cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The neural bases of distracter-resistant working memory

A major difference between humans and other animals is our capacity to maintain information in working memory (WM) while performing secondary tasks, which enables sustained, complex cognition. A common assumption is that the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for WM performance in the presence of distracters, but direct evidence is scarce. We assessed the relationship between fMRI activity and WM performance within-subjects, with performance matched across Distracter and No-distracter conditions. Activity in ventrolateral PFC during WM encoding and maintenance positively predicted performance in both conditions, whereas activity in the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) predicted performance only under distraction. Other parts of dorsolateral and ventrolateral PFC predicted performance only in the No-distracter condition. These findings challenge a lateral PFC-centered view of distracter-resistance, and suggest that the lateral PFC supports a type of WM representation that is efficient for dealing with task-irrelevant input but is nonetheless easily disrupted by dual-task demands.
Determination of Vitamin E and its Metabolites in Equine Urine Using Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry

Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) is a hereditary, deteriorating central nervous disease in horses. Currently, the only way to confirm eNAD/EDM is through a postmortem histological evaluation of the central nervous system. Vitamin E, specifically the isoform alpha-tocopherol (α-TP), is known to protect eNAD/EDM susceptible horses from developing the clinical phenotype. While vitamin E is an essential nutrient in the diet of horses, there are no diagnostic tests able to quantitate vitamin E and its metabolites in urine. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-APCI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated following acidic hydrolysis and solid phase extraction to quantitate vitamin E and its metabolites in equine urine. A blank control horse urine matrix was used and spiked with different concentrations of analytes to form a standard curve using either alpha-tocopherol-d6 or chlorpropamide as the internal standard. Inter-day and intra-day statistics were performed to evaluate the method for accuracy (90% to 116%) and precision (0.75% to 14%). Matrix effects, percent recovery, and stability were also assessed. The method successfully analyzed alpha-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (α-CEHC), alpha-carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychromans (α-CMBHC), gamma-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman γ-CEHC, and α-TP concentrations in urine to determine a baseline levels of analytes in healthy horses, and can be used to determine concentrations of vitamin E metabolites in equine urine allowing for its evaluation as a diagnostic approach in the treatment of eNAD/EDM.
Anticipating revisions in the transportation services index

The Transportation Services Index (TSI) lags two months from its release date due to source data availability, and it is desirable to publish a preliminary TSI that is advanced two months ahead We model and forecast TSI with a co-integrated Vector Autoregression, also considering two explanatory series that do not have publication delay Thus we are able to produce forecasts and nowcasts of the index, and we demonstrate that – during normal economic conditions – out-of-sample performance is within the scope expected by the forecast confidence intervals We also examine the performance of the models at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the large forecast errors at this regime change are beyond the bounds indicated by our model The practical ramifications of this methodology is discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Statistical Journal of the IAOS is the property of IOS Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Consequences of Ustilaginoidea virens infection, causal agent of false smut disease of rice, on production and grain quality of rice

Abstract Nowadays, false smut of rice, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, is a disease of interest in the world. Presently, its traditional status as ‘minor disease’ has changed with widespread reports of severity from all the rice growing countries of the world. While many reports are available on the yield loss from the disease, little is known of its effect on grain quality. The present study is planned mainly to evaluate the effect of false smut disease on grain quality of different rice varieties from India. False smut had significant effect on yield (loss of 0.7–8.6%), cooking and nutritional qualities of many popular Indian varieties. Significant changes (p
Massive Tension Hemothorax After Pacemaker Implantation

A case of an 85-year-old male on apixaban and clopidogrel undergoing pacemaker implantation is described. After procedure he developed unilateral tension hemothorax and required emergent drainage and exploratory thoracotomy. No vascular, cardiac, or pulmonary source was identified. After multidisciplinary discussions, it was speculated that spontaneous intercostal vessel rupture due to forceful coughing and elevated blood pressure during the procedure was the most likely cause of bleeding.
Complete Guide to Internet Publicity: Creating and Launching Successful Online Campaigns

From the Publisher: Strategies for grabbingand holdingan audiences attention online The definitive resource for PR and marketing professionals, this sequel to Steve OKeefes best-selling classic Publicity on the Internet (0-471-16175-6) provides detailed, how-to instructions on planning, designing, implementing, troubleshooting, and measuring the results of online campaigns. Throughout the book, the author enlivens his coverage with inspiring and instructive vignettes and case studies of successful campaigns. Steve OKeefe covers everything the reader will need to get up to speed on search engine optimization, newsletters, news rooms, e-mail marketing, e-mail merge software, syndication and affiliate programs, and building in-house publicity operations. Companion Web site features customizable Word and HTML templates, weekly live discussions groups, and valuable resource listings.
The Use of k Values in the Interpretation of Glass Density and Refractive Index Data

A k value represents a type of summary statistic by means of which glass evidence may be interpreted. This statistic is defined as k = V/D, where the dispersion V = (nD − 1)/(nF − nC), and where D is the density. The k value is therefore the slope of a line through the 0,0 origin and a plot of dispersion versus density. Obtaining a k value facilitates the interpretation of commonality of source, since “within-item” variation in density and refractive index does not significantly alter the k value. “Between-item” variation, on the other hand, profoundly influences the k value, even if the density and one of the refractive indices are coincidentally similar.
Transonic wing design using potential-flow codes - Successes and failures

The state-of-the-art of transonic wing design by use of computer codes based on the potential flow-theory is presented. The capabilities and limitations of these codes are exemplified by several experiment-theory correlations, including an assessment of pressure distribution from isolated wing and wing-body codes. Computer codes using both conservative and nonconservative differencing schemes were used, and the effects of boundary-layer corrections were considered. Results showed that calculations from a full potential, isolated code correlate well with data from an isolated wing test, but may give poor predictions of the aerodynamic characteristics of some wing-body configurations. Boundary-layer correlations were found to have only moderate effects on experiment-theory correlation. Aeroelastic effects were considered important for high aspect ratio wings of low to moderate thickness, and viscous effects were minimal for typical cruise conditions, even for Reynold's numbers as low as two million. The effect of wind-tunnel walls on experiment-theory correlations remained inconclusive. A wing-body code was used to calculate the flow field about a wing-body configuration with body-mounted engines, typical of the transonic Biz-Jet aircraft.
Treason and Betrayal in the Middle English Romances of Sir Gawain

This article explores the themes of treason and betrayal which are common motifs of medieval romances, speci fically those featuring the Arthurian knight Sir Gawain. Because loyalty to one’s lord, nation, or family unit was critical for survival in the Middle Ages, the problem of treachery by close companions is often a recurring subject in romances from this period. Such themes revealed to their audience the fragility of these relationships and cautioned against overconfidence in the bonds of loyalty. Romances featuring Gawain, like the Middle English Awntyrs off Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, conclude with the young hero learning to understand the dangers of duplicity. Positioning these messages about treason against the competing tradition of Gawain’s own role in Arthur’s betrayal, however, exposes a broader lesson about finding comfort in loyalty. Only by reading the lessons of the Gawain romances through the wider lens of those traditions surrounding the fall of Arthur’s kingdom can we gain a full appreciation of the medieval warnings against treason and betrayal included in these romances. Treason and betrayal both play significant roles in the literature of the Middle Ages. As Richard Firth Green points out in The Crisis of Truth, just like “truth,” “treason” is a crit ical and enigmatic concept for the late medieval English world.1 One does not need to look extensively within medieval romance texts to encounter numerous examples of treasonous behavior in the sources of both the British Isles and the Continent. From the infamous betrayal of Ganelon in the French Chanson de Roland to the myriad Arthurian stories chronicling the usurpation of the throne by the wicked and treacherous Mordred, subversion and infidelity are themes that stretch across the boundaries of nation, language, and even concepts of genre to occupy a momentous place in the corpus of medieval literature.2 Within the romances of the Middle Ages, however, treason and betrayal become particularly important motifs employed by poets in order to deprive the protagonist of his or her rightful inheri1 Richard Firth Green, The Crisis of Truth (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999), 207. 2 As Charles Dunn and Edward Byrnes point out, the classification of medieval texts into genre groups is “not entirely unambiguous,” as a modern concept of genre does not translate completely into a medieval context. However, the term is frequently applied to medieval writing in order to assist in grouping texts with similar characters, values, and subjects together. I use this word here because treason does appear outside of one particular group of medieval texts. Charles Dunn and Edward Byrnes, “ Introduction,” Middle English Literature (New York: Garland Publishing, 1990), 6. For more on the concept of genre, see also Ralph Cohen, “History and Genre,” New Literary History 17 (1986): 203-
Behaviors analysis with a game-like learning system for pre-school children

Teaching by fun is the most ideal teaching strategy in the educational field. In that case we are trying to establish a game-like learning system with Multi-modal interface and mix-initiative dialogue system for pre-school children.
Non-Localized Acoustic Receptivity and Subsequent Disturbance Growth in a Blasius Boundary Layer

Acoustic receptivity was experimentally examined for a Blasius boundary layer with receptivity sites in the form of 2-D waviness and oblique waviness. Linear receptivity coefficients obtained for all values of forcing combinations (Epsilon dot Delta h) are in good agreement with receptivity theory. The measured receptivity increased markedly with increasing wave obliqueness. Detuning was investigated by varying the streamwise wavenumber, alpha w, of the 2-D and oblique wall waviness.
Normal Mode Quantization of Relativistic Scalar Fields in an Einstein Elevator

We present an exact quantization of the Klein-Gordon field in a uniformly accelerated elevator. We then appeal to the Principle of Equivalence in order to infer properties of the related general relativistic quantum field theory. Among our results are: the exact expression for the energy eigenvalues, the appearance of a mass term even when the bare mass of the scalar field vanishes, and perhaps, most interesting, a rigorous proof of the conservation of the number of quanta, contrary to what might be expected from the Unruh effect.
Highway User Benefit/Cost Analysis in California

Recent and timely emphasis on environmental impact and on community involvement in the highway planning process does not eliminate User Benefit/Cost Analysis as a necessary part of the process. The California Department of Transportation has employed user benefit/cost measures for many years. The procedure used today is based on experience and research. It is a compromise between economic rigor and operational simplicity. The current procedure is developed as a computerized User Benefit/Cost Model that provides on-line update capability for all data. The model receives projected traffic demand, existing and proposed highway geometry, and initial project cost as inputs. Separate user benefit/cost indices for safety and delay benefits are calculated. Estimated future benefits and costs (in today’s dollars) are inflated, then discounted to their present worth, using appropriate compound interest relationships.
Laser created silicon vias for stacking dies in MCMs

The stacking of silicon devices is gaining some interest as it will allow even greater densities over current multichip module (MCM) approaches. One type of approach being tried in the industry is interconnecting stacked dies by routing their metal lines to the edge of the die and then strapping the appropriate lines from each die together. An approach being pursued by the Center for Microelectronics Research (CMR) at the University of South Florida is the creation of silicon interconnect vias for communication through the active chip or wafer. Vias of 1 to 2 mil diameters have been successfully created by laser ablation of silicon. Studies are currently in progress to determine the effect such via creation has on nearby active devices. A test vehicle containing transistors and capacitors of various geometries is being employed for the purpose of measuring any detriment that the laser drilling has when vias are created. Data are presented on whether any changes have been measured in various parameters, such as subthreshold voltages and current leakage. Scanning electron micrographs are shown, and progress to date on the methodology employed for metallizing the side walls of the vias is discussed. >
Regimens for Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is prevalent in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has an accelerated disease course. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies that do not require interferon increase response rates to levels identical to those seen in HCV monoinfection. However, drug-drug interaction between antiretrovirals and HCV medication is the major consideration in deciding on the appropriate HCV therapeutic approach in patients with HIV. This article summarizes the currently available data with HCV DAAs in patients with HIV, and focuses on predicting and managing drug interaction to facilitate successful DAA-based HCV therapy in those with HIV.
In vitro and in vivo characterization of an ail mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica

Ail is a 17-kDa protein of Yersinia enterocolitica previously identified on the basis of its ability to confer upon Escherichia coli the phenotype of attachment and invasion of cultured epithelial cells. Here we report an examination of the contribution of ail to the pathogenicity of Y. enterocolitica. A low-copy-number ail plasmid that promoted serum resistance in E. coli HB101 was constructed. The serum resistance phenotype conferred by ail to E. coli was affected by the growth phase of the culture as well as by the gene copy number. In contrast, the copy number of ail (and the relative quantity of Ail) was found to have little effect on the amount of Ail-promoted invasion of cultured epithelial cells. An ail mutant of Y. enterocolitica was constructed and characterized in vitro. This mutant produced no detectable Ail and had a reduced ability to invade CHO cells. Serum resistance of Y. enterocolitica was Ail dependent and was affected by growth phase and ail copy number. The phenotype of the ail mutant was examined in vivo by using a murine model for infection. The ail mutant phenotype was identical to that of the wild-type strain in oral 50% lethal dose studies and early colonization of Peyer's patches as well as in kinetic studies. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of Ail produced by bacteria growing in vivo at 48 h postinfection indicated that ail was expressed at this time point. Thus, our findings confirm that Ail contributes to the serum resistance and invasion phenotypes of Y. enterocolitica in vitro and indicate that Ail is not required to establish an infection or to cause systemic infection of BALB/c or DBA/2 mice.
TU-C-141-09: An Automated Workflow for Patient-Specific Verification of Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: To develop an automated workflow for patient‐specific verification of deformable image registration (DIR). Methods: The central concept behind this verification process is digitally applying test deformations to patient images and comparing to those returned from clinical DIR algorithms. The patient‐specific nature of these test deformations is the novel feature of this workflow. First, a set of different test DIR algorithms is applied to the original clinical images. The deformations produced by these algorithms represent plausible deformations and are applied to the clinical moving image, producing a set of test fixed images. A combination of computed‐tomography images of a water phantom with frequency‐domain image filtering is utilized to first remove image noise and then reintroduce distinct noise fluctuations on the moving and fixed test images, which would otherwise skew DIR error evaluation. The clinical algorithm is then applied to the set of test images, which yields a set of theoretical deformations. For each image voxel, the set of theoretical deformations are compared to those actually applied. The maximum discrepancy in each direction becomes the theoretical uncertainty for that voxel on the clinical image. This creates an uncertainty vector field, which can be applied to patient contours and dose to evaluate potential clinical errors from DIR uncertainty. The results of this process are benchmarked against an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom, which possesses a measured ground‐truth deformation. Results: The theoretical DIR uncertainties from the workflow gave an accurate indication for the spatial location of the actual errors, but tended to overestimate the error magnitude. The maximum theoretical uncertainties in the anterior and lateral directions were 15.4 and 11.5 mm, respectively, compared to the maximum measured errors of 12.6 and 3.0 mm, respectively. Conclusion: This workflow demonstrates the ability to perform automated patient‐specific verification for DIR. Further work to develop the method is ongoing.
Flue gas desulfurization gypsum improves orchardgrass root density and water extraction in an acid subsoil

In Appalachia, many soils are acidic, high in exchangeable aluminium, and low in calcium. Large amounts of high gypsum flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by-products are currently disposed of into landfills, although they have potential value as a soil amendment for the region. This study was conducted to determine if leaching an acid subsoil with a saturated solution of a FGD by-product can improve the subsoil as a rooting media for orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) which is widely used for pasture in the region. Orchardgrass was grown in soil from a pHc 3.8 (in 0.01 M CaCl2) Lily loam Bt horizon (fine loamy siliceous, mesic, Typic Hapludult) leached with two different rates of a saturated FGD by-product aqueous solution, as well as in soil that was limed, and an unamended soil. Water use by a clipped and partially enclosed vegetative canopy was measured in a growth chamber during two drying cycles. Small but consistent increases in water use were correlated with decreases in aluminium saturation of the soil. The effect was greatest during the second drying cycle. Increases in root biomass were also correlated with decreases in aluminium saturation. The effect of treatment on the pattern of water use altered after the first drying cycle when water uptake became most restricted in the unamended treatment. The manganese content of leaf tissue increased from 208 mg kg-1 to 570 mg kg-1 between the unaltered and highest leaching rate treatment. The highest level was still below the 2000 mg kg-1 that is considered toxic to grazing animals. These results suggest that the application of high gypsum FGD by-products to pastures in Appalachia has the potential to improve root growth and functioning in subsoil horizons, but some care may be needed to monitor forage quality.
Stability of Spinning Shear-Deformable Laminated Composite Plates

Abstract A first order, shear deformation plate theory is used to study the buckling speeds and the corresponding deformed shape of spinning, laminated composite plates offset from the axis of rotation. The theory accounts for geometric non-linearity in the form of von Karman strains and the effects of rotatory inertia. A displacement finite element model is developed to obtain the numerical solutions to this class of problems. The buckling speeds are presented as functions of spin vector location and orientation (pitch and precone), and composite ply lay-up. The phenomenon of tensile buckling is examined. The buckling speed is seen to decrease with the spin vector offset from the plate clamped root, and increasing pitch orientation. It is shown that laminated plates can be designed to buckle in specific modes and at specific speeds. Non-linear effects have been shown to be significant for cases where there is coupling between in-plane and out-of-plane deflections of the plate. This coupling is a result of either material anisotropy or the application of forces out of plane of the plate.
Properties of inspiratory termination by superior laryngeal and vagal stimulation

Electrical stimulation of two respiratory afferent nerves, the vagus and the internal branch of the superior laryngeal, was used to terminate inspiration. The short latency responses of phrenic motoneurones to these stimuli were studied to determine if inspiratory termination was preceded by a characteristic phrenic motoneurone discharge pattern, reflecting changes in brainstem inspiratory neurone discharge and inspiratory terminating mechanisms. Stimulus trains of sufficient intensity delivered to the superior laryngeal nerve terminated inspiration within 50 ms and were preceded by a stereotyped pattern of phrenic motoneurone discharge. This consisted of a short latency (disynaptic), predominantly contralateral excitation in response to the first shock of the train, followed by a marked and long lasting inhibition. In contrast, vagal stimulation typically terminated inspiration hundreds of milliseconds after the onset of the stimulus train and was not preceded by a stereotyped pattern of phrenic motoneurone responses to single shocks. Transient short latency responses were obtained but were extremely small, requiring considerable excitation followed by a moderate bilateral depression of activity. Inspiration could be terminated with or without the presence of these short latency responses. These results indicate that superior laryngeal and vagal (presumably pulmonary stretch receptor) afferents have different projections to brainstem inspiratory neurones and may exert their effects on inspiratory duration through different, but as yet undefined, neural mechanisms.
Champions, Agents and Collaborators: leadership keys to successful systemic change

(1998). Champions, Agents and Collaborators: leadership keys to successful systemic change. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 19-30.
An Interdisciplinary Faculty Development Model for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders

Background: The skills of faculty working in health fields are inadequate to meet the needs of those adversely affected by alcohol. This project was designed to increase the teaching, clinical, and research activities of faculty from multiple disciplines at the university level. Methods: The faculty development model included two 2-day skills-based courses held 6 months apart, precourse and postcourse evaluations, active mentoring, and development of a specific work plan for each participant. The educational model utilized skills-based courses previously developed for full-time clinical/teaching medical faculty with limited time and resources. Results: A total of 153 participants at 6 locations completed the courses; 131 completed the 6-month follow-up interview. Sixty-four designed teaching, clinical, or research projects during the 6-month period between the first and second courses. Precourse versus postcourse clinical scores from standardized patient encounters showed highly significant improvements in screening, brief intervention, and motivational interviewing skills (p<0.001). At the 6-month follow-up interview, 61% of the participants reported teaching on alcohol, tobacco, or drug problems; 49% reported clinical activities in this area; 36% reported conducting research; 10% had submitted manuscripts for publication; 12% had submitted grant applications; and 32% percent had sought additional AODA training. Participants gave high scores to all components of the faculty development model; 81% would repeat the training and 98% would recommend the program to colleagues. Conclusions: This cost-effective faculty development program can serve as a model to increase educational programs on substance abuse at public universities, increase faculty research activities in the alcohol area, and increase clinical programs in university hospitals.
Applicability of weak electrolyte theory to glasses

There is a possibility that not all alkali ions are mobile in glass at a given time, similar to the weak electrolyte aqueous solution. The applicability of the weak electrolyte theory was tested by two types of experiments; one is the concentration dependence of the equivalent conductance of GeO2 glasses containing small amounts of Na2O and the other is the high field conduction of commercial glasses. In both cases, the theory was found to be applicable in a limited range.
Attending to Power and Diversity in Supervision: An Exploration of Supervisee Learning Outcomes and Satisfaction With Supervision

Diversity is becoming more important in clinical training programs as clients, students, and supervisors become more diverse. At the same time there is a focus on learning outcomes in order for programs to graduate competent therapists. Supervision that attends to power and diversity can provide a supportive environment where the supervisor can model the importance of addressing these issues to influence (a) positive clinical outcomes for clients because of isomorphism, (b) satisfaction with supervision, and (c) enhanced learning outcomes for supervisees. The purpose of this study was to explore the use and influence of feminist supervisory practices on satisfaction and learning outcomes from the perspective of supervisees and supervisors in Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education-accredited programs who completed a 70-question online survey. Results indicated that from supervisees' perspective attending to power and diversity in supervision influenced satisfaction with super...
Infrared spectroscopic studies of myeloid leukemia (ML-1) cells at different phases of the cell cycle

Advances in infrared spectroscopic methodology permit excellent infrared spectra to be collected from objects as small as single human cells. These advances have lead to an increased interest of the use of infrared spectroscopy as a medical diagnostic tool. Infrared spectra of myeloid leukemia (ML-1) cells are reported for cells derived from an asynchronous, exponentially-growing culture, as well as for cells that were fractionated according to their stage within the cell division cycle. The observed results suggest that the cells' DNA is detectable by infrared spectroscopy mainly when the cell is in the S phase, during the replication of DNA. In the G1 and G2 phases, the DNA is so tightly packed in the nucleus that it appears opaque to infrared radiation. Consequently, the nucleic acid spectral contributions in the G1 and G2 phases would be mostly that of cytoplasmic RNA. These results suggest that infrared spectral changes observed earlier between normal and abnormal cells may have been due to different distributions of cells within the stages of the cell division cycle.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A study of the brush/rotor interface of a homopolar motor using acoustic emission

Acoustic emission transducers were used to study the brush/rotor interface of a homopolar motor as a function of design parameters such as speed and load. The results indicate that acoustic emission is well suited for in situ monitoring of brush wear and rotor conditions, and for analyzing the tribological phenomena occurring at the brush/rotor interface.
Presidential Environmental Appointees in Comparative Perspective

The pathologies of the presidential appointment process are well documented and include appointees’ frequent lack of federal government work experience and their short appointment tenures. Less well understood are whether and to what extent these problems affect different subsets of high-level appointees, such as administrators in the environmental bureaucracy. Top-tier environmental appointees tend to stay longer in their appointed positions than do presidential appointees generally, and more than 40 percent have prior federal government management experience. These and other data suggest that key problems ascribed to the presidential appointment process are less salient in the case of high-level environmental appointees. Appointees in Republican and Democratic administrations have comparable levels of academic training and federal government experience. These similarities notwithstanding, White House expectations for appointees’ political loyalty varies more from administration to administration. The Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush (first term) administrations maintained the highest demands for political loyalty, with consequences for the policy–administration dichotomy in environmental agencies.
Isolation and Identification of Dry Salami Volatiles

The volatile constituents of air-dried, mold-fermented salami sausage were isolated from meat and casing using a dynamic headspace/continuous solvent extraction method. Apolar and polar fractions of the aroma concentrates, and a methylated acidic ether extract of the defatted meat were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography and coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Most volatiles identified were derived from lipid degradation, from pepper (added as a spice), and from the degradation of pepper terpenes and phenolics. Neither typical intermediates of fatty acid autoxidation nor N-containing volatiles were among the 68 identified compounds. The contribution of lipid precursors was essential to overall flavor as were the microbial activities.
Structural Composite Capacitors, Supercapacitors, and Batteries for U.S. Army Applications

Structural capacitors, supercapacitors, and batteries are fabricated and tested, using modified materials and processes based on conventional fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. Printed circuit board prepregs are used to create structural capacitors that demonstrate good dielectric energy density and mechanical stiffness and strength. Structural supercapacitors are created using carbon fabric electrodes and a liquid-plasticized, epoxy polymer electrolyte. A similar construction is used to create structural batteries, by substituting LiFePO4 -coated carbon fiber fabric as cathodes opposed to unmodified carbon fiber anodes. Structural batteries and supercapacitors show basic electrochemical and mechanical functionality. However, significant additional work is required to improve their quantitative performance to values of practical engineering value.
Regionalism and Modernity: Architecture in Western Europe 1914–1940

Leen Meganck, Linda Van SantVoort, and Jan De Maeyer, EditorsLeuven University Press, 2013240 pages, 140 illustrations$85.00 (cloth)There has been a quiet resurgence in the discourse of architectur...
Toward A High-Level Reasoning Module for Enterprise Information Systems

We propose and describe a working program to assist in the overall management of the information resources of an organization. Such a module would be the "brain" of an enterprise information system. It would possess an understanding of all the digitally stored information of the organization, and it would act as a monitor, watching over and supervising the enterprise information system. The program we describe is based on strong theoretical foundations of recent work in the logic programming community. In addition to possessing the many desirable characteristics of logic programs (such as pattern matching, dealing with uncertain and incomplete data, separation of knowledge and control, etc.), the program is novel. It can maintain multiple views of the word simultaneously, it can reason with respect to time, and it can introspect with respect to its beliefs. Further, given adequate definitions of what are abnormal relationships among various components of an enterprise information system, this module can detect problems within and between such systems.
A 10-Year, Single Tertiary Care Center Experience on the Durability of Infliximab in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND Despite increasing use of infliximab (IFX) in children with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), long-term durability and safety of IFX beyond 1 year is limited in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS We performed a 10-year single-center retrospective cohort study of 188 patients initiating IFX at <21 years of age with 1-year minimum follow-up. Data were retrieved from medical records. IFX outcomes were defined as sustained remission in the absence of dose modification (sustained durable remission), recaptured response, and treatment failure. Adverse events, anti-infliximab antibodies (ATI), and role of concomitant low-dose oral methotrexate (<10 mg/wk) on IFX durability were analyzed. Univariate associations and survival analysis were performed. RESULTS As of the last follow-up, 39% of patients with CD and 29% of patients with UC achieved sustained durable remission and another 60% recaptured and maintained response. For CD, 88% remained on IFX at 1 year, 80% at 2 years, and 82% at 5 years. In UC, 70% avoided colectomy at 1 year. Of IFX failures, 25% with CD and 11% with UC developed ATI. The most common adverse event causing cessation of therapy was infusion reactions. Treatment limiting recurrent infections occurred in <1%, and 1 patient developed lymphoproliferative disease. Low-dose methotrexate did not influence any IFX outcomes. CONCLUSIONS IFX is safe and effective for long-term maintenance therapy in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. IFX dose intensification can optimize durability and overcome loss of response. Loss of response is likely affected by development of ATI. Higher doses of oral methotrexate may be needed to optimize IFX.
What Should Teacher Educators Know and Be Able to Do? Perspectives From Practicing Teacher Educators

Commonsense reasoning says that quality teacher education relies on quality teacher educators. Yet, there is minimal attention to what teacher educators should know and be able to do. Unquestionably, teacher educators cannot teach what they do not know; but what should they know, and should they be prepared? This study of 293 teacher educators investigated the following: What do current teacher educators consider to be the foundation elements of their practice? How do they evaluate their own preparation in these areas? How can their experiences inform the preparation of teacher educators? We use Cochran-Smith and Lytle’s theorizing about “relationships of knowledge and practice” to understand knowledge essential to teacher educating (a term we use to differentiate teaching teachers from teaching students). Our findings reveal that practicing teacher educators often feel unprepared to assume their role but can offer helpful insight into how we should think deliberately about quality teacher educator prepar...
Effects of Increasing Sound Pressure Level on Lip and Jaw Movement Parameters and Consistency in Young Adults

Purpose Examination of movement parameters and consistency has been used to infer underlying neural control of movement. However, there has been no systematic investigation of whether the way indiv...
Concept of linear run and its application to image compression

We introduce here the motion of a linear-run in the sequence of gray values of an image. We present an optimal linear-time algorithm for decomposing an image into the smallest number of linear-runs that approximate the gray values within a given error limit (epsilon) > 0. For (epsilon) <EQ 6, which give good visual quality approximations, the linear-runs give significantly fewer runs that the traditional runs based on constant gray values in each run, and requires only about 1/3 of the memory needed for the traditional run-length method.We demonstrate the usefulness of this method on example images.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Statistical Comparisons of the Osteology of Southwestern Columbidae

Abstract Columbid remains are commonly recovered in Quaternary deposits, but identification to the species level has been difficult, if not impossible, in areas where several species occur in sympatry. In the U.S.A., the problem becomes complex in the Southwest, where Neotropical species from Mexico occur in addition to the typical North American species. Twelve major skeletal elements of nine species of the Columbidae likely to be found in Quaternary deposits in the American Southwest were examined quantitatively. Discriminant analyses were used in an attempt to distinguish individual elements of the examined species. The skull, femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus of some species could be discriminated, presenting the possibility of identifying these elements to the species level. Other elements could be identified with varying levels of success, providing a cautionary note in identifying solitary elements beyond the genus level.
Effects of insertion speed and trocar stiffness on the accuracy of needle position for brachytherapy

Purpose: In prostate brachytherapy, accurate positioning of the needle tip to place radioactive seeds at its target site is critical for successful radiation treatment. During the procedure, needle deflection leads to seed misplacement and suboptimal radiationdose to cancerous cells. In practice, radiationoncologists commonly use high-speed hand needle insertion to minimize displacement of the prostate as well as the needle deflection. Effects of speed during needle insertion and stiffness of trocar (a solid rod inside the hollow cannula) on needle deflection are studied. Methods: Needle insertion experiments into phantom were performed using a 22 factorial design (2 parameters at 2 levels), with each condition having replicates. Analysis of the deflection data included calculating the average, standard deviation, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to find significant single and two-way interaction factors. Results: The stiffer tungstencarbide trocar is effective in reducing the average and standard deviation of needle deflection. The fast insertion speed together with the stiffer trocar generated the smallest average and standard deviation for needle deflection for almost all cases. Conclusions: The combination of stiff tungstencarbide trocar and fast needle insertion speed are important to decreasing needle deflection. The knowledge gained from this study can be used to improve the accuracy of needle insertion during brachytherapy procedures.
CL(R) is simply connected under the Vietoris topology

In this paper we present a proof by construction that the hyperspace CL(R) of closed, nonemtpy subsets of R is simply connected under the Vietoris topology. This is useful in considering the convergence of time scales. We also present a construction of the (known) fact that this hyperspace is also path connected, as part of the proof.
Imaginary Companions and Peer Acceptance.

Early research on imaginary companions suggests that children who create them do so to compensate for poor social relationships. Consequently, the peer acceptance of children with imaginary companions was compared to that of their peers. Sociometrics were conducted on 88 preschool-aged children; 11 had invisible companions, 16 had personified objects (e.g., stuffed animals animated by the child) and 65 had no imaginary companion. The three groups were compared on positive and negative nominations, social preference, social impact, and total number of reciprocal friends. Given the positive correlation between pretend play and social competence, fantasy predisposition was used as a covariate. The groups did not differ on number of positive nominations by peers, total number of reciprocal friends, or social preference scores. However, compared to their peers, children with personified objects had higher social impact scores, largely as a result of negative nominations. Attention is thus called to the differe...
Beneficial and detrimental effects of lidoflazine in microvascular angina

Abstract Lidoflazine, a piperazine derivative calcium antagonist, was investigated as therapy in 22 patients with microvascular angina (chest pain, angiographically normal coronary arteries and left ventricle, microvascular constrictor response to pacing after ergonovine administration and limited coronary flow response to dipyridamole). Eighteen of 22 patients reported symptom benefit while taking lidoflazine 360 mg daily. Compared to baseline exercise treadmill testing, lidoflazine resulted in significant improvement in exercise duration (812 ± 337 vs 628 ± 357 seconds, p Limited coronary vasodilator response in microvascular angina has a reversible vasoconstrictor component and may be due to elevated systolic calcium levels. Despite the hemodynamic, symptom and exercise benefit, lidoflazine may be unsafe for clinical use because of its propensity to cause potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias.
Health status among emergency department patients approximately one year after consecutive disasters in New York City

Objectives: Emergency department (ED) patients with disaster-related experiences may present with vague symptoms not clearly linked to the event. In 2001, two disasters in New York City, the World Trade Center disaster (WTCD) and the subsequent American Airlines Flight 587 crash, presented an opportunity to study long-term consequences of cumulative disaster exposure (CDE) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among ED patients. Methods: From July 15 to October 30, 2002, a systematic sample of stable, adult patients from two EDs in New York City were enrolled. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to assess overall health status. Bivariate analyses were conducted to identify individual correlates of worsening health status. Multivariate regression was performed to identify the association between various factors and overall health status, while controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. Results: Four hundred seventy-one patients (54.6% female) participated. The participation rate was 73.4%. One hundred sixty-one participants (36%) reported direct, indirect, or occupational exposure to the WTCD; 55 (13.3%) had direct, indirect, or occupational exposure to the plane crash; 33 (8.1%) had both exposures. In separate multivariate models, CDE predicted lower SF-36 scores for general health (p < 0.0096), mental health (p < 0.0033), and bodily pain (p < 0.0046). Conclusions: In the year following mass traumatic events, persons with CDE had lower overall health status than those with one or no disaster exposure. Clinicians should consider the impact that traumatic events have on the overall health status of ED patients in the wake of consecutive disasters.
Audit Quality of Second-Tier Auditors: Are All Created Equally

Policy makers and regulators are interested in increasing auditor choice. A common problem faced by large firms is that one auditor is for external audit, a second for internal audit, a third for tax, a fourth for consulting (Cox, 2005; GAO, 2008, p. 22). A possible option for alleviating this auditor choice problem is to have the second-tier auditors as an acceptable alternative to the Big 4. The second-tier auditors include BDO, Grant Thorton, Crowe, and McGladrey. According to a 2003 U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO, 2003) survey of large public firms, the major consideration in auditor choice is audit quality. We examine audit quality 2 The BRC Academy Journal of Business Vol. 4, No. 1 of each of the second-tier auditors to determine if auditor choice is being increased while maintaining audit quality. We use two common measures of audit quality, earnings response coefficient and abnormal accrual, during the 2000 to 2010 period. We find no significant statistical difference in audit quality among the second-tier auditor especially in the period after Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The results should be comforting to policy makers and regulators, who are interested in increasing auditor choice.