cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulated Minimum Sample Size Requirements in Various Randomized Response Models

In this article, we consider the interesting problem of developing minimum sample size requirements for different randomized response models based on a prior guess at the parameters of interest and on the randomization device parameters being used in collecting the datasets. It will help practitioners decide on the minimum sample size to be chosen by them in a survey and so reduce the anxiety of ending up with an inadmissible estimate of the required proportion of a sensitive attribute. The results developed here could be considered as standard results for future studies because they are based on over 100,000 iterations in each situation. Lastly, through extensive simulation study, we investigate the percent relative efficiency of the maximum likelihood estimator modeled by Singh in 1976 and 1978 with respect to the Warner estimator modeled in 1965.
Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide on Whey Protein Nitrogen Value of Heated Skimmilk

Abstract The effect on the whey protein nitrogen value of skimmilk treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the skimmilk 10min before it was heated at 85C for 30min was determined. Hydrogen peroxide decreased denaturation of skimmilk. Disc electrophoresis patterns were compared for normal, heated, hydrogen peroxide–heated and hydrogen peroxide–heated-catalase-treated samples of α -lactalbumin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), β -lactoglobulin, and acid whey. The α -lactalbumin band was lighter in the hydrogen peroxide–treated sample than in the normal or heated sample. Bovine serum albumin was denatured by heat treatment. Hydrogen peroxide prevented total denaturation of BSA. β -lactoglobulin was denatured by heat treatment and extensively modified by hydrogen peroxide. The electrophoretic pattern of hydrogen peroxide–heated acid whey had a darker band in the position normally occupied by α-lactalbumin. Hydrogen peroxide modified β -lactoglobulin to form a band in the same position. A component not found in hydrogen peroxide–heated acid whey was in the electrophoretic pattern of acid whey from hydrogen peroxide–heated skimmilk, possibly from a reaction of hydrogen peroxide with a casein protein to form a product not precipitated with the casein.
Intelligibility prediction for distorted sentences by the normalized covariance measure

Speech-transmission index (STI) has been extensively used for predicting the intelligibility of speech corrupted by reverberation and additive noise. This study further evaluated its performance in predicting the intelligibility of three types of distorted sentences, i.e., time-reversed stimuli, vocoded stimuli, and stimuli containing recovered envelope from Hilbert fine-structure condition (R-HFS). The distorted sentences were simulated, and the intelligibility was predicted by the normalized covariance measure (NCM), which was a STI-based index. The NCM measure was evaluated with the intelligibility scores available for the three types of distorted stimuli, and the performance was also compared with those obtained with the PESQ measure and coherence-based speech intelligibility index. It was found that the NCM measure consistently well predicted the intelligibility in all three conditions of speech distortion: (1) the intelligibility of time-reversed speech continuously declined till the segmentation duration for speech reversal increased to 200 ms; (2) the intelligibility of tone-vocoded and noise-vocoded stimuli improved with more channels used in vocoder, and the intelligibility of these two types of vocoded sentences showed a small difference; and (3) the intelligibility of R-HFS stimuli decreased when the number of analysis bands varied from one to eight. Supplementary to previous outcomes on speech intelligibility prediction, the results in present work support that the intelligibility of distorted sentences could be well predicted by the NCM measure.
Motivations of Fresh-Cut Produce Firms to Implement Quality Management Systems

A survey of the fresh-cut produce industry (e.g., bagged salads, baby carrots, stir-fry mixes, cut-fruit mixes) shows firms' motivation to adopt quality management systems and the effects of implementation on firms and their relationships with suppliers and customers. Data from surveyed members of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association suggest that system adoption was very widespread. The effects were intra-firm (e.g., improved management and efficiency of quality systems) and inter-firm (e.g., improved identification and facilitation of trade with firms in the supply chain). Satisfaction with adoption of quality management systems was linked to many of the same factors.
Stains on magnetic tape heads

Abstract Thin, adherent head deposits called “stains” have been encountered intermittently over the past three decades. These deposits are not the same as common, readily removable tape debris. Stains are sometimes transparent but usually have an intrinsic blue or brown coloring. Coverage of the head surface varies from spotty to continuous with thicknesses ranging from 10–30 nm. Stains are generally insoluble in most common solvents and require abrasive cleaning tapes for removal. The thinness of deposits has been a continual hindrance to identification. When first encountered with γ-iron oxide tapes, they were believed to be organic or metallo-organic “friction polymers”. Recent analyses of stains produced with γ-iron oxide tapes indicate that stains consist of both organic, and iron and oxygen (inorganic) constituents. Staining with chromium dioxide tapes is less common because of the relatively high abrasivity of chromium dioxide particles. Recent analyses of stains produced with MP and barium ferrite tapes, indicate a primarily inorganic content of oxidized magnetic particles from the tape with a small amount of organic constituents chemically different from the tape binder. ME tapes produce spotty deposits which cannot be categorized as stains but are much more prevalent since ME tape does not have abrasive particles to keep the head clean. Stains may form with any head structure including metal-in-gap, glass and ferrite. All types of magnetic tapes have been linked to staining and in at least one instance, a tape substrate without magnetic coating has been involved. In general, abrasive magnetic particles, head cleaning agents and other conditions leading to higher head wear discourage the formation of stains. A humidity below 35–45% has usually been found necessary for staining to occur. This characteristic appears to be related to the low head wear in this environment. In addition, higher interface temperatures may encourage the formation and growth of stains. In past recording devices the thin stains seldom affected recording performance and intentional stain formation was considered as a potential means of reducing head wear. At today's high recording densities the additional head to tape separation caused by staining is sufficient to cause a severe degradation in performance. The purpose of this paper is to review the staining literature, add some additional unpublished material and more clearly define these current staining problems.
Folding upon phosphorylation: translational regulation by a disorder-to-order transition

4E binding proteins (4E-BPs) play an important role in the regulation of translation by binding to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and inhibiting assembly of the eIF4F complex. While phosphorylation of 4E-BPs is known to disrupt their binding to eIF4E, the mechanism by which this occurs has been unclear. In a recent study, Forman-Kay and coworkers demonstrate that this mechanism is primarily structure-based: phosphorylation of 4E-BPs results in a disorder-to-order transition, bringing them from their binding-competent disordered state to a folded state incompatible with eIF4E binding.
Health Policy and Social Change: A Comparative History of Chile and Cuba

The social histories of Chile and Cuba demonstrate the links between medicine and broader social change. When the socialist government of Salvador Allende took office in 1970, Chile already had a tradition of public health care, including a national health service. By comparison, the health-care system in Cuba at the time of its 1959 revolution was rudimentary and inferior. Chile did not succeed in developing a structurally different health-care system, while Cuba did. This paper argues that the consolidation of state power, mass mobilization, and resolution of the contradiction between the private and public sectors were key elements in Cuba's success. The Chilean and Cuban experiences show that incremental reforms in health care remain limited and tenuous without basic change in society.
Survey of Aflatoxin Concentrations in Wild Bird Seed Purchased in Texas

The use of backyard feeders to attract avian wildlife is a common practice throughout the United States. However, feeding wildlife may create a problem due to aflatoxin, a harmful fungal metabolite, which can affect wildlife that are fed contaminated grain. Our study was initiated to determine if songbirds were being exposed to aflatoxin-contaminated feed throughout Texas. Bags of wild bird seed (n = 142) were purchased from grain cooperatives, grocery stores, and pet shops located in the panhandle, central, south, east, and west regions of Texas during spring and summer 1999. Aflatoxin concentrations in bird seed ranged from non-detectable to 2,780 μg/kg. Overall, 17% of samples had aflatoxin concentrations greater than 100 μg/kg, of which 83% contained corn as an ingredient. Retail establishment effects were noted in the southern and western regions of Texas, with average concentrations of aflatoxin greater from bags of bird seed purchased from grain cooperatives, followed by pet shops, then grocery sto...
An Exact Algorithm for Projection onto a Polyhedral Cone

Projection is an operation widely used in restricted statistical inferences. A polyhedral cone restriction includes many interesting problems in linear regression, order restricted inferences etc. This paper proposes an exact algorithm for the projection of a vector onto a polyhedral cone, and presents an application to second order polynomial regression subject to a non-negative, isotonic restriction.
Confidentiality: An Essential Element of Professionalism

W683 words, should uphold a principle of discretion in all dealings with others, even in private life. Such discretion should constitute an integral part of a physician’s character, not just a pose physicians adopt when they don their white coats each morning. More recently, the principle of confidentiality has received considerable attention in connection with the HIPAA of 1996 [3]. Title II of this legislation includes the Privacy Rule, which establishes regulations for the use and disclosure of protected health information (PHI), which includes information about health status, health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to a specific person through name, medical record number, social security number, address, telephone number, and so on. Concerns in these areas are heightened in the era of electronic medical records, which make PHI more widely accessible [4]. According to HIPAA, health professionals and health care organizations may disclose PHI only if they have obtained prior authorization from the individual concerned. They must document their privacy policies and procedures and keep track of such disclosures. In addition, they must train the members of their workforce in the policies and procedures concerning PHI. Suspected breaches in the protection of PHI are to be reported to the local privacy official and ultimately to the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services. Recently, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) agreed to a settlement of $865,000 in a case involving repeated violations of PHI by unauthorized employees [5]. Confidentiality: An Essential Element of Professionalism
Institutions and social movements: The case of comparable worth

Employing evidence from the history of the comparable worth movement, I argue that (1) the State-citizen shaping process is one in which States shape citizens and movements and citizens and movements shape States; (2) States are not always successful in shaping movements because movemnts require a certain level of both stakes and consciousness on the part of potential members; (3) States are more effective at influencing whether a movement will win than they are at actually producing social movements; and (4) the costs and benefits associated with the various institutional channels impact heavily upon a movement, particularly upon its organization and its alliances. These theoretical propositions provide clues as to why the comparable worth movement has been able to persist at the state and local level despite Federal opposition.
Proportional hazards regression in the presence of missing study eligibility information

We consider the study of censored survival times in the situation where the available data consist of both eligible and ineligible subjects, and information distinguishing the two groups is sometimes missing. A complete-case analysis in this context would use only subjects known to be eligible, resulting in inefficient and potentially biased estimators. We propose a two-step procedure which resembles the EM algorithm but is computationally much faster. In the first step, one estimates the conditional expectation of the missing eligibility indicators given the observed data using a logistic regression based on the complete cases (i.e., subjects with non-missing eligibility indicator). In the second step, maximum likelihood estimators are obtained from a weighted Cox proportional hazards model, with the weights being either observed eligibility indicators or estimated conditional expectations thereof. Under ignorable missingness, the estimators from the second step are proven to be consistent and asymptotically normal, with explicit variance estimators. We demonstrate through simulation that the proposed methods perform well for moderate sized samples and are robust in the presence of eligibility indicators that are missing not at random. The proposed procedure is more efficient and more robust than the complete case analysis and, unlike the EM algorithm, does not require time-consuming iteration. Although the proposed methods are applicable generally, they would be most useful for large data sets (e.g., administrative data), for which the computational savings outweigh the price one has to pay for making various approximations in avoiding iteration. We apply the proposed methods to national kidney transplant registry data.
What can pluripotent stem cells teach us about neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a growing public health challenge. Current medications treat symptoms, but none halt or retard neurodegeneration. The recent advent of pluripotent cell biology has opened new avenues for neurodegenerative disease research. The greatest potential for induced pluripotent cells derived from affected individuals is likely to be their utility for modeling and understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative processes, and for searching for new treatments, including cell replacement therapies. However, much work remains to be done before pluripotent cells can be used for preclinical and clinical applications. Here we discuss the challenges of generating specific neural cell subtypes from pluripotent stem cells, the use of pluripotent stem cells to model both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms of neurodegeneration, whether adult-onset neurodegeneration can be emulated in short-term cultures and the hurdles of cell replacement therapy. Progress in these four areas will substantially accelerate effective application of pluripotent stem cells.
Separating left- from right-circularly polarized light with a dielectric metamaterial

We experimentally demonstrate a dielectric metamaterial comprising silicon nanofins on a glass substrate. Left- and right-circularly polarized beams incident upon the device are deflected into different directions. Our approach avoids the efficiency issues of plasmonics.
Postwar Plans of Dentists in Service: I. General Findings

otherwise another portal of entry might be opened, since it was noted in Tables i and 2 that five cases of poliomyelitis developed in persons who had extrac­ tions from five to ten days before the onset of symptoms. A sixth case,10 which was not included in these data, de­ veloped six days after the extraction of a tooth. It is not the intention to contend by implication or statement that the ex­ posed pulps of teeth are the only or even the most important portal of entry for the poliomyelitis virus. Indeed, the fact that poliomyelitis occurred in 118 per­ sons without pulpal exposure is incon­ trovertible evidence that other portals must exist. However, if it were assumed that exposed pulps were the only portal in the cases of poliomyelitis in this study, elimination of this portal would have prevented 74 per cent of the cases. It is impossible to estimate the number of cases in which portals other than the pulp permitted access of the virus, but a field study, as outlined above, should indicate the percentage of cases in which exposed pulps were the sole portal.
Oral bisphosphonates and risk of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures in a population‐based cohort

Bisphosphonates are the primary therapy for postmenopausal and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Case series suggest a potential link between prolonged use of bisphosphonates and low-energy fracture of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur as a consequence of oversuppression of bone resorption. Using health care utilization data, we conducted a propensity score-matched cohort study to examine the incidence rates (IRs) and risk of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures among oral bisphosphonate users compared with raloxifene or calcitonin users. A Cox proportional hazards model evaluated the risk of these fractures associated with duration of osteoporosis treatment. A total of 104 subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures were observed among 33,815 patients. The estimated IR of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures per 1000 person-years was 1.46 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.88] among the bisphosphonate users and 1.43 (95% CI 1.06-1.89) among raloxifene/calcitonin users. No significant association between bisphosphonate use and subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures was found [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.03, 95% CI 0.70-1.52] compared with raloxifene/calcitonin. Even with this large study size, we had little precision in estimating the risk of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures in patients treated with bisphosphonates for longer than 5 years (HR = 2.02, 95% CI 0.41-10.00). The occurrence of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fracture was rare. There was no evidence of an increased risk of subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur fractures in bisphosphonate users compared with raloxifene/calcitonin users. However, this study cannot exclude the possibility that long-term bisphosphonate use may increase the risk of these fractures.
Sensitivity minimization in active RC networks

Abstract A general technique is presented to minimize sensitivity in the design of active RC networks. It is shown that the minimization procedure can be applied to any active RC structure that has degrees of freedom in choosing the design parameters. Since most active RC structures have independent parameters that can be arbitrarily chosen, the applicability of the procedure is quite general. In particular, in this paper the minimization technique is applied to: (1) fixed circuit configurations where the circuit elements are optimally chosen and (2) RC:–RC decomposition, i.e. synthesis procedures that employ an arbitrary polynomial Q(s) where the optimal roots of Q(s) are determined. To date this technique is the only design procedure that optimally determines (with respect to multiparameter sensitivity) the roots of Q(s). In addition, it is demonstrated that the multiparameter sensitivity and the minimization procedure accounts for component tolerances, component tolerance correlations, the frequency range of interest and practical restrictions on circuit element values.
Prediction of whole-body composition from the whole-body dry matter percentage of three-week-old broiler chicks

Whole carcasses of 3-wk-old broiler chicks from four independent experiments were analyzed for percentage of whole-body DM, ether extract, and CP. The percentage of whole-body ash was calculated by the difference among DM, ether extract, and CP. A linear relationship between percentage whole-body DM and percentage whole-body ether extract (P < 0.001; r2 = 0.798) was found, but no relationships were detected between percentage whole-body DM and percentage whole-body CP (P = 0.29; r2 = 0.010). The percentage of whole-body ash was moderately correlated with the percentage of whole-body DM (P = 0.04; r2 = 0.036). In conclusion, the percentage of whole-body ether extract of 3-wk-old broiler chicks can be predicted from the percentage of whole-body DM by using the prediction equation Y = 0.961x - 17.855. Neither the percentages of whole-body CP nor ash could be accurately predicted from the wholebody DM percentage.
A Method for Measurement of Antibiotics in Human Interstitial Fluid

To measure the antibiotic activity in interstitial fluid of volunteers, an area of skin 1 cm2 was denuded and covered with a chamber that was subsequently filled with saline. After the administration of an antibiotic, the portion that was not bound to protein was diffused out of the vascular space and equilibrated with the fluid in the chamber. At hourly intervals, the fluid was removed and immediately frozen, and the chamber was refilled. Serum was obtained simultaneously. Antibiotic activity was measured by the cup-plate and agar-well diffusion techniques. Volunteers were given each of the following antibiotics on separate days: cephalexin, ampicillin, benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin, nafcillin, and flucloxacillin. Antibiotics with lower percentages of protein binding diffused into the fluid of the skin window better than antibiotics with high percentages of protein binding. Flucloxacillin, 95% of which is bound to protein, had no detectable fluid levels in the skin window. The results suggest that the ability of antibiotics to diffuse into the interstitial fluid is related to the percentage of free drug in serum.
The racial segregation of hospital care revisited : Medicare discharge patterns and their implications

Objectives. This paper measures current patterns of hospital segregation among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods. Data from the fiscal year 1993 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) file, the index of dissimilarity, and a linear regression model are used to test the effects of standard metropolitan area characteristics on hospital segregation. Results. The overall hospital segregation index was 0.529, ranging by state from 0.154 to 0.746. Hospital segregation in 126 standard metropolitan areas was positively related to population size,, hospital density, and residential segregation and negatively related to income inequities and location in the South. Conclusions. Racial segregation remains high and may produce both reporting biases and unequal effects of public policy.
Efficiency of Rotenone Sampling with Large and Small Block Nets in Vegetated and Open-Water Habitats

Abstract The sampling effectiveness of rotenone applied within large (0.41 hectare) and small (0.08 hectare) blocknetted areas was compared at open-water and vegetated sites in Orange Lake, Florida. Eighteen fish species were collected within the large nets and 21 species within the small nets; 16 species were common to both nets. Total fish biomass (kg/hectare) and abundance (number/hectare) estimates did not differ significantly (P ≤ 0.10) between areas in either open-water or vegetated habitats; abundance estimates (number/hectare) did not differ between large and small open-water areas. Significantly higher abundance estimates were obtained in the smaller nets in vegetated habitats due to more efficient pickup of small fish. For larger size game fish, total abundance, biomass, and individual species estimates were not significantly different between sample areas in either habitat. The smaller experimental nets provided inventories of fish populations that were as accurate as those from large-area samp...
New determinations of the age of the Bob Ingersoll pegmatite, Keystone S. Dakota

Abstract Age determinations have been made on various minerals from the Bob Ingersoll pit No. 1. The uranium-lead ages agree at 1600 m.y., Rb-Sr ages of microcline, muscovite and lepidolite are all about 2050 m.y., probably indicating that the currently accepted Rb decay-constant is incorrect. K-A ages of the micas are in fairly good agreement with U-Pb ages when a K40 branching ratio of 0.100 is used. The K-A age of the microcline is definitely lower, probably indicating loss of argon from this mineral.
Polyol metabolism in homopterans at high temperatures: accumulation of mannitol in aphids (Aphididae: Homoptera) and sorbitol in whiteflies (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera)

Examination of four species of aphid and four of whitefly showed that mannitol was present in each species of aphid, while sorbitol was present in the whitefly species. In the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, the total body content of mannitol was considerably higher at noon than during the early morning. A similar increase in the sorbitol content of the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, was also demonstrated. In both species, polyol synthesis is stimulated by elevated temperatures. Enzyme assays were used to show that fructose is the substrate for mannitol synthesis in A. gossypii. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction, an NADP(H)-dependent ketose reductase/mannitol dehydrogenase, is analogous to the NADP(H)-dependent ketose reductase/sorbitol dehydrogenase that produces sorbitol in whiteflies. Western blot analysis verified that A. gossypii does not contain a protein that cross-reacts with antibodies against B. argentifolli NADP(H)-dependent ketose reductase/sorbitol dehydrogenase, whereas the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, does. Analysis of sugars in honeydew from aphids and whiteflies showed that the sugars in the excrement from these insects are very different from the sugars present in their bodies. Only small amounts of mannitol and sorbitol are excreted in the honeydew from these insects. Sorbitol accumulation provides a mechanism for thermo- and osmoprotection in whiteflies. Mannitol appears to function in a similar capacity in aphids.
Temporal and spatial variations in the Io torus

Spectroscopic measurements of lines from both forbidden S II and forbidden O II in the Io torus taken on 15 nights spread over four months in 1981 are presented and discussed. An east-west asymmetry was observed in the optical emissions, showing larger western intensities and a more diffuse and radially extensive nebula to the east. Two configurations of forbidden S II longitudinal asymmetry were stable over at least four days. Longitudinal structure was not detected in either the forbidden O II intensity or the plasma density as measured by the forbidden O II and S II doublet ratios. A radial variation in the ratio of O II/S II was observed, with the ratio being largest near Io's orbit. Monthly variability was detected in both the intensity and density of the torus.
Exploring the Origins of Public Prosecution

Public prosecution is an indispensable feature of the modern day administration of criminal justice. Public prosecution as we know it today, however, is a product of long evolution. Historically, pursuit of crime was a private affair and there was no official involvement in criminal prosecution. This article explores the development of criminal prosecution in England, on the European continent, and in America. The first part of the article traces the evolution of modes of accusation in England and on the European continent. The second part of the article focuses on the development of prosecution in America from the colonial days until the formation of the modern American prosecutorial system. The article highlights the historical events that contributed to the evolution and transition of modes of prosecution and analyzes the impact of different historical, cultural, and political values on the shaping of the present prosecutorial systems in Europe and in America.
Sudden death in athletes: an update

The athlete projects the ultimate image of well-being in the health status spectrum. Nevertheless, exercise-related sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an uncommon, yet tragic, occurrence. Exercise-related SCD is defined by symptoms that arise within 1 hour of participation in sport. The major mechanisms involved in exercise-related SCD are related to haemodynamic and electrophysiological changes brought about by exercise in the susceptible individual. Fatal arrhythmia seems to be the most common mechanism of death. Between 1 and 5 cases of SCD per 1 million athletes occur annually. In young athletes ( 35 years old), sudden death is usually associated with atherosclerotic cardiac disease. A problem for identifying athletes at risk for SCD is that the athlete's heart undergoes adaptive changes in response to regular physical exercise. Alterations in cardiac function influence the physical examination, the electrocardiogram and the echocardiogram. Because of these characteristic 'abnormalities' of the athlete's heart, it is often difficult to distinguish physiological adaptations from pathophysiological processes. Although studies and observations have helped to clarify the cardiovascular pathology responsible for SCD in young, apparently healthy individuals, effective methods for preventing SCD and identifying and screening athletes at risk remain elusive. Problems with routine comprehensive screening of athletes include the limitations inherent in the predictive value of available diagnostic procedures and the cost of testing large populations. The variation from normal cardiac physiology found within the athletic population and the rarity of SCD in athletes means that elaborate screening to determine individuals at risk is neither practical nor cost effective. A thorough assessment of pertinent family and medical histories, cardiac auscultation of young athletes, evaluation of exercise-induced symptoms and education of older athletes to the symptoms of cardiac ischaemia are all essential to primary prevention of SCD in the athletic population. Until reliable methods can accurately identify those athletes at risk for SCD, broad recommendations are available to help guide the management and participation in sports of athletes with cardiovascular disease.
Determination of Chemical Release Rates from Soils: Experimental Design

Increasing weight of evidence information has made it clear that, under certain conditions, chemicals above background levels in soils may not be easily released and therefore may not have an adverse environmental effect. This has led to a broadening body of knowledge on approaches to measure or estimate the extent and rate of release of hydrocarbons from soil. Monte Carlo simulation was used to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different experimental designs for measuring the rate of release (ROR) of chemicals from soils. Specifically, Monte Carlo simulation was used to identify changes to the sampling schedule and number of replicates that may result in greater precision in the best-fit model parameters. The purpose was to identify the factors that should be considered in a rate of release experiment to obtain the desired precision in ROR results. Factors that were investigated include the number of replicates, the scatter of the laboratory data, and the length and distribution of samples in a rate study. The fraction of chemical released quickly, F, was shown to be estimated with high precision for a wide range of experimental designs. The rate constant describing fast release, k{sub 1}, can be estimated with high precision ifmore » sufficient samples are taken near the beginning of the rate study. The rate constant describing slow release, k{sub 2}, can be estimated with high precision if sufficient samples are taken near the time corresponding to 1/k{sub 2}. For highly weathered soils containing hydrophobic organic chemicals, a precise estimate of k{sub 2} will require a long laboratory study.« less
Examining the Culture of Academic Integrity: A Study of Risk Factors

Factors supporting dishonesty are intricately woven into the fabric of our culture and influence student behavior in higher education. This study investigated the risk factors that, within individu...
Bicycle patrols: an underutilized resource

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the activities of police bicycle patrols.Design/methodology/approach – A participant/observation research design was used. A five‐city, 32‐shift study on the output of police bicycle patrols was conducted. Same and similar ride‐alongs were conducted with bicycle and automobile patrols. All contacts (n=1,105) with the public were recorded and coded. These data included: number of people, tenor, seriousness and origination for each contact.Findings – Analysis of these data provides evidence that bicycle patrols result in over twice as much contact with the public compared with automobile patrols. The field observation perspective revealed clear tactical advantages to bicycle patrols.Research limitations/implications – With a limited prior study of a police bicycle patrol's activities, this study is a significant initial step.Practical implications – With evidence of tactical and numerical public contact advantages, more attention and resources...
Electrochemically Mediated Electrodeposition/Electropolymerization To Yield a Glucose Microbiosensor with Improved Characteristics

A procedure is described that provides for electrochemically mediated deposition of enzyme and a polymer layer permselective for endogenous electroactive species. Electrodeposition was first employed for the direct immobilization of glucose oxidase to produce a uniform, thin, and compact film on a Pt electrode. Electropolymerization of phenol was then employed to form an anti-interference and protective polyphenol film within the enzyme layer. In addition, a stability-reinforcing membrane derived from (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane was constructed by electrochemically assisted cross-linking. This hybrid film outside the enzyme layer contributed to the improved stability and permselectivity. The resulting glucose sensor was characterized by a short response time (<4 s), high sensitivity (1200 nA/mM·cm2), low interference from endogenous electroactive species, and working lifetime of more than 50 days.
Characterization of optical anisotropy in quantum wells under compressive anisotropic in-plane strain

Anisotropic in-plane strain in quantum wells leads to an optical polarization anisotropy that can be exploited for device applications. We have determined that for many anisotropic compressive strain cases, the dependence of the optical anisotropy is linear in the strain anisotropy. This result holds for a variety of well and barrier materials and widths and for various overall strain conditions. Further, the polarization anisotropy per strain anisotropy varies as the reciprocal of the energy separation of the relevant hole sub-bands. Hence, a general result for the polarization anisotropy per strain anisotropy is avialable for cases of compressive anisotropic in-plane strain.
Online video improves clinical outcomes in adults with atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by intense pruritus that causes significant disease and psychosocial burden in patients. Patient education has the potential to improve clinical outcomes and patient knowledge of this condition. Objectives We sought to assess the effectiveness of online video education at improving AD knowledge and disease severity compared with a written pamphlet, and to determine the usefulness and appeal of the two educational delivery vehicles. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 80 participants were randomized to receive either online video-based patient education or written pamphlet education about AD and its management. We assessed AD disease severity using the patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM) scale. AD knowledge was assessed with standardized questionnaires at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Results All participants had similar baseline knowledge and AD severity at the beginning of the study. On study completion, improvements in AD knowledge assessed by questionnaire were significantly greater in the video group than the pamphlet group (3.05 vs 1.85, P = .011). Online video-based education resulted in greater improvement in clinical outcome, as measured by POEM, compared with pamphlet-based education (POEM score reduction of 3.30 vs 1.03, P = .0043). Finally, although the usefulness of both interventions was rated equally (P = .77), the online video was significantly more appealing than the pamphlet (P = .0086). Limitations This study is limited to AD in adults. Conclusion Online video for patient education is an effective and appealing tool for improving clinical outcomes in adult patients with AD.
On the use of word association norms in aging research

Abstract The word associations of young, middle-aged, and older adults were compared to cohort matched normative word associations. Cohort differences in most common response were observed for a subset of stimulus words which did not have strong primary responses in the norms. For those stimulus words assumed to be free of cohort differences, there were no significant differences between the three age groups in amount of agreement with the normative reponses. It is concluded that standard word association norms are as reliable for older individuals as for the young provided that words with strong associates are selected.
Program Synthesis of FEA Constitutive Behavior Modules Through Data Driven Design Optimization

Design optimization in the context of finite element modeling (FEM) and analysis (FEA) has been traditionally used to help designers determine optimal structural geometry and/or material property parameters according to objective functions of interest and necessary constraints. In the present paper it is attempted to generalize the design optimization methodology into a program synthesis technique for determining the code necessary to encapsulate the constitutive behavior of the material system required for generalized FEA applications. The core concept behind the methodology followed by our group in the past, has been the experimental identification of a dissipated energy density (DED) function for polymer matrix composites (PMCs) through a non-linear optimization scheme for determining the free coefficients of the sum of the basis functions that are used to construct the DED function and is based on the energy balance of the specimen under testing. The utilized testing generated massive amounts of experimental data that would be produced by exposing PMC specimens to multidimensional loading paths with the help of custom made multi-axial computer-controlled testing machines. The variety of custom environments utilized to implement the analytical and numerical details has often created difficulties in transferring our technology to end users in the design and material communities. The present implementation was greatly enabled by recent advances in finite element techniques and “of the shelf” design optimization integration technologies along with the parallel hardware and software evolution. The program synthesis lies on a process that automatically generates the code of a user material subroutine through minimization of the error between measured and simulated specimen behavior. The generated code can be subsequently used with any geometry and loading specification definable within the limits of the non-linear element library in commercial codes such as ANSYS and ABAQUS.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Hydrolysis of α-Alkyl-α-(methylthio)methylene Meldrum's Acids. A Kinetic and Computational Investigation of Steric Effects

The rates of hydrolysis of α-R-α-(methylthio)methylene Meldrum's acids (8-R with R = H, Me, Et, s-Bu, and t-Bu) were determined in basic and acidic solution in 50% DMSO−50% water (v/v) at 20 °C. In basic solution (KOH), nucleophilic attack to form a tetrahedral intermediate ( ) is rate limiting for all substrates (k1OH). In acidic solution (HCl) and at intermediate pH values (acetate buffers), water attack (k1H2O) is rate limiting for 8-Me, 8-Et, and 8-s-Bu; the same is presumably the case for 8-t-Bu, but rates were too slow for accurate measurements at low pH. For 8-H, water attack is rate limiting at intermediate pH but at pH < 4.5 MeS- departure from the tetrahedral intermediate becomes rate limiting. Our interpretation of these results is based on a reaction scheme that involves three pathways for the conversion of to products, two of which being unique to hydrolysis reactions and taking advantage of the acidic nature of the OH group in . This scheme provides an explanation why even at high [KOH] does...
Reduced data acquisition time in multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy using multiple-coil probes

A new hardware-based approach is presented to reduce data acquisition times in multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy using a multiple-coil probe. Using a four-coil setup, two-dimensional COSY and TOCSY spectra were acquired in one-quarter the time of conventional spectra by simultaneous acquisition of different effective t1 evolution times for each coil. Data processing consists of simple phase-shifting and intensity normalization of the individual data sets, and results in spectra almost identical to those acquired in a conventional manner. This method can potentially be integrated with other new data acquisition and processing schemes for further increases in data acquisition speed.
Bacillus thermokovorans, sp. nov., a Species of Obligately Thermophilic Hydrocarbon Utilizing Endospore-forming Bacteria

Summary Ten strains of obligately thermophilic bacteria able to utilize w-alkanes as growth substrate were isolated from a variety of environmental sources. All are aerobic, endospore-forming rods with the vegetative cells giving a generally negative Gram reaction. The organisms grow at a temperature from 42–75°C with optimum growth between 55–65°C. Optimum pH for growth is 6.2–7.5. The mol % G+C values range from 52–58. All strains lack pigmentation and none are motile. The organisms were further characterized on the basis of biochemical and nutritional properties and electrophoretic mobility of catalase, superoxide dismutase and esterase. DNA-DNA hybridization was performed to determine the taxonomic relatedness of the 10 strains. Results from relative reassociation reactions indicate 3 homology groups (60–100% relative reassociation). There was significant relatedness to Bacillus stearotbermopbilus (46–67% relative reassociation). No relationship was observed between these 10 strains and any mesophilic species of Bacillus tested or to the obligate thermophiles Thermus aquaticus, Thermomicrobium roseum and Thermoleopbilum album. These results were further substantiated by determining the thermal stabilities of reassociated hetero-duplexes. The ΔTm(e) values for heterologous duplexes formed with DNA from the thermophilic bacteria and B. stearotbermopbilus strains ranged between 0–9°C while values obtained with mesophilic and thermophilic bacilli had an average ΔTm(e) = 17°C ± 2°C. The designation Bacillus thermoleovorans is proposed to describe these strains, and the type strain is LEH-1 (ATCC 43513).
Cost optimization for a single pass turning operation including inventory and penalty costs

Abstract This paper analyses total cost optimization for a single pass turning operation for a given feed and depth of out taking into consideration penalty cost for due date violation and in-process inventory cost. These costs are in addition to the two cost components, viz., machine and operator cost, and tool consumption cost, which are usually considered in studies on machining economics. In earlier work in machining economics, in-process inventory cost and penalty cost for due date violation have not been considered. Since these cost components are usually present in an industrial environment consideration of these costs makes the problem realistic.
A pilot study of a predicate-based vector space model for a biomedical search engine

A search engine that supports finding precise biomedical statements, but also complementary, and contrasting information would greatly help biomedical researchers. We propose the use of predicates in a search engine's underlying data structure to accomplish this. A predicate is a triple that combines two phrases with a predicate. We report on the development and evaluation of a search engine that includes the predicates in its underlying data structure. The evaluation of the search engine was conducted by comparing three different approaches: keyword-based search, triple-based search, and an additive search that combines keywords and predicates. Cancer researchers provided the queries, relevant to their ongoing work, and evaluated the outcome in a double-blind fashion. The results showed that the combined approach, which combines triple-based and keyword-based approaches, always outperformed the 2 other approaches.
Mineral Textures and Zoning as Evidence for Open System Processes

Investigations of mineral textures and zoning as evidence for open system processes during magmatic evolution have always been a centerpiece of petrological studies and have provided some of the best evidence for magma mixing and crustal contamination for many decades (e.g., Milch 1905; Kuno 1936; Eichelberger 1975; Sato 1975; Anderson 1976). In fact, evidence from mineral studies was instrumental in the acceptance of magma mixing as important petrological process ever since it was initially proposed by Bunsen (1851). In recent years, mineral studies are invigorated by the development of high-precision, high-resolution analytical instruments and techniques through which textural information and compositional data are combined (e.g., Jerram and Davidson 2007). As minerals respond texturally and compositionally to changing magmatic environments, they preserve in their crystal growth stratigraphy a wealth of information regarding their past history of magmatic processes and compositions (cf. Ginibre et al. 2007). On the other hand, magmatic liquids (melts) are snapshots of current magmatic states, and provide less direct evidence of the processes responsible for their evolution. In addition, liquids may crystallize thereby destroying the direct evidence they provide. With an appropriate set of observations and measurements, we can correlate textures with mineral compositions and thus produce a richer composite picture of magmatic evolution than compositional data of minerals alone. This contribution reviews the zoning and textures of minerals frequently encountered in volcanic rocks (many of which apply equally to plutonic rocks) and the interpretations ascribed to these features in terms of open system magmatic processes. First, I will address the analytical tools that are used to acquire textural and compositional data, followed by a brief review of open system processes and a summary of the relevant textures. From that point on, I will address some mineral specific aspects followed by a discussion …