cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bitcoin and The Philosophy of Money: Evaluating the Commodity Status of Digital Currencies

The rhetoric in Satoshi Nakamoto's "White Paper" on the origins of Bitcoin suggests that the digital currency was envisioned as an entirely autonomous money. Due to the increase in popularity and circulation of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, an intense regulatory debate has been sparked at the global level. These debates reveal a fundamental tension regarding the role of the state in establishing money. While the digital currency community insists that Bitcoin is money, states and monetary authorities have declared Bitcoin a commodity, a declaration that can be traced back to Georg Friedrich Knapp's foundational text The State Theory of Money and reinforced by A. Mitchell Innes' The Credit Theory of Money. Circulating alongside state monies, Bitcoin is then neaccessory money,' unable to satisfy tax obligations and behaving as a commodity. This chartalist account of Bitcoin is refuted by what I identify as a libertarian/von Misean understanding of money motivating the circulation of digital currencies. I argue that the circulation of digital currencies is better explained by the chartalist narrative. I then prescribe Georg Simmel's Philosophy of Money, a broader understanding of money in which more abstract monies might create a supranational economic society, as an ideological alternative to digital currency advocates -- one that better conforms to the nature of money gestured to in Nakamoto's "White Paper". However, even through the lens of Simmel, the limitations imposed by domestic authorities and taxation prevent digital currencies from reaching the envisioned state of autonomy. Synthesizing these understandings of money, Bitcoin may exist as a compromise, a means of international money transfer that weakens the abstract, international economic borders created by state monies.
Design and experimental validation of a wireless PVDF displacement sensor for structure monitoring

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a piezoelectric polymer material. One of its most attractive applications is being used as a sensor for structure monitoring. A suitable circuit interface plays an important role in sensor design. PVDF sensor can be used in a large variety of situations according to different design of circuit. The approach to a special circuit interface, which enables PVDF sensor to be utilized as a wireless "dynamic strain gage", is presented in this paper. The wireless PVDF sensor was then tested and all the results have been compared with strain gage output for strain and displacement measurements.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A heuristic algorithm for a chance constrained stochastic program

A chance constrained stochastic program is considered that arises from an application to college enrollments and in which the objective function is the expectation of a linear function of the random variables. When these random variables are independent and normally distributed with mean and variance that are linear in the decision variables, the deterministic equivalent of the problem is a nonconvex nonlinear knapsack problem. The optimal solution to this problem is characterized and a greedy-type heuristic algorithm that exploits this structure is employed. Computational results show that the algorithm performs well, especially when the normal random variables are approximations of binomial random variables.
MOSFIRE, the multi-object spectrometer for infra-red exploration at the Keck Observatory

This paper describes the as-built performance of MOSFIRE, the multi-object spectrometer and imager for the Cassegrain focus of the 10-m Keck 1 telescope. MOSFIRE provides near-infrared (0.97 to 2.41 μm) multi-object spectroscopy over a 6.1' x 6.1' field of view with a resolving power of R~3,500 for a 0.7" (0.508 mm) slit (2.9 pixels in the dispersion direction), or imaging over a field of view of ~6.9' diameter with ~0.18" per pixel sampling. A single diffraction grating can be set at two fixed angles, and order-sorting filters provide spectra that cover the K, H, J or Y bands by selecting 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th order respectively. A folding flat following the field lens is equipped with piezo transducers to provide tip/tilt control for flexure compensation at the <0.1 pixel level. Instead of fabricated focal plane masks requiring frequent cryo-cycling of the instrument, MOSFIRE is equipped with a cryogenic Configurable Slit Unit (CSU) developed in collaboration with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM). Under remote control the CSU can form masks containing up to 46 slits with ~0.007-0.014" precision. Reconfiguration time is < 6 minutes. Slits are formed by moving opposable bars from both sides of the focal plane. An individual slit has a length of 7.0" but bar positions can be aligned to make longer slits in increments of 7.5". When masking bars are retracted from the field of view and the grating is changed to a mirror, MOSFIRE becomes a wide-field imager. The detector is a 2K x 2K H2-RG HgCdTe array from Teledyne Imaging Sensors with low dark current and low noise. Results from integration and commissioning are presented.
Observation of slip transmission through a grain boundary in ice

In-situ X-ray topography has been used to provide the first clear demonstration of slip transmission through a grain boundary in hexagonal ice. Although the ice was deformed under creep conditions, the relative orientation of the grains and the orientation of the grain boundary with respect to the loading direction discouraged grain boundary sliding and, thus, suppressed dislocation nucleation at the grain boundary. This particular geometrical arrangement is rarely encountered, suggesting that slip transmission through grain boundaries in ice is a rare event.
Down-regulation of delta-opioid receptors in Na+/H+ exchanger 1 null mutant mouse brain with epilepsy

Mice lacking Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) show a unique epilepsy phenotype although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Since expression of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) may be involved in control of epileptic activity, we conducted immunohistochemistry and autoradiography to investigate whether DOR expression is dys-regulated in the brain of NHE1 null mouse. Immunohistochemistry showed a decline in DOR expression in hippocampus and cortex. Autoradiographic results confirmed that the density of DOR was decreased in most cortical and hippocampal regions such as striate and temporal cortex, hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions (reduced by 27.7 +/- 6.4%, 29.4 +/- 5.1%, 40.7 +/- 4.4% and 20.6 +/- 5.7%, respectively, P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that NHE1 null mutation leads to a reduction of DOR expression in the cortical and hippocampal regions, which provides a new clue for the genesis of epilepsy.
The paradox and tension of moral claims: Evangelical Christianity, the politicization and globalization of sexual politics in sub-Saharan Africa

This article explores the paradox between local and global moral values in sexual politics in Sub-Saharan Africa. It shares the thesis that various forces of globalization—the web, media, social, e...
Observations on the Nesting Biology of Andrena (Plastandrena) Prunorum Cockerell in Washington State (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

Nesting and associated behaviors of Andrena (Plastandrena) prunorum Cockerell were studied at two sites in western Washington: a suburban lawn and a vacant lot. A maximum of five nests, usually well separated from one another, was found at a given site and year. Nest and cell structure at both sites were similar, but cell depth differed markedly between sites, and between years at one site. All nests were multi-cellular. Provision masses were flattened spheres of pollen moistened to a doughy consistency. The curved egg was placed atop the provision mass with both ends contacting it. A brief description of larval feeding is provided. Andrena prunorum and its Nomada parasite overwinter as adults. Nests, cell, provision mass, egg placement, and a feeding larva are illustrated. Information on mating, female foraging behavior, and local pollen sources are given. Adult phenology and the possibility of two generations per year are discussed. Nomada sp. nr. calloxantha Ckll. parasitized A. prunorum at one site and larval feeding by the cleptoparasite is described.
Biochemical and physiological effects of metazoan endoparasites on their host species.

Abstract 1. 1. The integrative nature of the parasite host association was discussed, specifically with regard to the metabolic effects of parasitization as well as the physiological manifestation of infection in relation to the host's nutritional physiology. Endocrine interactions were also considered. 2. 2. Relationships involving parasitic insects, including members of the orders Diptera, Hymenoptera and Strepsiptera, parasitic helminths, including members of the phyla Acanthocephala and Nematoda and the classes Cestoidea and Trematoda of the Platyhelminthes, as well as parasitic crustaceans in association with their invertebrate and/or vertebrate, intermediate, paratenic as well as definitive hosts were considered. 3. 3. A broad conceptual or “topic” approach to understanding symbiotic relationships was emphasized. De-emphasis of descriptive categorization and the use of benefit/harm as criteria characterizing parasitic relationships was suggested. 4. 4. The hypothetical concept of host regulation was briefly examined and the use of anthropometric descriptors such as “beneficial” and “harmonious” in parasitology discussed.
Auditory apparent motion in the free field: The effects of stimulus duration and separation

The effects of stimulus duration and spatial separation on the illusion of apparent motion in the auditory modality were examined. Two narrow-band noise sources (40 dB, A-weighted) were presented through speakers separated in space by 2.5°, 5°, or 100, centered about the subject’s midline. The duration of each stimulus was 5, 10, or 50 msec. On each trial, the sound pair was temporally separated by 1 of 10 interstimulus onset intervals (ISOIs): 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 50, or 70 msec. Five subjects were tested in nine trial blocks; each block represented a particular spatial-separation-duration combination. Within a trial block, each ISOI was presented 30 times each, in random order. Subjects were instructed to listen to the stimulus sequence and classify their perception of the sound into one of five categories: single sound, simultaneous sounds, continuous motion, broken motion, or successive sounds. Each subject was also required to identify the location of the first-occurring stimulus (left or right). The percentage of continuous-motion responses was significantly affected by the ISOI [F(9,36) = 5.67,p < .001], the duration × ISOI interaction [F(18,72) = 3.54,p < .0001], and the separation × duration × ISOI interaction [F(36,144) = 1.51,p < .05]. The results indicate that a minimum duration is required for the perception of auditory apparent motion. Little or no motion was reported at durations of 10 msec or less. At a duration of 50 msec, motion was reported most often for ISOIs of 20–50 msec. The effect of separation appeared to be limited to durations and-ISOIs during which little motion was perceived.
Optical absorption aspects of laser soldering for high density interconnects

In laser soldering, one has direct control over the incident laser pulse energy and duration but only indirect control over the temperature profile of the parts to be soldered. To understand the conversion of incident laser energy into a substrate temperature profile, two processes need to be understood: first, the optical absorption as a function of temperature and, second, the temperature distribution as a function of absorbed energy. The optical absorption aspect is addressed here. A set of total reflectivity measurements for real surfaces of interest is presented along with analytical calculations of the temperature dependence of the optical absorption for both specular and rough surfaces.
Outcome and methodological considerations in behavioral treatment of obesity

Studies determining the efficacy of behavioral treatment of obesity are divided into self and experimenter managed categories and reviewed with respect to outcome and adequacy of design. Methodological factors are considered, conclusions with regard to outcome and suggestions for research are offered.
Teaching Writers to Anticipate Readers' Needs: A Classroom-Evaluated Pedagogy.

This study evaluated a method for teaching writers to anticipate readers' comprehension needs. The method, called reader-protocol teaching, involves asking writers to predict readers' problems with a text and then providing them with detailed readers' responses (in the form of think-aloud protocol transcripts) to illustrate how readers construct an understanding of the text. Writers in five experimental classes critiqued a set of ten poorly written instructional texts and then analyzed the protocol transcripts of readers struggling to comprehend these texts. Writers in five control classes were taught to anticipate the reader's needs through a variety of audience-analysis heuristics and collaborative peer-response methods. Pretests and posttests were used to assess improvements in experimental and control writers' ability to anticipate and diagnose readers' comprehension problems. Pretest and posttest materials were expository science texts. Writers taught with the reader-protocol teaching method improved...
Implementation of optical associative memory by a computer-generated hologram with a novel thresholding scheme.

An associative memory based on a model by Rizvi and Zubairy [Appl. Opt.33, 3642 (1994) ] is experimentally demonstrated. The parallel optical interconnection is realized compactly by computer-generated holograms. A novel scheme of real-time thresholding is proposed and is proved to be effective and simple to implement. Stored images are successfully retrieved with both complete and partial inputs.
Mountain hydrology, snow color, and the fourth paradigm

The world's mountain ranges accumulate substantial snow, whose melt produces the bulk of runoff and often combines with rain to cause floods. Worldwide, inadequate understanding and a reliance on sparsely distributed observations limit our ability to predict seasonal and paroxysmal runoff as climate changes, ecosystems adapt, populations grow, land use evolves, and societies make choices. To improve assessments of snow accumulation, melt, and runoff, scientists and community planners can take advantage of two emerging trends: (1) an ability to remotely sense snow properties from satellites at a spatial scale appropriate for mountain regions (10- to 100-meter resolution, coverage of the order of 100,000 square kilometers) and a daily temporal scale appropriate for the dynamic nature of snow and (2) The Fourth Paradigm [Hey et al., 2009], which posits a new scientific approach in which insight is discovered through the manipulation of large data sets as the evolutionary step in scientific thinking beyond the first three paradigms: empiricism, analyses, and simulation. The inspiration for the book's title comes from pioneering computer scientist Jim Gray, based on a lecture he gave at the National Academy of Sciences 3 weeks before he disappeared at sea.
Recognition, adhesion, transmembrane signaling and cell motility in guided neuronal migration

Recent studies indicate that migration of neurons from their place of origin to their final destination requires the orchestration of multiple molecular events, including the selection of a pathway by cell recognition receptors, the formation of adhesive interactions with cellular and extracellular substrates through multiple adhesion molecules and the activation of specific ion channels and receptors that provide second messenger mediated signals for the diverse cellular mechanisms involved in cell motility. New approaches allow for the examination of the role of individual molecular components that mediate these processes.
Local Identity, Solidarity, and Trust in Changing Rural Communities

Abstract This research continues the effort to understand the sociocultural and social-psychological effects resulting from rapid change in rural communities. Two aspects of social well-being that underlie the concept of community are addressed: a sense of local identity and solidarity and a sense of trust. Change in these perceptions during periods of rapid community growth or decline could indicate a changing sense of community and changing levels of social well-being. Four communities, each of which experienced different patterns of population growth and decline, are examined. Analysis indicated that the dimension of community reflected by trust of most people in the community did not change during periods of growth or decline, but that the dimension reflected by a sense of local identity and solidarity suffered during both population growth and population decline. Local identity and solidarity increased in the community that experienced population stabilization after several years of rapid growth. The...
Differential Ballistic Wind Computer

From the weapon's release point in the aircraft to its final burst point at the target, winds may considerably affect a weapon's trajectory. Aircraft bombing-navigational systems must compensate for such wind effects in order to achieve accurate solutions to the bombing problem. Such compensation is provided by a recently-designed analog device called the Differential Ballistic Wind Computer (DBWC). The DBWC furnishes automatic and continuous corrections for "differential ballistic wind" (DBW), without loss of any of the other capabilities of the bombing-navigational system. DBW is the vector difference between ballistic wind (BW) and wind at aircraft altitude (W). (BW is that constant wind velocity which has the same effect upon the weapon's trajectory as the net resultant of all actual wind velocities encountered during the trajectory.) These corrections for DBW are supplied in the form of two DBWC output signals, XDBN and XDBE, which represent the north-sourth and east-west corrections, respectively. XDBN and XDBE are used to vary aircraft heading and time-to-go during system Bomb mode operation, thereby providing a more accurate bomb drop. A distinguishing feature of DBWC circuitry is that it computes the DBW components by modifying a preset partial ballistic wind (BWP) by the product of a preset wind weighting factor (aw) and wind at aircraft altitude (W). The resulting DBW components are resolved about aircraft ground track, and the resolved signals are eventually converted into the corresponding north-south and east-west range signals.
The locus of the lexicality effect in short-term memory for phonologically identical lists

An earlier experiment showed that serial recall for lists of phonologically identical items was better if the items were words (KNEAD-NEED-KNEED-etc.) than if they were nonwords structurally derived from the words (KNEAP-NEEP-KNEEP-etc). In the present experiment, the comparison of such words and nonwords was extended to a three-alternative forced-choice testing method. Since there was no difference with the recognition test, it was concluded that the earlier advantage of words may have resulted from retrieval processes.
Exterior reconstruction of a three dimensional scatterer

Abstract An explicit algorithm is constructed for the exterior Radon transform in three dimensions. An immediate consequence is the development of an exterior form for the inverse Born approximation. From this we discuss reconstruction from the time domain elastic wave scattering of a defect which is partly strongly scattering and partly weakly scattering.
Antibiotics and infectious hybrid sterility in Drosophila paulistorum

Santa Marta and Mesitas (Colombia) strains of Drosophila paulistorum produce, when crossed, sterile males in the F1 and in several backcross generations. The antibiotics toyocamycin nucleoside and gliotoxin (100 μg/ml) were ingested by female parents produced from eggs deposited upon and developed in drug-impregnated medium. The proportions of males capable of developing motile sperm in the hybrids are higher in the progenies of drugtreated mothers than in the controls. Toyocamycin and gliotoxin apparently retard the growth of the cytoplasmic factor (a virus or a rickettsia) which causes the maternally transmitted sterility of these hybrid males.
The estrogens of the pregnant mare.

The urinary ketonic estrogens were studied at monthly intervals in five pregnant mares. Estrone and equilin appear to be the principal components and equilenin a minor constituent of the mares’ estrogens. The levels of equilin rise from the 4–5th months to equal and in some instances exceed those of estrone in the late months of pregnancy. A partition chromatographic method for the separation of the ketonic phenolic steroids of pregnant mares’ urine is described.
Detecting anomalous spectrum usage in dynamic spectrum access networks

Dynamic spectrum access has been proposed as a means to share scarce radio resources, and requires devices to follow protocols that access spectrum resources in a proper, disciplined manner. For a cognitive radio network to achieve this goal, spectrum policies and the ability to enforce them are necessary. Detection of an unauthorized (anomalous) usage is one of the critical issues in spectrum etiquette enforcement. In this paper, we present a network structure for dynamic spectrum access and formulate the anomalous usage detection problem using statistical significance testing. The detection problem investigated considers two cases, namely, the authorized (primary) transmitter is (i) mobile and (ii) fixed. We propose a detection scheme for each case by exploiting the spatial pattern of received signal energy across a network of sensors. Analytical models are formulated when the distribution of the energy measurements is given and, due to the intractability of the general problem, we present an algorithm using machine learning techniques to solve the general case when the statistics of the energy measurements are unknown. Our simulation results show that our approaches can effectively detect unauthorized spectrum usage with a detection probability above 0.9 while keeping the false alarm rate less than 0.1 when only one unauthorized radio is present, and the detection probability is even higher for more unauthorized radios.
Sodium-calcium ion exchange in skeletal muscle sarcolemmal vesicles.

The Ca2+ permeability of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcolemmal vesicles was investigated by means of radioisotope flux measurements. A membrane vesicle fraction highly enriched in sarcolemma, as revealed by enzymatic markers, was obtained from the 22–27% region of sucrose gradients after isopycnic centrifugation. The ability of sarcolemmal vesicles to exchange Na+ for Ca2+ was investigated by measuring Ca2+ influx into and efflux from sarcolemmal vesicles in the presence and absence of a Na+ gradient. It was found that Ca2+ movements were enhanced in the direction of the higher Na+ concentration. When intra- and extravesicular Na+ concentrations were high, Na+−Na+ exchange predominated and Na+−Ca2+ exchange was low or absent. The presence of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in the dilution medium resulted in the rapid release of Ca2+ and the elimination of the Na+-enhanced efflux of Ca2+, suggesting that internal rather than bound external Ca2+ was exchanged with Na+. La3+ abolished Na+−Ca2+ exchange and decreased overall membrane permeability. Na+−Ca2+ exchange was not due to sarcoplasmic reticulum or mitochondrial contaminants. This investigation suggests that skeletal muscle, like cardiac muscle and neurons, is capable of a transmembranous Na+−Ca2+ exchange.
High-Viscosity ‘Conglomerate’ Channel Deposits in Tertiary Lamprophyre Sill, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

Three “conglomerate” channels are exposed in an approximately 12-m-thick (40 ft) Tertiary (44.2 ± 2.2 m.y.) lamprophyre sill in the northern Sacramento Mountains. The sill is intruded into the Pennsylvanian Gobbler Formation as two intrusions, the conglomerate occurring in troughs within the lenticular upper sill. The lamprophyre contains abundant fine phenocryst (0.25 to 8 mm) of hornblende, augite, and plagioclase (An40–45) in a groundmass of plagioclase (An35–40), chlorite, magnetite, and minor orthoclase. The bifurcating lenticular conglomerate is ca. 90 to 210 m (300 to 700 ft) wide and scours up to 5 m (15 ft) into the lower sill. The conglomerate has a chaotic and often nongrain-supported texture of poorly sorted xenoliths and phenocrysts in a groundmass of lamprophyre. The xenoliths consist of fragments of Precambrian schist, gneiss, and granite, Paleozoic sedimentary rock, and clasts eroded from the lower sill; they range in size from less than 1 cm to 0.5 m, with a mean size of 6 to 8 cm. The conglomerate channels are the result of local erosion along the top of the lower sill by a dense xenolith-laden magma current during intrusion of the upper sill. The chaotic texture of the conglomerates and the lack of any axial migration of the xenoliths and phenocrysts indicate transportation and deposition were by a highly viscous flow similar to a pebbly mudstone deposit.
Understanding the challenges and opportunities for richer descriptions of stereotypical behaviors of children with asd: a concept exploration and validation

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often engage in stereotypical behaviors. In some individuals these behaviors occur with very high frequency and can be disruptive and at times self-injurious. We propose a system that can tacitly collect contextual data related to the individual's physiological state and their external environment, and map it to occurrences of stereotypies. A user study was conducted with children with ASD, parents, and caregivers to explore and validate this concept. A prototype of the system, developed through participatory design, was used in the study as a probe to elicit the information needs of these stakeholders, and provide a better understanding of the nuances involved in supporting those needs. Here we present the findings of this study, and four design recommendations; promoting ecological integration, addressing privacy concerns, supporting inference, and enabling customization.
Late Sentences, Last Words: How Benjamin's Texts End

What does one say, in the end? What might it mean for each moment, each sentence, to potentially be the last? This article considers some particular and perplexing tendencies in Walter Benjamin's concluding sentences. Although Benjamin's affinity for the fragment and his declaration that “the writer must stop and restart with every new sentence [mit jedem Satze von neuem einzuhalten und anzuheben]” (Origin 29; GS 1.1: 209) complicate any simplistic notion of a “last sentence,” the style and rhetorical pattern of the sentences that conclude (or avoid concluding) many of his works offer a miniature snapshot into the major concerns running throughout his thinking. Whether considering his complex theories of time, which trouble any progressive notion of history, the potential of dialectical images to awaken thought, or the insistence that his work remain “completely useless [vollkommen unbrauchbar] for the purposes of fascism” (SW 4: 252; GW 1.2: 473), Benjamin's “late” sentences speak to the urgency of his t...
A phenomenological model of the thermal hydraulics of convective boiling during the quenching of hot rod bundles Part I: Thermal hydraulic model

Abstract In this paper, a phenomenological model of the thermal hydraulics of convective boiling in the post-critical-heat-flux (post-CHF) regime is developed and discussed. The model was implemented in the TRAC-PF1/MOD2 computer code (an advanced best-estimate computer program written for the analysis of pressurized water reactor systems). The model was built around the determination of flow regimes downstream of the quench front. The regimes were determined from the flow-regime map suggested by Ishii and his coworkers. Heat transfer in the transition boiling region was formulated as a position-dependent model. The propagation of the CHF point was strongly dependent on the length of the transition boiling region. Wall-to-fluid film boiling heat transfer was considered to consist of two components: first, a wall-to-vapor convective heat-transfer portion and, second, a wall-to-liquid heat transfer representing near-wall effects. Each contribution was considered separately in each of the inverted annular flow (IAF) regimes. The interfacial heat transfer was also formulated as flow-regime dependent. The interfacial drag coefficient model upstream of the CHF point was considered to be similar to flow through a roughened pipe. A free-stream contribution was calculated using Ishii's bubbly flow model for either fully developed subcooled or saturated nucleate boiling. For the drag in the smooth IAF region, a simple smooth-tube correlation for the interfacial friction factor was used. The drag coefficient for the rough-wavy IAF was formulated in the same way as for the smooth IAF model except that the roughness parameter was assumed to be proportional to liquid droplet diameter entrained from the wavy interface. The drag coefficient in the highly dispersed flow regime considered the combined effects of the liquid droplets within the channel and a liquid film on wet unheated walls. The heat-transfer and interfacial drag models used were based on the flow-regime map noted above with length averaging of the flow-regime length if more than one regime existed in a give hydraulic cell.
Worst-case analysis for region and partial region searches in multidimensional binary search trees and balanced quad trees

Given a file of N records each of which has k keys, the worst-case analysis for the region and partial region queries in multidimensional binary search trees and balanced quad trees are presented. It is shown that the search algorithms proposed in [1, 3] run in time O(k·N 1?1/k) for region queries in both tree structures. For partial region queries with s keys specified, the search algorithms run at most in time O(s·N 1?1/k ) in both structures.
Allergic contact dermatitis in 136 children patch tested between 2000 and 2006

Background Allergic contact dermatitis is often under-recognized in the pediatric population but it may affect greater than 20% of this age group. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the Mayo Rochester, Jacksonville and Arizona patch test database of all children 18 or younger over a 7-year period (January 1, 2000–December 31, 2006). Results One-hundred thirty-six children were patch tested from age 3 to 18. Females constituted 66% of those tested and males 34%. Eighty percent of the children were equally distributed between age groups 11–15 and 16–18, with the remainder being 10 years or younger. Sixty-one percent of the children tested positive to at least one allergen. Fifty-three percent of these reactions were deemed to be of current relevance, 31% questionable relevance, 5% past relevance, and 10% not relevant. Males younger than 10 were most likely to have a positive patch test. However, the percent of positive tests in males decreased with increasing age. Females younger than age 10 were less likely to have a positive test than older females. The most common allergens were nickel, cobalt, gold, and thimerosal. Conclusion In children suspected to have allergic contact dermatitis, 61% were confirmed to have a positive reaction to at least one allergen. The utility of patch testing children whose clinical presentation is suggestive for allergic contact dermatitis is high.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FRACTAL DIMENSION AND KRUMBEIN'S ROUNDNESS NUMBER

ABSTRACT The shape of granular materials can be described by either their fractal dimension (D) or by the use of the Krumbein’s angularity or roundness number (R). The concepts of fractals and fractal dimension as a shape descriptor are presented. Fractal analysis of the Krumbein’s standard two dimensional particle profiles used to determine the angularity of granular materials is carried out. A relationship between the fractal dimension (D) and the Krumbein’s roundness number (R) is described. The relationship between D and R is found to be: D = 1.0541 - 0.0335 R
Comparison of methods to predict equilibrated Kt/V in the HEMO Pilot Study

Comparison of methods to predict equilibrated Kt/V in the HEMO Pilot Study. The ongoing HEMO Study, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored multicenter trial to test the effects of dialysis dosage and membrane flux on morbidity and mortality, was preceded by a Pilot Study (called the MMHD Pilot Study) designed to test the reliability of methods for quantifying hemodialysis. Dialysis dose was defined by the fractional urea clearance per dialysis determined by the predialysis BUN and the equilibrated postdialysis BUN after urea rebound is completed (eKt/V). In the Pilot Study the blood side standard for eKt/V was calculated from the predialysis, postdialysis, and 30-minute postdialysis BUN. Four techniques of approximating eKt/V that eliminated the requirement for the 30-minute postdialysis sample were also evaluated. The first adjusted the single compartment Kt/V using a linear equation with slope based on the relative rate of solute removal (K/V) to predict eKt/V (rate method). The second and third techniques used equations or mathematical curve fitting algorithms to fit data that included one or more samples drawn during dialysis (intradialysis methods). The fourth technique (dialysate-side) predicted eKt/V from an analysis of the time-dependent profile of dialysate urea nitrogen concentrations (BioStat method; Baxter Healthcare, Inc., Round Lake, IL, USA). The Pilot Study demonstrated the feasibility of conventional and high dose targets of about 1.0 and 1.4 for eKt/V. Based on the blood side standard method, the mean ± SD eKt/V for patients randomized to these targets was 1.14 ± 0.11 and 1.52 ± 0.15 ( N = 19 and 16 patients, respectively). Single-pool Kt/Vs were about 0.2 Kt/V units higher. Results were similar when eKt/V was based on dialysate side measurements: 1.10 ± 0.11 and 1.50 ± 0.11. The approximations of eKt/V by the three blood side methods that eliminated the delayed 30-minute post-dialysis sample correlated well with eKt/V from the standard blood side method: r=0.78 and 0.76 for the single-sample (Smye) and multiple-sample intradialysis methods ( N = 295 and 229 sessions, respectively) and 0.85 for the rate method ( N = 295). The median absolute difference between eKt/V computed using the standard blood side method and eKt/V from the four other methods ranged from 0.064 to 0.097, with the smallest difference (and hence best accuracy) for the rate method. The results suggest that, in a dialysis patient population selected for ability to achieve an equilibrated Kt/V of about 1.45 in less than a 4.5 hour period, use of the pre and postdialysis samples and a kinetically derived rate equation gives reasonably good prediction of equilibrated Kt/V. Addition of one or more intradialytic samples does not appear to increase accuracy of predicting the equilibrated Kt/V in the majority of patients. A method based on dialysate urea analysis and curve-fitting yields results for equilibrated Kt/V that are similar to those obtained using exclusively blood-based techniques of kinetic modeling.
Thematics and products in American magazine advertising containing children, 1940–1950

To assess changes in thematic and value depictions in American magazine advertising containing children from 1940 to 1950, a content analysis coded advertisements for themes/genres, product‐types, and connections of ad‐child to ad‐product. While results indicate significant increases in the number of advertisements containing children in the postwar years, findings also show the majority of those advertisements to be for “adult‐oriented products.”; However, postwar advertising images also hail children in larger amounts as observed through various personalizing aspects. For example, children are increasingly shown in the postwar period “looking at,”; “reaching for,”; or “using”; the ad‐product. There are also significant postwar increases in the favorable reaction of the ad‐child to the ad‐product itself, rather than to product use. As expected there are several inter‐period thematic shifts, particularly those of “war/home front”; and “teen social”;. Finally, image assessments point to postwar shifts in t...
The therapeutic misconception and our models of competency and informed consent

The doctrine of informed consent rests on empirical claims. This is true particularly of what commentators have characterized as the “strong” model of informed consent. This model assumes that if adequate information is given to a competent individual, understanding will result and, permitted to make a voluntary decision, the individual will make a rational decision. However, the “therapeutic misconception” posits that individuals may confuse the goals of research with those of treatment and may make decisions that do not rest on adequate understanding. This article reviews research suggesting that this may in fact be true, and concludes that, as a result, traditional notions of informed consent may not yield results consistent with the assumptions on which the doctrine of informed consent rests. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolutionary biology: how to build a longer beak.

Evolutionary changes in the beaks of Darwin's finches have been instrumental in the adaptive radiation of these birds. The molecular basis for variation in beak size and shape is opening up to investigation.
Using Fitts's law for evaluating Tongue Drive System as a pointing device for computer access

In this paper, the results of a 2-D center-out task in a Fitts's law experiment have been presented for measuring the performance of the Tongue Drive System (TDS). Although the end-user population for TDS is individuals with tetraplegia, in this study, we recruited 6 able-bodied subjects in 3 sessions, conducted in 3 consecutive days. They performed the same task with their right hand using a standard mouse for achieving a baseline as well as a standard keypad with their right index finger. The resulting average throughput for TDS, keypad, and mouse were 1.67, 2.17, and 3.99 bit/s, respectively.
p53 and the pathogenesis of skin cancer

The p53 tumor suppressor gene and gene product are among the most diverse and complex molecules involved in cellular functions. Genetic alterations within the p53 gene have been shown to have a direct correlation with cancer development and have been shown to occur in nearly 50% of all cancers. p53 mutations are particularly common in skin cancers and UV irradiation has been shown to be a primary cause of specific 'signature' mutations that can result in oncogenic transformation. There are certain 'hot-spots' in the p53 gene where mutations are commonly found that result in a mutated dipyrimidine site. This review discusses the role of p53 from normal function and its dysfunction in pre-cancerous lesions and non-melanoma skin cancers. Additionally, special situations are explored, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome in which there is an inherited p53 mutation, and the consequences of immune suppression on p53 mutations and the resulting increase in non-melanoma skin cancer in these patients.
Nitric oxide formation during flame/vortex interaction

The formation of nitric oxide was investigated in methane diffusion flames under the perturbation of laminar vortices. Laser-induced fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy were used to measure nitric oxide, major species, and temperature, and to obtain the time evolution of the scalar dissipation rate at the stoichiometric surface during the flame/vortex interaction. Vortices with two characteristic times were thrust into the flame and their effects were compared with steady flames at the same scalar dissipation rate. The experimental measurements showed that the vortex did not affect significantly the peak temperature, CO, and CO2 mass fraction during the interaction. NO, instead, was strongly affected. The peak mass fraction of NO in flames under vortex perturbation differed by almost a factor of 2 from steady flames with similar scalar dissipation rates. One-dimensional numerical simulations, used under the well-justified assumption that the vortices induced negligible curvature, yielded results in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The numerical computations were also used to investigate the effect of the characteristic time of the vortex on the different NO formation paths, that is, thermal, and prompt. The peak mass fraction of thermal NO was shown to be strongly dependent on the timescale of the unsteady perturbation, while prompt NO was almost independent. The emission index, that is, the production of NO normalized by the consumption of the fuel, behaved quasi-steadily for the two formation paths. The results were rationalized by considering the flame structure and the activation energy of the different formation paths.
Clinical Anophthalmia Associated with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Three cases of congenital clinical anophthalmia associated with congenital cytomegalovirus infection were diagnosed by positive viral cultures and immunologic studies. Ultrasonography in one infant with clinically detected anophthalmia showed the presence of severe microphthalmia with cyst. These findings suggest that maternal infection occurred within the first trimester of gestation.
Cloud and radiative fields derived from GOES-8 during SUCCESS and the ARM-UAV spring 1996 flight series

Cloud and radiative properties were derived for the southern Great Plains for April 9 - May 9, 1996 from GOES-8 to provide a large-scale context for SUCCESS and a dataset for mesoscale modeling of cirrus processes. The analyses indicate that cloudiness over the domain was below normal during April 1996. Thin cirrus with optical depths less than 6 was the predominant cloud type over much of the domain, however, providing a considerable number of measurement opportunities for the suite of SUCCESS instruments. Diurnal variation of cloudiness was substantial over the ARM southern Great Plains central facility. Total albedos were below normal because of the diminished thick cloudiness, while surface temperature and total longwave fluxes were relatively high. The data are on a 0.5° grid and are available electronically.
First-order coupling of paleogeography and CO2, with global surface temperature and its latitudinal contrast

The authors propose that for any geography, halving the amount of emergent land area will elevate CO{sub 2} levels enough to raise land surface temperature 10C and vice versa. They have evaluated this relation by specifying latitude and level of emergence for six end-member continental configurations. They show that a world with polar continents (capworld) will be warmest, whereas a world dominated by tropical ones (ringworld) will be coldest - a result superficially counterintuitive to established climate dogma. A meridional configuration (sliceworld) will have intermediate temperatures. The model is consistent with modern, Pleistocene maximum-emergence and mid-Cretaceous minimum-emergence climates. It also predicts a cool global climate for the half-emergent mid-Cambrian ringworld and a very warm, equable climate for the half-emergent mid-Silurian capworld. Furthermore, the relations among latitude, land area, temperature, and CO{sub 2} levels predict that a Late Proterozoic, equator-straddling land mass could have been glaciated. A strong point of the model is that it yields realistic results with no knowledge of paleolongitude, sea-floor-generation rates, or orogeny (or, by implication, degassing and erosion rates), non of which is obtainable for pre-Mesozoic paleogeographies.
Guidelines for the Selection of Antibacterial Therapy in Children

This article reviews factors important in the selection of antimicrobial agents in infants and children. Recommendations for antibiotic therapy for a wide range of infections occurring in children are provided.
Distribution of monoclonal antibodies in intestinal and urogenital secretions of mice bearing hybridoma 'backpack' tumours.

Mice bearing IgA hybridoma ‘backpack’ tumours have been used to demonstrate that secretion of a single monoclonal IgA can protect against mucosal infection, but the relevance of this model to normal IgA protection is not clear. The authors analysed the distribution of specific monoclonal and total antibodies in bile, local intestinal secretions, cervical-vaginal secretions, urine and serum of mice bearing anti-cholera toxin (CT) IgA and IgG backpack tumours, with and without bile duct ligation. Backpack tumours resulted in high levels of both anti-CT and total IgA or IgG in serum, and IgA (but not IgG) in bile. Secretions recovered by absorbent filter ‘wicks’ from mucosal surfaces throughout the intestines of backpack tumour mice contained significant concentrations of monoclonal anti-CT IgA, but total IgA levels were as in normal mice. Neither monoclonal nor total IgA levels on mucosal surfaces were altered by bile duct ligation. Furthermore, anti-CT monoclonal IgA levels in local intestinal secretions of backpack tumour mice were comparable to specific polyclonal IgA levels previously elicited by mucosal immunization with CT. Thus, IgA-mediated protection against enteric challenge in the backpack tumour model may be a valid predictor of protection provided by natural mucosal immunization in vivo. High monoclonal IgA levels in bile, urine and the female genital tract, however, may not reflect the situation in normal immunized mice.
Problems of Interplanetary and Interstellar Trade

If and when interplanetary and interstellar trade develop, it will be novel in two respects. First, the distances and time spans involved will reduce all or nearly all trade to the exchange of intangible goods. That threatens the possibility of conducting business in a genuinely common currency and of enforcing debt agreements incurred by governments. Second, interstellar trade suggests trade between humans and aliens. Cultural distance is a probable obstacle to initiating and sustaining such trade. Such exchange also threatens the release of new and dangerous memes.