describes culture shock as an adjustment reaction syndrome which affects sojourners intellectually, emotionally, behaviorally, and physiologically. A brief review of the literature shows that while various theories regarding the etiology of culture shock have been proffered, and many crosscultural training methods developed for dealing with different aspects of culture shock, to date no treatment has been designed which responds to the needs of sojourners experiencing stress in the four areas mentioned. Therefore a treatment was designed which integrates various cross-cultural training methods with psychotherapeutic techniques in order to provide sojourners with coping skills for dealing with the multilevel impact of culture shock. The treatment was implemented with 64 North Americans who had recently arrived in Costa Rica to study Spanish. A group of students, designated the control group, received no treatment. The next group of students to arrive at the school was offered the 6 week treatment. Both groups of subjects were tested at the end of 12 weeks, using the SCL-90-R, a multidimensional self-report inventory designed to measure symptomatic psychological distress. Treatment and control group subjects were matched on eight control variables and their scores on the SCL-90-R were compared using the t test for correlated samples. Statistical analysis yielded a significant difference between groups with p 01. It may therefore be inferred that the treatment model described here is effective in reducing symptoms of psychological distress for sojourners similar to those in this study .
Scheduling imprecise computations to minimize total error

Abstract We consider the problem of scheduling tasks each of which is logically decomposed into a mandatory part and an optional part. The mandatory part must be executed to completion in order to produce an acceptable result. The optional part refines the result in order to reduce the error in the result. If the available processor time is insufficient, the optional part can be left unfinished. The error in the result produced by an aperiodic task is equal to the processing time of the unexecuted portion of the optional part. Our objective is to schedule the tasks so that the total error over all tasks is minimized. A preemptive algorithm for scheduling n aperiodic dependent tasks with rational ready times, deadlines, and processing times on a uniprocessor system is described. This algorithm is optimal in the sense that it finds feasible schedules meeting the time constraints and minimizing the total error of all tasks, whenever feasible schedules exist. The complexity of this algorithm is O(n2log2n). We also consider the problem of scheduling periodic tasks. For these tasks the error in the result of each task is measured in terms of the average error in the results produced over several consecutive periods. A class of preemptive, priority-driven algorithms can be used to find feasible schedules with a small average error. These algorithms are described and evaluated.
Immunoblastic sarcoma of B-Cells in a 24-month-old child. Report of a case

Immunoblastic sarcoma is a malignancy of transformed lymphocytes with a high association of occurrence in patients with immune disorders. The youngest previously reported case occurred in a 6-year-old child with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. The authors report the finding of immunoblastic sarcoma of B-cells in a previously healthy 24-month-old boy. This represents the youngest reported patient with this lymphoma.
The Zero of Potential of the Electric Field Produced by the Heart Beat: The Problem with Reference to Homogeneous Volume Conductors

The acceptable zeros of the potential of the electrical fields produced by certain dipole distributions in homogeneous volume conductors is discussed. A bridge circuit is described by which a solution of the three-arm and the four-arm central terminals of Wilson may be solved for a zero of potential of the field produced by an arbitrary distribution of dipoles in a homogeneous volume conductor. An acceptable zero of potential for evaluation of the potentials in a locus on the "body" surface distant from the heart is described.
MAPS of the Harvard Yard

The Make-A-Picture-Story (MAPS) Test was given to 14 undergraduates who were studied intensively at the Harvard Psychological Clinic by Henry Murray and his colleagues from 1959 to 1962. A case study of one of these subjects is presented to illustrate the use of the MAPS in drawing inferences about personality characteristics.
Transient channel incision along Bolinas Ridge, California: Evidence for differential rock uplift adjacent to the San Andreas fault

[1] The rates and spatial distribution of active deformation provide critical constraints on the geodynamics of deforming lithosphere, yet such data are often difficult to acquire in eroding landscapes where poor preservation of geomorphic or stratigraphic markers hinders strain reconstruction. Recent advances in understanding of the relationship between bedrock channel profile form and erosion rate have led to their use as an index of rock uplift rate in steady state landscapes. Here we extend this analysis to landscapes experiencing a transient increase in erosion rate using an example from the Marin County region of northern California. We characterize channel and hillslope gradients in a series of small watersheds along a monolithologic portion of the Franciscan terrane in Marin County. Channel steepness indices vary strongly from north to south along the ridge and correspond with the progressive development of relief on threshold hillslopes along valley walls. These patterns argue that recent channel incision has engendered a transient adjustment of hillslope gradient, as incision outpaces soil production rates. These differences in landscape form and inferred incision rate are explained by differential rock uplift within the region east of the San Andreas fault. Relationships between channel gradient and incision rate suggest a threefold to fivefold difference in incision rate across the region and place a minimum bound on differential rock uplift rates. Our study highlights how landscape analysis can place bounds on the distribution of Earth deformation in both space and time and thus lends insight into the processes driving that deformation.
Phase Constituents of Al-rich U-Mo-Al Alloys Examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract To supplement the understanding of diffusional interactions involving Al-rich region of the U–Mo–Al system, alloys with composition 85.7Al–11.44U–2.86Mo and 87.5Al–10U–2.5Mo in at.%, were examined to determine the equilibrium phase constituents at 500 °C. These alloys were triple arc-melted, homogenized at 500 °C for 200 h, and water-quenched to preserve the high temperature microstructure. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XEDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were employed for the characterization. Alloy specimens for TEM/STEM were prepared using site-specific focused ion beam (FIB) in situ lift-out (INLO) technique. Despite the homogenization time and temperature, five different phases, namely fcc-Al solid solution, cubic-UAl3, orthorhombic-UAl4, hexagonal-U6Mo4Al43 and diamond cubic-UMo2Al20, were observed. Based on U–Al, U–Mo and Al–Mo binary phase diagrams, previously proposed U–Mo–Al isotherms, and the solidification microstructure of these alloys, the Al-rich region of the equilibrium ternary isotherm at 500 °C was constructed. The fcc-Al solid solution, orthorhombic-UAl4, and diamond cubic-UMo2Al20 which were determined to be the equilibrium phases in 85.7Al–11.44U–2.86Mo and 87.5Al–10U–2.5Mo alloys.
Egg-associated transmission of IPN virus of trouts

Abstract Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPN) of salmonid fishes has been isolated and identified in suspect but normal-appearing stocks of adult brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and thus a pattern for the epizootiology of the virus has been demonstrated. Virus titers as high as 106.5 ID50 were found in egg fluids from 7 of 12 fish tested. In contrast, egg homogenates contained much less virus; their maximum titer was 101.8 ID50. The presence of virus within the eggs, however, was not established. Viral neutralizing ability of serum from the same fish showed an inverse relationship to the presence of virus in “ovarian fluid.” The highest serum titers occurred in those fish from which little or no virus had been isolated.
Seroepidemiology of human enterovirus71 and coxsackievirusA16 among children in Guangdong province, China.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common pediatric illness. Mainly induced by the Enterovirus 71 and Coxsackievirus A 16 infections, the frequently occurred HFMD outbreaks have become a serious public health problem in Southeast Asia. Currently,only a few studies have investigated the human immunity to HFMD in China. In this study, we conducted a cohort study in Guangdong province, China. Stored serum samples from children less than 10 years old were analyzed. The levels of EV71 and CA16 specific antibodies before, during and shortly after the 2008 large outbreak of HFMD were evaluated by the microneutralization test. The geometric mean titer (GMT) was calculated and compared. Statistical significance was taken as P < 0.05. The seroprevalence data showed a continuous circulation of EV71 and CA16 in Guangdong province China in 2007–2009. The low positive rate in 2009 correlated well with the unprecedented outbreak of HFMD in 2010. Age related increase of seroprevalence was identified in 1–3 years old children for EV71 and in 1–5 years old children for CA16 in Guangdong province. High GMT of EV71 and CA16 antibody titers were also found for these age groups. All of the above findings indicated common infections for these age groups. And they should clearly be at the top of the priority in periodical seroprevalence survey and future vaccination campaign.
Cloud-Chamber Study of Hard Collisions of Cosmic-Ray Muons with Electrons

The energy distribution of the secondary electrons produced in targets of carbon or paraffin by the $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{-}e$ scattering process for muon momenta in the range 5-50 Bev has been measured for electron energies up to 10 Bev, or c.m. momentum transfer up to 100 Mev. A vertical array of three cloud chambers immersed in a magnetic field of 11 000 gauss was used with a fourfold coincidence system. Two flat rectangular proportional counters, suitably biased, together with two Geiger-M\"uller trays, provided fair rejection of uneventful penetrating particles and a high efficiency for selection of the narrow electronic showers characteristic of the high-energy electromagnetic events. On 5900 counter triggered photographs there were 291 accepted events, having one or more (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}) electrons with energy \ensuremath{\ge}0.10 Bev, believed to originate in $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{-}e$ collisions in the (carbon or paraffin) target above the top chamber, from incident muons in the momentum interval 5-50 Bev. The data are compared with a calculation based on the Bhabha formula for spin \textonehalf{} muons, taking into account the momentum distribution of the incident muons, the energy loss and shower development in the target and the chamber walls, and a theoretical efficiency factor. Arguments are given to show that direct pair production and bremsstrahlung of the muons in the target and in the Pb shield above the apparatus produce negligible effects. The experiment permits a reliable measurement of only the relative distribution. When arbitrarily normalized, the calculated distribution is in fairly good agreement with the data, except for a small systematic difference suggesting an excess of observed events for the harder collisions. Although the discrepancy is interpretable as a statistical fluctuation, the data are fitted much better over the entire range when the basic cross section is modified by a "form factor," ${F}^{2}$ (greater than unity), with $F=1+|{q}^{2}|{{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}}^{2}$ where $q$ is the invariant of the 4-momentum transfer in units of $\ensuremath{\hbar}$, and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ is the Compton wavelength of the muon. This may be the first indication of a deviation from standard quantum electrodynamics for hard $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{-}e$ collisions. More strongly it shows that, if there is a deviation, it is not representable by a form factor less than unity.
Understanding the Conceptual Landscape of Visual Metaphors

ABSTRACT The central role of metaphoric thinking in teaching artist pedagogy. This article derives from the author's dissertation research undertaken at Teachers College, Columbia University, under the sponsorship of Professor Graeme Sullivan.
A Stability Theorem for Energy-Balance Climate Models

The paper treats the stability of steady-state solutions of some simple, latitude-dependent, energy-balance climate models. For north-south symmetric solutions of models with an ice-cap-type albedo feedback, and for the sum of horizontal transport and infrared radiation given by a linear operator, it is possible to prove a 'slope stability' theorem, i.e., if the local slope of the steady-state iceline latitude versus solar constant curve is positive (negative) the steady-state solution is stable (unstable). Certain rather weak restrictions on the albedo function and on the heat transport are required for the proof, and their physical basis is discussed.
Polyuria after operation for tumors in the region of the hypophysis and hypothalamus.

ABSTRACT Four patterns of change in the daily urinary volumes were observed in 43 patients in whom polyuria developed subsequent to operation for tumors in the region of the hypophysis and hypothalamus. 1) Brief polyuria developed in 12 patients and was followed by a permanent return of the urinary volumes to normal levels. 2) Transient polyuria was followed in 15 patients by normal urinary volumes (interphase) and later by permanent polyuria. 3) Permanent polyuria developed without an interphase in 10 patients. 4) A variation of the second pattern was seen in 6 patients in whom there was an initial peak of increased urinary output followed by a partial return toward normal, and finally permanent polyuria. Although the basis for the various urinary patterns of polyuria could not be determined, it is assumed that the surgical procedures induced changes in the hypothalamico-neurohypophyseal system comparable to those which are known to cause similar patterns of polyuria in experimental animals. ALTHOUGH it ...
Cytotoxic effects of hyperthermia, 5-fluorouracil and their combination on a human leukemia T-Lymphoblast cell line, CCRF-CEM

Abstract The cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil (FUra), hyperthermia, and the combination of these treatments were examined in a human T-lymphoblast cell line, CCRF-CEM. Simultaneous exposure of exponentially growing CCRF-CEM cells to hyperthermia (39 and 42°C) and FUra (10, 50, and 100 μ M ) for 1 or 2 hr resulted in subadditive or additive cell kill. When CCRF-CEM cells were exposed to these agents in sequence (hyperthermia → FUra and FUra → hyperthermia) for 1 and 2 hr duration additive cell kill was also observed. Enhanced cytotoxic effects were observed when a longer exposure (4 and 8 hr ) to FUra (100 μ M ) followed heat (42° C for 1 and 2 hr ). Heat exposure (42° C , 1 and 2 hr ) induced a rapid decrease in the synthesis of DNA of CCRF-CEM cells, followed by a rebound increase at 12 hr and a new decrease at 24 hr . Flow cytometry demonstrated an accumulation of cells in the S phase at 12 hr after heat exposure, followed by a marked increase of the G + M population (maximum at 24 hr ). The exposure time, and the sequence of administration of hyperthermia and FUra were critical determinants of cytotoxicity in this in vitro system and might constitute important variables of treatment when these two agents are used clinically.
L-glutamine D-fructose-6-P aminotransferase regulation by glucose-6-P and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine.

l-Glutamined-Fructose-6-P aminotransferase regulates hexosamine synthesis. An affinity purified human fibroblast aminotransferase and specific radioisotope assays developed by us were used to show an independent inhibition of the aminotransferase by Glucose-6-P. More interestingly, at concentration of UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine and glucose-6-P where either sugar has no independent inhibitory effect, there is an allosteric and significant inhibition of the aminotransferase.
Transfer of a salt-resistant renin allele raises blood pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

To evaluate the role of the renin gene in the development of hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (SS/Jr/Hsd), we derived a congenic strain of rats homozygous for the salt-resistant renin allele (S/ren rr ) and compared them with a control strain homozygous for the salt-sensitive renin allele (S/ren ss ). Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in 12-week-old S/ren rr rats fed a high salt (8.0%) diet for 3 weeks than in S/ren ss rats or in SS/Jr/Hsd rats rederived from the foundation colony we used to generate the congenic strain (195±3 [n=49] versus 168±3 [n=17] or 161±3 [n=16] mm Hg). Mean arterial pressure was also higher in S/ren rr rats than in S/ren ss rats raised from birth on either a very low salt (0.1%) diet (119±9 [n=6] versus 100±7 [n=4] mm Hg) or a low salt (0.4%) diet (143±1 [n=22] versus 117±3 [n=10] mm Hg). Plasma renin activity of S/ren rr rats was significantly higher than that of S/ren ss rats fed a very low salt diet (5.7±2.0 versus 1.8±0.3 ng angiotensin I/mL per hour), a low salt diet (4.4±1.0 versus 1.1±0.3), or a high salt diet (1.5±0.2 versus 0.9±0.1). Urinary protein excretion was greater in S/ren rr rats than in S/ren ss rats fed a high salt diet (244.2±48.5 versus 43.6±19.5 mg/24 h), and this was associated with significant reductions in renal blood flow (3.3±0.6 versus 4.6±0.5 mL/min per gram kidney weight) and glomerular filtration rate (0.49±0.11 versus 0.82±0.08 mL/min per gram kidney weight). Captopril (20 mg/kg IV) had no effect on blood pressure in S/ren ss rats fed a low salt diet, but it lowered blood pressure by 20 mm Hg in S/ren rr rats to the same level seen in untreated S/ren ss rats. Chronic administration of captopril (5 mg/100 mL drinking water) reduced blood pressure in S/ren rr rats fed a high salt diet (170±5 mm Hg) to the same level seen in untreated S/ren ss rats, whereas it had no significant effect on blood pressure in S/ren ss rats. These results indicate that transfer of a salt-resistant renin allele to SS/Jr/Hsd rats raises plasma renin activity and augments the severity of hypertension and renal disease.
3-Hydroxybenzoate 4-hydroxylase from Pseudomonas testosteroni.

Summary 3-Hydroxybenzoate 4-hydroxylase has been purified to homogeneity from extracts from extracts pf Ps . testosteroni . It is a flavoprotein (FAD) which catalyzes the transformation of 3-hydroxybenzoate to protocatechuate with equimolar consumption of NADPH and O 2 . NADH is a poor substitute for NADPH. Several analogues of 3-hydroxybenzoate substituted in the 2,4,5 and 6 positions, act as effectors and substrates for NADPH oxidation but with varying efficiencies of hydroxylation. 2,3-, 2,5-, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoates, 3-hydroxyanthranilate, 2-fluoro-5-hydroxybenzoate and 4-fluoro-3-hydroxybenzoate are competent substrates.
From Bhopal to Cold Fusion: A Case-Study Approach to Writing Assignments in Honors General Chemistry

Faculty from the chemistry and English departments have developed a combined second-semester honors general chemistry and college writing course that fosters critical thinking through challenging writing assignments. Examples of case-study writing assignments and guidelines are provided that faculty at other institutions can adapt in similar small-enrollment lower-division chemistry classes. Recommendations for the writing assignments are provided based on our experiences in developing and implementing them. These recommendations include (i) considering pedagogical principles that define instructional objectives, audience, interest and relevance, critical thinking, clarity, document design, scaffolding, scheduling, and evaluation; (ii) providing appropriate references which students use to formulate their arguments; (iii) posing ill-formed problems for students to engage course content and think critically; and (iv) staging these assignments in multiple drafts throughout the semester with detailed grading...
Regional climate model simulation of the AMMA Special Observing Period #3 and the pre-Helene easterly wave

The study examines results of dynamic downscaling of two global analyses: the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis II and the Global Forecast System final analysis (FNL). Downscaling to a 0.5° grid over West Africa and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean is accomplished by each of two regional models, the Regional Model, version 3 (RM3) of the Center for Climate Systems Research and the Weather, Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Simulations are for September 2006, the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) Special Observing Period #3 (SOP-3). The aim of this study is to exploit the increased spatial detail in the simulations and representations of climate fields by the regional models to analyze meteorological systems within the SOP-3 area of interest and time frame. In particular, the paper focuses on the regional models’ representations of the structure and movement of a prominent easterly wave during September 10–13th, the precursor of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene. It describes the RM3 simulated structure of the developing storm in terms of circulation, precipitation, vertical motion, cumulus heating rates, and cross-sections of wind and geopotential height anomalies. Simulated cumulus heating rates within the wave’s main precipitation area imply a lowering of the bases of active cumulus in the transition from the African continent to the Atlantic, indicating that the ocean environment promotes greater upward latent heat flux that in turn intensifies overlying storms. RM3 circulation, precipitation patterns, and storm trajectory are reasonably consistent with observational evidence. Experiments show that precipitation rates near 6°N over the eastern North Atlantic are sensitive to vertical thermal stability, such that they are enhanced by warmer in situ sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) and diminished by colder SSTs. However, prescribing colder SST causes increases in precipitation north of 9°N within areas of large scale upward vertical motion where rainfall rates are less sensitive to in situ SSTs. The evaluation of WRF indicates that its storm propagation is too fast over West Africa, where associated WRF precipitation rates are exaggerated, but its performance is improved over the Atlantic.
Assessment of BNP and NT-proBNP in emergency department patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndromes

Abstract Objectives: The relationship between BNP and NT-proBNP among physiologically and clinically relevant demographic subgroups has never been clarified in the context of the emergency department (ED). Design and methods: A blood sample taken from patients presenting to the E.D. with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) was analyzed for BNP and NT-proBNP, and correlation between them was examined as an entire group then as subgroups according to gender, ethnicity, age, and comorbidity variables. Results: BNP and NT-proBNP correlate well (0.89, P Conclusions: In general, BNP and NT-proBNP correlate very well in patients with suspected ACS and may aid in the risk stratification process in emergency departments.
Mothering in the Casa Datini

The Datini archive in Prato, Italy, provides much detailed information about mothers and children in a merchant-class household of late fourteenth- and early fifteenth-century Tuscany. Over some thirty years the childless Margherita Datini supervised and cared for children of friends, relatives and business associates, and her husband's illegitimate daughter. Letters, household financial records, and Datini's business ledgers reveal many aspects of the lives of Margherita – as surrogate mother – and the children. The data show a fluid environment overseen by a strong-willed and caring mistress.
Identification of chromosomal structural alterations in human ovarian carcinoma cells using combined GTG-banding and repetitive fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Abstract In order to identify chromosomal structural alterations in the ovarian carcinoma cell line MLS/P, fluorescence in situ hybridization with centromeric probes for chromosomes 1, 8, 9, 13 21 , 14 22 , 15, 17, and X and whole chromosome painting probes for chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, and X were performed subsequent to GTG-banding. This combined approach identified 14 of the 18 clonal structurally rearranged chromosomes, with the X chromosome involved in three aberrations. In contrast, only eight of the 14 rearrangements were identifiable by G-banding alone. These results indicate that the combined G-banding and FISH approach can significantly improve the cytogenetic analysis of human neoplasia.
Plasma norepinephrine in congestive heart failure

Abstract Resting plasma concentrations of norepinephrine, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase enzyme activity and peripheral blood lymphocyte beta adrenergic receptor sensitivity to isoproterenol as reflected in cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation were studied in patients with congestive heart failure due to atherosclerotic heart disease or to congestive cardiomyopathy or hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Systolic time Intervals were also measured in nonhypertensive patients and correlated with the plasma norepinephrine concentration. Control patients were hospital employees without a previous history of heart disease or hypertension, and were matched for age to eliminate the effect of increasing age on the plasma norepinephrine concentration. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the plasma norepinephrine concentration is directly related to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with congestive heart failure. When the systolic time intervals were correlated with the plasma norepinephrine levels, a significant prolongation of the preejection period was observed with progressively increasing plasma concentrations of norepinephrine. The reverse was true for the left ventricular ejection time, which demonstrated a significant Inverse relation with the plasma norepinephrine concentration. The ratio of the preejection period to the left ventricular ejection time, which is a reflection of left ventricular function, significantly increased with increasing levels of plasma norepinephrine. In addition, plasma lymphocytes from patients with the greatest degree of left ventricular dysfunction failed to generate normal amounts of cAMP after beta adrenergic receptor stimulation with isoproterenol. It Is suggested that beta adrenergic receptors are desensitized in these patients and that this desensitization contributes to the observed alterations in myocardial contractility.
Monolithically integrated III-Sb diode lasers on Si using interfacial misfit arrays

We present a 1.54 μm, 77 K, pulsed GaSb quantum well (QW) laser diode grown monolithically on a Si(100)-5° substrate. The III-Sb device is grown on an AlSb nucleation layer on Si with the 13% mismatch accommodated by a self-assembled 2D array of pure 90° dislocations. We demonstrate the simultaneous formation of this interfacial misfit dislocation (IMF) array along with antiphase domain suppression in the growth of AlSb on 5° miscut Si (001) substrate. The lomer dislocation spacing in the IMF (~ 3.46 nm) corresponds to the 13% mismatch between AlSb and Si and is also well matched to the step length of the 5° miscut Si (001) substrate. The resulting bulk material has both very low defect density (~7 × 105/cm 2 ) and very low APD density (~ 103/cm 2 ) confirmed by transmission electron and atomic force microscope images. The GaSb QW based laser diodes are grown on this high quality AlSb layer and the resulting devices operate at 77 K under pulsed conditions (2 μsec pulse-width and a 0.1% duty cycle) with an emission wavelength of 1.54 μm and a threshold current density of 2 kA/cm 2 for a 100 μm x 2mm device. The maximum peak power from the device is ~ 20 mWatts.
The Effect of Work Hour Regulations on Personal Development during Residency

As I approach the halfway point of my residency, I cannot imagine why anyone coming directly out of residency would want to practice full-time, except out of financial necessity. Residency training...
How stiff is DNA

The natural stiffness of DNA, which contributes to the interactions of the many proteins involved in its biological processing and packaging, also plays an important role in modern nanotechnology. Here we report new Monte-Carlo simulations of deformable DNA molecules of potential utility in understanding the behavior of the long, double-helical polymer in the tight confines of a cell and in the design of novel nanomaterials and molecular devices. We directly determine the fluctuations in end-to-end extension associated with the conventional elastic-rod representation of DNA and with more realistic models that take account of the precise deformability of the constituent base-pair steps. Notably, the variance of end-to-end distance shows a quadratic increase with chain length in short chains of both types. We also consider the contributions to chain extension from the chemical linkages used to attach small molecular probes to DNA. The distribution of computed distances is sensitive to the intrinsic structure and allowed deformations of the tether. Surprisingly, the enhancement in end-to-end variance associated with the presence of the probe depends upon chain length, even when the probe is rigidly connected to DNA. We find that the elastic rod model of DNA in combination with a slightly fluctuating tether accounts satisfactorily for the distributions of end-to-end distances extracted from the small-angle X-ray scattering of gold nanocrystals covalently linked to the ends of short DNAs. There is no need to introduce additional structural fluctuations to reproduce the measured uptake in end-to-end fluctuations with chain length.
Effect of Protonation on the Solution and Phase Behavior of Aqueous Sodium Myristate.

Abstract Aqueous sodium myristate solutions have been shown to have unusually low dynamic tensions (1–10 mN/m) under pulsating area conditions. These solutions have no sharp solubility limit, evidently because they are protonated (or “hydrolyzed”) to form the much less soluble myristic acid and acid soaps. With no added electrolytes, the protonation fraction is 1% or less. The apparent protonation equilibrium “constant” increases with increasing concentration, indicating strong solution nonidealities, in addition to micellization. This protonation seems to affect the solution and phase behavior of aqueous sodium myristate strongly, as evidenced by the effect of added NaOH. Ion-selective electrodes (for Na+ and H+) and conductimetry indicate that at 25°C dissolved surfactant concentrations keep increasing well after dispersed particles are observed (2 mM). A cmc of about 4.5 mM, micelles of aggregation number n=70 and counterion binding parameter β=0.7 are inferred from these techniques. The cmc of sodium myristate increases slightly with temperature from 25 to 45°C. FTIR analysis of the filtered particles indicates that the dispersed particles are mainly acid soaps for concentrations less than 6 mM. With 10 mM NaOH, the particles observed above 2 mM consist mostly of sodium myristate. From both conductivity and IR data, the solubility of sodium myristate in water at 25°C is estimated to be about 6 mM, and as expected, it increases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing sodium ion concentration.
An extended finite element method with analytical enrichment for cohesive crack modeling

A recent approach to fracture modeling has combined the extended finite element method (XFEM) with cohesive zone models. Most studies have used simplified enrichment functions to represent the strong discontinuity but have lacked an analytical basis to represent the displacement gradients in the vicinity of the cohesive crack. In this study enrichment functions based upon an existing analytical investigation of the cohesive crack problem are proposed. These functions have the potential of representing displacement gradients in the vicinity of the cohesive crack and allow the crack to incrementally advance across each element. Key aspects of the corresponding numerical formulation and enrichment functions are discussed. A parameter study for a simple mode I model problem is presented to evaluate if quasi-static crack propagation can be accurately followed with the proposed formulation. The effects of mesh refinement and mesh orientation are considered. Propagation of the cohesive zone tip and crack tip, time variation of the cohesive zone length, and crack profiles are examined. The analysis results indicate that the analytically based enrichment functions can accurately track the cohesive crack propagation of a mode I crack independent of mesh orientation. A mixed mode example further demonstrates the potential of the formulation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Midface Volume Replacement with a Transmaxillary Implant

Volume replacement is an essential component of midface rejuvenation. Previously designed alloplastic implants augment bony prominences. The Maxout™ implant was configured to add height to the lowest surface, the canine fossa. A random series of patients, from an office-based practice requested midface augmentation. Three of these patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. With the patient under local anesthetic, bilateral Maxout implants were inserted through either an intraoral or an intranasal incision. All the implants produced a satisfactory aesthetic improvement. In one HIV-positive patient, one implant placed intraorally became infected and required removal. It was replaced 3 months later through the transnasal approach. All the patients had retained their implants 1 year later. The Maxout implant is easy to insert and remove, aesthetically effective, secured by bone structures, and located in a neutral position. The risk of infection must be considered, especially for HIV-positive patients.
Suitability of nuclear medicine gamma cameras as gamma spectrometers in the event of a radiological emergency

Nuclear medicine gamma cameras are large area NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors that measure both the position and energy of incident gamma rays. A typical, commercial, large field-of-view (LFOV), gamma camera has about 2000 cm 3 of useful detector volume with an entrance window of 50 � 40 cm 2 by 1 cm thickness. A 3 00 � 3 00 NaI(Tl) detector, by comparison, has 17.4% of the volume and 2.3% of the area of the LFOV gamma camera. A 2002 survey reported 11,700 gamma cameras as being installed in hospitals and clinics in the US. In the event of a radiological emergency, the ability to utilize some of this installed detector capacity would be desirable. This work investigates the feasibility of using the gamma camera as a large area gamma spectrometer for detecting and quantifying isotopes likely to be involved in a radiological emergency caused by dispersion of radioactivity by a so called ‘‘dirty bomb.’’ Monte Carlo modeling was used to analyze detection sensitivity as a function of energy for the camera vs. the 3 00 � 3 00 cylinder. For a point source positioned 100 cm from the face of the detector, the ratio of total extrinsic efficiency of the camera to that of the 3 00 � 3 00 cylinder varied from 40.3 at 140 keV to 7.3 at 5 MeV. Ratios for extrinsic efficiency of peaks (including the full energy peak, single escape, and double escape peaks) varied from 41.1 at 140 keV to 5.5 at 5 MeV. Modifications that will be required to enable the cameras to function as spectrometers over a wide energy range are described and discussed. Given the large sensitivity advantage, the fact that the camera is shielded on three sides, and that cameras are already present at many locations to where victims of a disaster would be transported, it is desirable that such system capabilities be investigated. r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 29.30. Kv
Maximum Likelihood Estimates for the Lifetime of Bonded Dental Prostheses

Clinical studies measuring the lifetime of dental prostheses produce censored data when not all specimens have failed during the course of the study. Such clinical data can be analyzed by the Weibull probability distribution function. Algorithms are presented that provide the maximum likelihood estimates of the distribution's parameters. These parameters are the characteristic lifetime (time to failure for 63% of the specimens of the total sample) and the Weibull or shape parameter. Two iterative methods for solving the maximum likelihood equations are given. These mathematical methods have been applied to the results from a retrospective clinical investigation into the lifetime assessment of resin-bonded prostheses. This study evaluated 164 resin-bonded prostheses (for 146 patients) placed between January, 1980, and May, 1985. To date (April, 1995), 47 prostheses (29%) have failed with a median time in service of 74 months (6.2 yr). For the surviving prostheses, the median time in service is 123 months (...
Monte Carlo simulation of the neutron spectral fluence and dose equivalent for use in shielding a proton therapy vault

Neutron production is of principal concern when designing proton therapy vault shielding. Conventionally, neutron calculations are based on analytical methods, which do not accurately consider beam shaping components and nozzle shielding. The goal of this study was to calculate, using Monte Carlo modeling, the neutron spectral fluence and neutron dose equivalent generated by a realistic proton therapy nozzle and evaluate how these data could be used in shielding calculations. We modeled a contemporary passive scattering proton therapy nozzle in detail with the MCNPX simulation code. The neutron spectral fluence and dose equivalent at various locations in the treatment room were calculated and compared to those obtained from a thick iron target bombarded by parallel proton beams, the simplified geometry on which analytical methods are based. The neutron spectral fluence distributions were similar for both methods, with deeply penetrating high-energy neutrons (E > 10 MeV) being most prevalent along the beam central axis, and low-energy neutrons predominating the neutron spectral fluence in the lateral region. However, unlike the inverse square falloff used in conventional analytical methods, this study shows that the neutron dose equivalent per therapeutic dose in the treatment room decreased with distance approximately following a power law, with an exponent of about −1.63 in the lateral region and −1.73 in the downstream region. Based on the simulated data according to the detailed nozzle modeling, we developed an empirical equation to estimate the neutron dose equivalent at any location and distance in the treatment vault, e.g. for cases in which detailed Monte Carlo modeling is not feasible. We applied the simulated neutron spectral fluence and dose equivalent to a shielding calculation as an example.
Building a data file from historical archives

IN THE PAST TWO DECADES historians have turned to the computer in increasing numbers to aid them in unraveling the complex relationships which exist within their discipline. Two major problems encountered when attempting to apply quantitative methods to historical research are getting the data into a suitable form for computer analysis, and developing techniques for the analysis of the data. In the past, researchers have often resorted to manual encoding of the data into a numeric form and then have depended on statistical techniques for analysis. However, statistical techniques are unfamiliar to most historians and often unsuitable for the type of data with which they work. They do not restrict themselves to dealing with society en masse; but frequently desire to discover relationships between specific individuals. Therefore, a data file for historians should not only provide quantitative information that may be useful in revealing statistical relationships but also preserve the character of each data element so that the information may be selectively retrieved and individual relationships discovered. The manual encoding process usually employed in constructing a historical data base is not only tedious and error-prone but often destroys the information necessary to relate the individual data elements within the data file, and may even store the information in such a manner that ambiguous and erroneous relationships are suggested. No matter how elaborate the coding scheme, it usually cannot capture fully the variety of the actual document as it is found in the historical archive.
An Integrated Risk Reduction Intervention can reduce body mass index in individuals being treated for bipolar I disorder: results from a randomized trial.

Objectives We conducted a randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of an Integrated Risk Reduction Intervention (IRRI) to a control condition with the objective of improving mood stability and psychosocial functioning by reducing cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight/obese patients with bipolar I disorder.
Combined heat and privacy: Preventing occupancy detection from smart meters

Electric utilities are rapidly deploying smart meters that record and transmit electricity usage in real-time. As prior research shows, smart meter data indirectly leaks sensitive, and potentially valuable, information about a home's activities. An important example of the sensitive information smart meters reveal is occupancy—whether or not someone is home and when. As prior work also shows, occupancy is surprisingly easy to detect, since it highly correlates with simple statistical metrics, such as power's mean, variance, and range. Unfortunately, prior research that uses chemical energy storage, e.g., batteries, to prevent appliance power signature detection is prohibitively expensive when applied to occupancy detection. To address this problem, we propose preventing occupancy detection using the thermal energy storage of large elastic heating loads already present in many homes, such as electric water and space heaters. In essence, our approach, which we call Combined Heat and Privacy (CHPr), controls the power usage of these large loads to make it look like someone is always home. We design a CHPr-enabled water heater that regulates its energy usage to mask occupancy without violating its objective, e.g., to provide hot water on demand, and evaluate it in simulation and using a prototype. Our results show that a 50-gallon CHPr-enabled water heater decreases the Matthews Correlation Coefficient (a standard measure of a binary classifier's performance) of a threshold-based occupancy detection attack in a representative home by 10x (from 0.44 to 0.045), effectively preventing occupancy detection at no extra cost.
Rationalization of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries

Abstract In recent years, overcapacity in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries has resulted in a dangerous race for crab. This paper examines a unique management program developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council intended to alleviate these problems, while accommodating a variety of stakeholders dependent on the fisheries. The discussion concludes by identifying some of the most substantial hurdles that the program must overcome to succeed and some characteristics of the fisheries that contribute to the potential to overcome these obstacles.
Learning after cerebral hemidecortication in monkeys

Abstract Cerebral hemidecorticated monkeys were given two ambiguous cue problems, a spatial stimulus-response discontiguity and a delayed-response problem. In comparison to the normal animals, the lesioned monkeys exhibited a deficit on the first ambiguous test and on the contiguity problem. There was not, as was predicted, a difference on the delayed-response test.
Discretizing elastic chains for coarse-grained polymer models

Studying the statistical and dynamic behavior of semiflexible polymers under complex conditions generally requires discretizing the polymer into a sequence of beads for purposes of simulation. We present a novel approach for generating coarse-grained, discretized polymer models designed to reproduce the polymer statistics at intermediate to long lengths. Our versatile model allows for an arbitrary discretization length and is accurate over a larger range of length scales than the traditional bead–rod and bead–spring models. In its generality, the discrete, stretchable, shearable wormlike chain (dssWLC) model incorporates the anisotropic elasticity inherent in a semielastic chain on intermediate length scales. We demonstrate quantitatively the statistical accuracy of this model at different discretizations, thereby allowing for efficient selection of the number of segments to be simulated. The approach presented in this work provides a systematic procedure for generating coarse-grained discrete models to probe physical properties of a semielastic polymer at arbitrary length scales.
Identification of candidate transcription factor binding sites in the cattle genome.

A resource that provides candidate transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) does not currently exist for cattle. Such data is necessary, as predicted sites may serve as excellent starting locations for future omics studies to develop transcriptional regulation hypotheses. In order to generate this resource, we employed a phylogenetic footprinting approach—using sequence conservation across cattle, human and dog—and position-specific scoring matrices to identify 379,333 putative TFBSs upstream of nearly 8000 Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC) annotated genes within the cattle genome. Comparisons of our predictions to known binding site loci within the PCK1, ACTA1 and G6PC promoter regions revealed 75% sensitivity for our method of discovery. Additionally, we intersected our predictions with known cattle SNP variants in dbSNP and on the Illumina BovineHD 770k and Bos 1 SNP chips, finding 7534, 444 and 346 overlaps, respectively. Due to our stringent filtering criteria, these results represent high quality predictions of putative TFBSs within the cattle genome. All binding site predictions are freely available at http://bfgl.anri.barc.usda.gov/BovineTFBS/ or http://199.133.54.77/BovineTFBS.