cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nucleation and growth mechanisms for Pd-Pt bimetallic nanodendrites and their electrocatalytic properties

In a seed-mediated synthesis, nanocrystal growth is often described by assuming the absence of homogeneous nucleation in the solution. Here we provide new insights into the nucleation and growth mechanisms underlying the formation of bimetallic nanodendrites that are characterized by a dense array of Pt branches anchored to a Pd nanocrystal core. These nanostructures can be easily prepared by a one-step, seeded growth method that involves the reduction of K2PtCl4 by L-ascorbic acid in the presence of 9-nm truncated octahedral Pd seeds in an aqueous solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM analyses revealed that both homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of Pt occurred at the very early stages of the synthesis and the Pt branches grew through oriented attachment of small Pt particles that had been formed via homogeneous nucleation. These new findings contradict the generally accepted mechanism for seeded growth that only involves heterogeneous nucleation and simple growth via atomic addition. We have also investigated the electrocatalytic properties of the Pd-Pt nanodendrites for the oxygen reduction and formic acid oxidation reactions by conducting a comparative study with foam-like Pt nanostructures prepared in the absence of Pd seeds under otherwise identical conditions.
Diterpene glycosides from Gutierrezia sphaerocephala

Abstract Five new diterpene glycosides, two arabinopyranosides and three xylopyranosides were isolated from Gutierrezia sphaerocephala . One of the arabinosides contained a tiglate ester at the 3′-position of the sugar moiety.
Adsorption of Helium on Rare-Gas-Plated Graphite

The single-particle quantum states for ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ atoms adsorbed on rare-gas-plated graphite are analyzed in detail and compared to the corresponding states for adsorption on graphite and on argon-plated copper. The nature of the adsorption states depends primarily on the type of preplating gas and little on the type of underlying base. The adatoms on these substrates have high surface mobility, but the periodic surface potential does produce strong band-structure effects. The mass difference between ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ is found to be more important than the difference in statistics. The specific heat, which is calculated neglecting helium-helium interactions, is used to further compare the nature of adsorption on the various substrates.
A parameterization of ocean surface albedo

[1] Measurements at a sea platform show that the ocean surface albedo is highly variable and is sensitive to four physical parameters: solar zenith angle, wind speed, transmission by atmospheric cloud/aerosol, and ocean chlorophyll concentration. Using a validated coupled ocean-atmosphere radiative transfer model, an ocean albedo look up table is created in terms of these four important parameters. A code to read the table is also provided; it gives spectral albedos for a range of oceanic and atmospheric conditions specified by the user. The result is a fast and accurate parameterization of ocean surface albedo for radiative transfer and climate modeling. INDEX TERMS: 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes; 1620 Global Change: Climate dynamics (3309); 3339 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Ocean/ atmosphere interactions (0312, 4504); 4552 Oceanography: Physical: Ocean optics; 1610 Global Change: Atmosphere (0315, 0325). Citation: Jin, Z., T. P. Charlock, W. L. Smith Jr., and K. Rutledge (2004), A parameterization of ocean surface albedo, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L22301, doi:10.1029/ 2004GL021180.
Influence of qubit displacements on quantum logic operations in a silicon-based quantum computer with constant interaction

The errors caused by qubit displacements from their prescribed locations in an ensemble of spin chains are estimated analytically and calculated numerically for a quantum computer based on phosphorus donors in silicon. We show that it is possible to polarize (initialize) the nuclear spins even with displaced qubits by using controlled-NOT gates between the electron and nuclear spins of the same phosphorus atom. However, a controlled-NOT gate between the displaced electron spins is implemented with large error because of the exponential dependence of exchange interaction constant on the distance between the qubits. If quantum computation is implemented on an ensemble of many spin chains, the errors can be small if the number of chains with displaced qubits is small.
Contribution to a liquid-like theory of rubber elasticity: 2. Existence of a (γxγγ+ γyγz γzγx term☆

Abstract We first show that the classical gas-like theory of rubber elasticity is incorrect because the force-extension relation for an individual polymer chain is dependent on the interaction of its chain segments with segments of other chains in its neighbourhood. Two previous attempts by the author to formulate a liquid-like theory are discussed and improved. It is then argued that chain entanglements result in the value of the number of segments N in the expression f = 3 kTx / N increasing with chain extension x or with increasing force f . The entropic contribution to the free energy of a rubber from this effect is then shown to be given by B ( γ x γ γ + γ y γ z γ z γ x ), where B is proportional to kT and to the number of chains per unit volume. In order to facilitate comparison with experiment, the stress-strain equations for simple extension, biaxial extension and for pure shear are displayed for three different choices of strain invariants: those of Rivlin, those of this paper, and those of the localization model of Gaylord, Douglas and McKenna. Comparisons with experiment are discussed.
EMG waveform duration: A validation method for the surface electromyogram

The electromyogram (EMG) recorded with surface electrodes was examined using a triggered oscilloscope technique. When all but the high-amplitude waveforms in a given segment of activity were excluded from analysis, it was found that the duration of the remaining waveforms was specific to the muscle that produced them. That is, waveforms of a given duration were recorded whenever conventional indices-observable contraction, joint movement. needle recordings-showed activity in a specific muscle. This led to the suggestion that waveform duration might be used to validate the surface EMG. The suggestion. which is limited by the need to control posture and electrode placement, both of which may influence waveform duration, was illustrated in application to psychological research.
An energy-minimizing mesh for the Schro¨dinger equation

Abstract A formula is derived which gives the optimum placement of mesh points in the sense of minimizing the error in energy for a given number of degrees of freedom. The wave function is assumed to be given in a finite difference or finite element representation with polynomial completeness to an arbitrary but fixed degree. The result depends explicitly on the wave function, the kinetic energy operator, and the degree of polynomial completeness for the representation but does not depend explicitly on the potential, even in the presence of a Coulomb singularity. The optimum mesh predicted here for the hydrogen atom is compared to the widely used Herman-Skillman mesh. A 1-dimensional example is given in which the calculated error in energy displays a sharp minimum at the predicted optimal mesh density. The critical role of reproducing the analytic structure of the solution is illustrated with an additional example in one dimension. The hydrogen is wave function is considered as a 3-dimensional problem, and an optimal mesh density is calculated. A singular mesh density is required to account for the cusp while retaining the convergence properties of the basis set. A few percent of the available degrees of freedom are devoted to the description of the wave function cusp in the optimal mesh.
New coaxial transseptal needle for creation of atrial septal defects in adult sheep.

To introduce a new transseptal (TS) needle assembled in our laboratory—the coaxial TS (CTS) needle—and describe our experience with it in creating experimental atrial septal defects (ASD) in adult sheep. With commercially available TS needles, we were not able to consistently perform TS puncture at the fossa ovalis in adult sheep. Ten adult sheep with a mean weight of 63.5 kg were used. The CTS needle consists of four components: a 9F Teflon catheter, a 14-gauge blunt curved-tip metal cannula, a 4F tapered catheter, and a 20-gauge open needle. A transjugular 5F pigtail catheter was used to display the septal anatomy by angiocardiography and was left in place to mark the level of the fossa ovalis. The septum was then probed by a transfemoral 5F curved-tip end-hole catheter. The CTS needle was aligned with the tip of the transjugular catheter, and the TS puncture was performed under fluoroscopic guidance. After documenting a left atrial position, a balloon angioplasty catheter was used for creation of the ASD. A small patent foramen ovale was discovered by septal probing in one sheep. All sheep underwent successful TS punctures without complications. The ASD size ranged from 13 to 15 mm. In eight sheep, the ASD was in fossa ovalis. In the first two sheep where the needle was not well aligned with the marking catheter, the ASD was in the septum secundum. No damage to the atrial or other heart structures was found at necropsy. The CTS needle is a suitable needle for TS puncture and ASD creation in adult sheep. Proper alignment of the CTS needle with a catheter marking the fossa ovalis is essential for successful puncture.
A New System for D-C. Arc Welding

A short description is first given of a d-c. generator having characteristics suitable for arc welding. Curves showing performance under steady conditions of load are shown. It is pointed out that for quick changes of load transients appear detrimental to arc welding. In order to eliminate these transients, an external inductive device called a transforming reactor is introduced in the arc welding circuit. This transforming reactor has a dual purpose. First, it depresses the transients as is shown by oscillograms, resulting in quick recovery of the voltage and a small short-circuit current. Thus it is shown that under arc welding load the generator performs in accordance with the curves corresponding to a steady load. Second, the transforming reactor introduces reactance in the arc circuit which, experience has shown, is desirable in order to make the arc stable and therefore easy to handle. The system for d-c. arc welding which is described consists, therefore, of two units,?a generator and a transforming reactor, forming a combination capable of producing uniform welds of high strength.
Facilitation of Discrimination Learning by Injection of an RNA Extract Prepared from Donor Subjects

Naive rats given intraperitoneal injections of an extract prepared from the brains of either trained or untrained donor rats learned a position discrimination task in simple parallel alley runways significantly faster than original (uninjected) donor rats. Specific interanimal transfer, however, was not demonstrated as there was no statistically reliable difference between recipients of “trained brain” vs “untrained brain” extracts.
In situ neutron diffraction study on temperature dependent deformation mechanisms of ultrafine grained austenitic Fe-14Cr-16Ni alloy

Abstract Using in situ neutron diffraction technique we investigated the temperature dependent deformation mechanisms in ultrafine grained (UFG) austenitic Fe–14Cr–16Ni alloy prepared by equal channel angular pressing. Tensile test studies show diminished ductility when testing temperature increased from 20 to 200 °C. At 200 °C, non-linear lattice strain deviation on [2 0 0] orientation proceeded plastic yielding by a large margin, accompanied by a greater distortion of crystal structure. In addition, the capability to accumulate dislocations was substantially reduced at 200 °C as evidenced by lower dislocation density than that at 20 °C. Dynamic recovery expedited at elevated temperature because of enlarged critical separation distance for annihilation of dislocation dipoles via climb. Calculations show that both high angle grain boundaries and thermal kinetic energy assisted the reduction of vacancy formation energy.
Efficient, dynamic data visualization with persistent data structures

Working with data that is changing while it is being worked on, so called "dynamic data", presents unique challenges to a visualization and analysis framework. In particular, making rendering and analysis mutually exclusive can quickly lead to either livelock in the analysis, unresponsive visuals or incorrect results. A framework's data store is a common point of contention that often drives the mutual exclusion. Providing safe, synchronous access to the data store eliminates the livelock scenarios and responsive visuals while maintaining result correctness. Persistent data structures are a technique for providing safe, synchronous access. They support safe, synchronous access by directly supporting multiple versions of the data structure with limited data duplication. With a persistent data structure, rendering acts on one version of the data structure while analysis updates another, effectively double-buffering the central data store. Pre-rendering work based on global state (such as scaling all values relative to the global maximum) is also efficiently treated if independently modified versions can be merged. The Stencil visualization system uses persistent data structures to achieve task-based parallelism between analysis, pre-rendering and rendering work with little synchronization overhead. With efficient persistent data structures, performance gains of several orders of magnitude are achieved.
Comparison of Phase Field Crystal and Molecular Dynamics Simulations for a Shrinking Grain

The Phase-Field Crystal (PFC) model represents the atomic density as a continuous function, whose spatial distribution evolves at diffusional, rather than vibrational time scales. PFC provides a tool to study defect interactions at the atomistic level but over longer time scales than in molecular dynamics (MD). We examine the behavior of the PFC model with the goal of relating the PFC parameters to physical parameters of real systems, derived from MD simulations. For this purpose we model the phenomenon of the shrinking of a spherical grain situated in a matrix. By comparing the rate of shrinking of the central grain using MD and PFC we obtain a relationship between PFC and MD time scales for processes driven by grain boundary diffusion. The morphological changes in the central grain including grain shape and grain rotation are also examined in order to assess the accuracy of the PFC in capturing the evolution path predicted by MD.
Localization of the Ca2+‐dependent proteinases and their inhibitor in normal, fasted, and denervated rat skeletal muscle

Immunofluorescence and immunogold localization studies show that the two Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases (mu-calpain for the micromolar Ca(2+)-requiring proteinase and m-calpain for the millimolar Ca(2+)-requiring proteinase) and their protein inhibitor (calpastatin) are located exclusively intracellularly in normal rat soleus muscle. Quantitative immunogold studies indicate that binding of antibodies to both calpains and to calpastatin is approximately two times greater at the Z-disk of myofibrils than it is at the I-band or A-band regions. Mitochondria and nuclei in muscle cells contain both calpains and calpastatin at concentrations approximately one-tenth and one-fifth, respectively, of the concentration at the Z-disk, as estimated by antibody binding. Very little calpain or calpastatin was seen in the cytoplasmic intermyofibrillar spaces, and most of the calpain and calpastatin in muscle cells is associated with intracellular structures. Immunofluorescence results suggest that concentration of m-calpain but not mu-calpain or calpastatin is, in some instances, slightly higher near the intracellular surface of the plasma membrane than elsewhere in the muscle cell. Most m-calpain, however, is distributed throughout the interior of mature rat skeletal muscle cells. Denervation, or fasting and refeeding increases the concentration of the calpains and calpastatin in the muscle cell but does not change their distribution. Some mu- and m-calpain and calpastatin is found extracellularly in denervated soleus muscle or soleus muscle from fasting rats, but the extracellular calpains and calpastatin seem to originate from "leakage" of these proteins out of the cell because serum creatine kinase levels are much higher than normal in denervated or fasting rats.
Boson-Fermion Scattering in the Heisenberg Representation

It is shown that the $S$-matrix for boson-fermion scattering can be simply expressed in the Heisenberg representation. By performing a time integration one obtains the $S$-matrix in the Schr\"odinger representation, which has the same form as the conventional perturbation theory sum over states. Suitably limiting the nature of the intermediate states entering into this sum leads to integral equations for certain matrix elements which are equal to the $S$-matrix elements on the energy shell. These equations appear in a completely renormalized form. For example, in the fixed source limit, the four pion-nucleon scattering states satisfy the same equation (with different numerical coefficients). The equations are nonlinear, but involve only the scattering phase shifts. The equivalent equation for photopion production is linear, and in the fixed source limit can be written down from a knowledge of the experimental scattering phase shifts. The zero-pion-mass theorems of Gell-Mann and Goldberger (concerning the isotopic spin independence of the zero-energy $S$-wave scattering) and of Kroll and Ruderman, [Phys. Rev. 93, 233 (1954)] follow simply from the formalism.
The Sex-Role Antecedents Scales:

The Sex-role Antecedents Scales were constructed to classify personal and perceived parental sex-role orientations as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. 28 traits are included, ...
Prolonged hypernatremia safely controls elevated intracranial pressure in pediatric head injury patients

The standard treatment of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) includes the administration of hyperosmotic solutions. Osmolar diuretics may lead to intravascular dehydration, hypotension, pre-renal azotemia and reduction of cerebral blood flow. Hypertonic saline solutions effectively reduce raised intracranial pressure in animals and humans without producing intravascular dehydration. We evaluated the degree of intracranial pressure control induced by the administration of 3% hypertonic saline (508 mOsms/I NaCl) in pediatric patients after traumatic brain injury.
Prevalence and characteristics of pain in early and late stages of ALS

The purpose of this study was to compare pain frequency in early and late stages of ALS and to describe the relationship between pain intensity and functional status. Sixty-four patients in different stages of ALS were asked to complete the Neuropathic Pain Scale and to draw the localization of their pain on a body cartoon. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) values were obtained from the medical record. A χ(2) correlation was used to compare the proportion of patients with pain in different stages of ALS. Correlation coefficient was used to describe the relationship between pain intensity and functional status (ALSFRS-R). Pain was reported by about half the patients. Using FVC values, patients were subdivided into early, intermediate and late stage of the disease. There was a negative correlation between pain intensity and functional status. There was no statistically significant difference in the presence of pain among patients in the different stages of ALS. In conclusion, our study showed that pain is common in ALS patients. Although pain intensity did correlate negatively with functional status, as expected, we were surprised to find that pain was also present in the early stages of the disease.
A Fuzzy Rule-Based Model for Artificial Reef Placement Related to Managing Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Ecosystems in Alabama Waters

A rough set theory model utilising fuzzy sets was developed to investigate artificial reef placement based on fish ecosystem components. The model incorporates consumption estimates and presumed foraging behavior to provide a rule-based approach to determine how far apart artificial reefs must be placed to eliminate density-dependent competition for prey resources. Simulation of the ecosystem parameters and potential reef distances as triangularly defined fuzzy sets generates input into the rules. Then, based upon the strength of belief in a rule, the artificial reef placement location can be accepted or rejected as being conducive to consumption at the reef and foraging behaviour of the species. Ease of utilisation of the model is highlighted by spreadsheet application to a red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) ecosystem in Gulf of Mexico waters off the coastal shelf of Alabama. Implications exist for similar applications to other ecosystems and different fish species. Further applications are relevant beyond fish management when viewed as a general managerial decision-making process involving fuzzy sets and simulation.
Massed and spaced stimulus sequences in dimensional discrimination

In two experiments, pigeons' responding to a visual flicker-rate continuum was established by a maintained generalization procedure. For both experiments, variable-interval reinforcement was available for responses during stimuli from one half of the stimulus continuum while responses during other stimuli were extinguished. The first experiment compared gradients of dimensional stimulus control produced by randomly presented positive and negative stimuli with gradients produced by massed positive and negative stimuli. The second experiment alternated the order of massed stimulus sequences. In both cases, massing of stimulus sequences diminished positive dimensional contrast effects, without seriously disturbing discrimination between positive and negative stimuli. The results indicate that stimulus sequences can have an important role in the production of dimensional contrast effects.
Enhancing information systems users' knowledge and skills transference through self-regulation techniques

Being able to utilize information systems (IS) to address novel issues continues to be challenging for many IS users. IS training has typically focused on acquiring requisite knowledge and skills to complete routine sets of tasks, and not necessarily transference of this IS knowledge and skills to novel contexts. Being unable to perform this transference can then limit an IS users ability to utilize an IS to address unique problems. Drawing upon Identical Elements and Principles Theories, as well as Social Cognitive Theory, this research study proposes an experiment to assess the effectiveness of utilizing self-regulation techniques (i.e., self-explanations and self-evaluations) to improve IS knowledge and skills transference to unique contexts as well as improve IS performance outcomes. The potential contribution will include suggestions of training modifications to enhance IS usage and providing guidance for future research in the domain of IS users' knowledge and skills transference.
Two polyps on a common stalk

A 58-year-old man was seen as an outpatient for average-risk colorectal cancer screening. On evaluation, he was in good health, with a body mass index of 31. He denied any symptoms and had not yet participated in any type of colorectal cancer screening. He had a history of well-controlled hypertension and nephrolithiasis that had been treated with lithotripsy. During his colonoscopy, two polyps that shared a common stalk were encountered in the sigmoid colon (A). The polyps were approximately 1.0 cm and 1.5 cm in size. Because of the length of the stalk and the overall size of the polyps, we decided to remove the polyps separately. The smaller polyp was removed first via a hot snare at the site of its attachment to the common stalk. The remaining polyp and stalk were then removed in one piece, also with a hot snare. Excellent hemostasis was observed after polypectomy. Pathology revealed that both polyps were tubulovillous adenomas. The patient recovered well after the procedure.
Urbanization in China and the Case of Fujian Province

This article examines China’s urbanization, drawing on the case of Fujian province. It finds that the lower rate of urbanization than of nonfarm employment and industrialization is partly explained by flaws in the current method of calculating the extent of urbanization. It demonstrates that the characteristics of Chinese urbanization differ in cities and towns of varying administrative ranks, and shows that the desirability of controlling population mobility and the development of large cities is questionable. The case of Fujian suggests that more attention needs to be paid to other issues of broad significance in China, such as the role of government in urbanizing, the challenge of transforming a low-value-added economy, and how to address the socioeconomic repercussions of the urbanization process. Especially important is the under-emphasized and as yet unanswered core question: how to create nonfarm jobs.
Line shapes of the X(3872)

If the quantum numbers of the $X(3872)$ are ${J}^{PC}={1}^{++}$, the measurement of its mass implies that it is either a loosely bound hadronic molecule whose constituents are a superposition of the charm mesons pairs ${D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ and ${D}^{0}{\overline{D}}^{*0}$ or else it is a virtual state of these charm mesons. Its binding energy is small enough that the decay width of a constituent ${D}^{*0}$ or ${\overline{D}}^{*0}$ has a significant effect on the line shapes of the $X$ resonance. We develop a simple approximation to the line shapes that takes into account the effect of the ${D}^{*0}$ width as well as inelastic scattering channels of the charm mesons. We carry out a simultaneous fit to the line shapes in the $J/\ensuremath{\psi}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${D}^{0}{\overline{D}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ channels measured in the decays ${B}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}+X$ by the Belle Collaboration. The best fit corresponds to the $X(3872)$ being a bound state just below the ${D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ threshold, but a virtual state just above the ${D}^{*0}{\overline{D}}^{0}$ threshold is not excluded.
Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni FlgR Response Regulator Suggests Integration of Diverse Mechanisms To Activate an NtrC-Like Protein

Flagellar motility in Campylobacter jejuni mediates optimal interactions with human or animal hosts. σ54 and the FlgSR two-component system are necessary for the expression of many C. jejuni flagellar genes. The FlgR response regulator is homologous to the NtrC family of transcriptional activators. These regulators usually contain an N-terminal receiver domain, a central domain that interacts with σ54 and hydrolyzes ATP, and a DNA-binding C-terminal domain. Most often, phosphorylation of the receiver domain influences its inherent ability to either positively or negatively control the activity of the regulator. In this study, we performed genetic and biochemical analyses to understand how FlgR activity is controlled to culminate in the expression of σ54-dependent flagellar genes. Our data suggest that the FlgR receiver domain has the capacity for both positive and negative regulation in controlling the activation of the protein. Analysis of the C-terminal domain of FlgR revealed that it lacks a DNA-binding motif and is not required for σ54-dependent flagellar gene expression. Further analysis of FlgR lacking the C-terminal domain indicates that this protein is partially functional in the absence of the cognate sensor kinase, FlgS, but its activity is still dependent on the phosphorylated residue in the receiver domain, D51. We hypothesize that the C-terminal domain may not function to bind DNA but may ensure the specificity of the phosphorylation of FlgR by FlgS. Our results demonstrate that FlgR activation mechanisms are unusual among characterized NtrC-like proteins and emphasize that various means are utilized by the NtrC family of proteins to control the transcription of target genes.
Effect of shell‐side flows on hollow‐fiber membrane device performance

Membrane-based separation processes are the preferred choice to accomplish many industrial separations. Among the numerous applications are filtration, dialysis, reverse osmosis, and gas separations. Modules utilizing hollow-fiber membranes are efficient contractors. For design purposes, analyses of how these devices perform require knowledge of the membrane mass-transfer properties and the nature of the flow in both the lumen and shell. Such analyses typically assume that all fibers possess the same size and mass-transfer characteristics. Additionally, most analyses assume that the shell and lumen flows are concurrent, countercurrent, or cross-current to one another. No work exists that addresses fluid distribution across the fiber bundle. The authors present a theoretical analysis of shell-side flows and their influence on mass transfer. The general problem is computationally quite complex. They consider only the simplest, nontrivial effects here, but within a framework that is readily modified to allow examination of other issues associated with shell-side flows.
Near-Potential Games: Geometry and Dynamics

Potential games are a special class of games for which many adaptive user dynamics converge to a Nash equilibrium. In this article, we study properties of near-potential games, that is, games that are close in terms of payoffs to potential games, and show that such games admit similar limiting dynamics.We first focus on finite games in strategic form. We introduce a distance notion in the space of games and study the geometry of potential games and sets of games that are equivalent, with respect to various equivalence relations, to potential games. We discuss how, given an arbitrary game, one can find a nearby game in these sets. We then study dynamics in near-potential games by focusing on continuous-time perturbed best response dynamics. We characterize the limiting behavior of this dynamics in terms of the upper contour sets of the potential function of a close potential game and approximate equilibria of the game. Exploiting structural properties of approximate equilibrium sets, we strengthen our result and show that for games that are sufficiently close to a potential game, the sequence of mixed strategies generated by this dynamics converges to a small neighborhood of equilibria whose size is a function of the distance from the set of potential games.In the second part of the article, we study continuous games and show that our approach for characterizing the limiting sets in near-potential games extends to continuous games. In particular, we consider continuous-time best response dynamics and a variant of it (where players update their strategies only if there is at least e utility improvement opportunity) in near-potential games where the strategy sets are compact and convex subsets of a Euclidean space. We show that these update rules converge to a neighborhood of equilibria (or the maximizer of the potential function), provided that the potential function of the nearby potential game satisfies some structural properties. Our results generalize the known convergence results for potential games to near-potential games.
Reentry and fibrillation in the mouse heart: A challenge to the critical mass hypothesis

The idea that fibrillation is only possible in hearts exceeding a critical size was introduced by W. Garrey >80 years ago and has since been generally accepted. In ventricular tissue, this critical size was originally estimated to be 400 mm(2). Recent estimates suggest that the critical size required for sustained reentry is approximately 100 to 200 mm(2), whereas 6 times this area is required for ventricular fibrillation. According to these estimates, fibrillation is not possible in the mouse heart, where the ventricular surface area is approximately 100 mm(2). To test whether sustained ventricular fibrillation could be induced in such an area, we used a high-speed video imaging system and a voltage-sensitive dye to quantify electrical activity on the epicardial surface of the Langendorff-perfused adult mouse heart. In 6 hearts, measurements during ventricular pacing at a basic cycle length (BCL) of 120 ms yielded maximum and minimum conduction velocities (CV(max) and CV(min)) of 0.63+/-0.04 and 0.38+/-0.02 mm/ms, respectively. At a BCL of 80 ms, CV(max) and CV(min) changed to 0.55+/-0.03 and 0. 34+/-0.02 mm/ms. Action potential durations (APDs), measured at 70% repolarization at those pacing frequencies were found to be 44.5+/-2. 9 and 40.4+/-2.6 ms, respectively. The wavelengths (CVxAPD) were calculated to be 28.6+/-3.4 mm in the CV(max) direction and 16.8+/-1. 5 mm in the CV(min) direction at BCL 120 ms. Wavelengths were significantly reduced (P<0.05) at BCL 80 ms (CV(max), 22.2+/-1.8 mm; CV(min), 13.7+/-0.9 mm). In 5 hearts, stationary vortex-like reentry organized by single rotors (4 of 5 hearts) or by pairs of rotors (1 of 5 hearts) was induced by burst pacing. In the ECG, the activity manifested as sustained monomorphic tachycardia. Detailed analysis showed that the local CVs were reduced in the vicinity of the rotor center, which allowed the reentry to take place within a smaller area than was calculated from wavelength measurements during pacing. In 4 of 7 hearts, burst pacing resulted in a polymorphic ECG pattern indistinguishable from ventricular fibrillation. These data challenge the critical mass hypothesis by demonstrating that ventricular tissue with an area as small as 100 mm(2) is capable of undergoing sustained fibrillatory activity.
Health Services Research on Women Veterans: A Critical Partner on the Road to Patient-Centered Care

Since the lifting of the Congressional legislative cap on women’s military participation in 1973, women have had an increasing role in the U.S. military and thus become a growing part of our Veteran population. The pace of that growth, however, was accelerated dramatically by the events of 9/11 and the subsequent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The challenge facing the healthcare system—how to adjust quickly to the needs of this new patient population—was mirrored in that facing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research—how do we build research capacity so we can answer the critical questions for the growing segment of our population who are women? Ten years after the start of the Iraq War, both the delivery of women’s health care and the conduct of research on women’s health have come a long way in the VA. The number of women seeking care in the VA has doubled in the past decade, while the number of researchers addressing women’s health has climbed from 15 in the 1990s to over 200 today. This supplement, our third on women Veterans’ health research, is testament to the high quality of work catalyzed by those early efforts.
A Dialectical Approach to Strategic Planning

This paper develops a new approach to the planning process. It begins by examining the critical role played by the planner's assumptions. Two criteria for a good planning technique are suggested by this examination: 1 It should expose the assumptions underlying a proposed plan so that management can reconsider them and 2 it should suggest new and more relevant assumptions upon which the planning process can proceed. Existing techniques often fail these criteria. Consequently a dialectical approach is presented which, it is proposed, satisfies the stated criteria. The realm of corporate strategic planning was chosen as a testing ground for the new approach. Evidence obtained in a field study/experiment concerning RMK Abrasives' strategic planning problem is cited in support of the method and its ability to reveal assumptions.1
Time-based sampling strategies for multi-channel wireless traffic characterization in tactical cognitive networks

Accurate characterization of wireless network traffic has many applications in military communication networks. However, the network traffic characterization is a challenging task in multi-channel wireless networks. Due to the presence of multiple channels, the existing count-based sampling methods demand continuous capture on each channel for selecting the desired packets of interest. Continuous traffic capture makes the cost of monitoring infrastructure very expensive and hence count-based sampling methods are not scalable. However, the time-based sampling methods which were considered inaccurate in wired network characterization, seem to offer a cost-effective and scalable solution. The contributions of this paper include the following: (i) proposal of a new metric, relative proportional inconsistency (RPI) for measuring the accuracy of sampling schemes, (ii) comparison of various time-based sampling strategies using RPI metric, (iii) studying the effect of sampling parameters on the accuracy of sampling, and (iv) preliminary results on characterization of wireless network data traffic from residential and campus environments.
A Study of the Psychometric Properties of the Managerial Skill Scales of the Survey of Management Practices

Much interest in managerial skills has been generated recently. However, most of the questionnaires on managerial skills have focused on frequency and not competency. Thus the purpose of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the managerial skill scales of the Survey of Management Practices, which is purported to measure the competency of individuals on 11 managerial skills. Overall, the results suggest that the managerial skill scales of this instrument have the psychometric properties of internal consistency, interrater agreement, construct validity, divergent discriminate validity, and both internal and external criterion validity. Some modifications for improvement are nevertheless suggested.
Behavioural patterns associated with faecal cortisol levels in free-ranging female ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta.

The study of physiological stress and its context in free-ranging animals provides a means for understanding the challenges found in the natural habitat. Patterns of physiological stress in free-ranging animals have yet to be well characterized. Methodological difficulties in measuring physiological responses in the natural habitat have limited this area of research. In this research, physiological stress in free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta, was estimated using a steroid-extraction method to measure cortisol levels from female faeces. Ten females were observed across two social groups in southwestern Madagascar during a 5-month period including portions of the annual wet and dry seasons. I used behavioural measures to estimate predation threat, food accessibility and individual dominance status, to determine whether these variables predict faecal cortisol levels. Faecal cortisol levels were relatively high during two distinct periods: one period coincided with late gestation and the other period corresponded with the end of the dry season, when high-intensity antipredatory behaviour and estimates of feeding effort were elevated. In addition, faecal cortisol measures were significantly correlated with dominance indices: high-index individuals had high cortisol values, and low-index individuals had low cortisol values. These results suggest that faecal cortisol measures can be used to assess seasonal and individual differences in adrenal activity in this lemurid primate, and that this measure could provide a means for quantifying physiological stress in free-ranging animals. © 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Discourse Representation in the Two Cerebral Hemispheres

Readers construct at least two interrelated representations when they comprehend a text: (a) a propositional representation containing the individual ideas that are derived from each sentence and the relations among them and (b) a discourse model, a representation of the context or situation to which the text refers. We used a paradigm called "item priming in recognition" to examine how these representations are stored in the cerebral hemispheres. In Experiment 1, the priming paradigm was used in combination with a lateralized visual field (VF) procedure. We found evidence that readers' representations were structured according to propositional relations, but only in the left hemisphere. Item recognition was facilitated when a concept was preceded by another concept from the same proposition when targets were presented to the left, but not to the right, hemisphere. We found priming in both hemispheres, however, when targets were context-appropriate senses of ambiguous words or topics of passages. In Experiment 2, we replicated the priming effects in three callosotomy patients. We argue that the distinction between a propositional representation and a discourse model is important with respect to how discourse is represented in the brain. The propositional representation appears to reside in the left hemisphere, whereas aspects of the discourse model appear to be represented in both hemispheres.
Binge Eating is Not Associated with Elevated Eating, Weight, or Shape Concerns in the Absence of the Desire to Lose Weight in Men

Objective To investigate whether the desire to lose weight moderates the association between objective binge eating episodes (OBEs) and eating and body image-related psychopathology in men. Method Participants (N = 404) completed questionnaires assessing eating and body image psychopathology and were grouped based on the presence of OBEs and the desire to lose weight. Results The desire to lose weight was found to moderate the relationships between the presence of OBEs and restraint, eating concerns, shape concerns, and weight concerns but not the presence of fasting, purging, driven exercise, or body image dissatisfaction. In fact, men who experienced OBEs engaged in similar rates of purging regardless of whether they desired to lose weight. Discussion The results of this study suggest that disordered eating behaviors may be manifested differently in some men compared to what is typically observed in women, with over one-quarter of men who reported binge eating following this unusual pattern. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:732–736
Parent Versus Child Stress in Diverse Family Types: An Ecological Approach

Differences in level of overall stress and the proportion of child- versus parent-related stress among several different family types were investigated. An ecological framework was used to delineate the predictors of stress for the different family types. Participants were 29 single-parent families, 35 two-parent families, 17 families of children with Down syndrome, 16 families of children with hearing impairment, and 29 families of children with developmental delay. The results indicate that family stress and ecological variables predictive of family stress varied among these families. Intervention and therapy efforts may be improved by understanding the locus of stressors among these family types. All families experience stress from time to time, but the types of stress and the resources available to aid in coping vary among families. According to Holroyd and Lazarus (1982), psychological stress occurs when "environmental and/or internal demands tax or exceed the individual's resources for managing them" (p. 22). The negative effects of such stress can be buffered by social support, including "informational, instructional, psychological, material, and physical resources provided by members of a person's personal social networks" (Dunst, Trivette, Hamby, &C Pollock, 1990, p. 205). Because social support increases parent well-being, promotes better family functioning, and improves interactions between family members, it can have a positive effect on child behavior and development (Dunst et al., 1990).
Information Technology and Hospital Closures

Strategic investments in information and medical technology are changing the financial viability of community hospitals. An electronic medical record with interfaces with all major medical devices is a prerequisite for supporting physicians at various remote locations. High-speed access by physicians to voice, pictures, and data in the hospital information system is becoming a common characteristics of proactive community hospitals. Financial pressures from timing differences, delays in collection, supporting transition periods for new technology, payment reductions with the Balance Budget Act of 1997, fraud and abuse activities, and lack of information systems support for physicians will result in 800 hospital closures and mergers of distressed community hospitals over the next 60 months. Key words: Information technology, medical devices, interfaces, hospital closures, proactive health care entities, financial status, internet
The Study of Distributed Cognition in Free Flight: A Human Performance Modeling Tool Structural Comparison

The Requirements and Technical Concepts for Aviation, Inc. (RTCA) has recently proposed a new concept known as “free flight” for guiding the separation of aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS). “Free flight” in the United States is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strategic goal for system capacity and for Air Traffic Services to improve accessibility, flexibility, and predictability in the national airspace in order to reduce flight times, crew resources, maintenance, and fuel costs. The scenarios in the current experiment were used to explore the farthest out parameters of “free flight” anticipated by RTCA in the year 2025. An evaluation of predicted scenario generation structures associated with “current day” and “free flight” operations under a specific experimental scenario was performed using two integrated human performance modeling tools, Air Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System (Air MIDAS) and the Integrated Performance Modeling Environment (IPME). In analyses of a common scenario, each tool predicted a different Point of Closest Approach (PCA) distance under “current day” operations ( M Air MIDAS = 5.86 nm, M IPME = 16.67 nm) as compared with “free flight” operations ( M Air MIDAS = 6.65 nm, M IPME = 4.94 nm). This indicates that differences in the proximity between the aircraft existed between the two software tools as well as the contextually sensitive variables. This provides evidence that more focus needs to be brought to the effects of contextual effects that impact the virtual human operator of the NAS. A validation effort of these contextual findings with human-in-the-loop (HITL) data is anticipated and required prior to drawing any definite conclusions.
Data Shared Lasso

A model is presented for the supervised learning problem where the observations come from a fixed number of pre-specified groups, and the regression coefficients may vary sparsely between groups. The model spans the continuum between individual models for each group and one model for all groups. The resulting algorithm is designed with a high dimensional framework in mind. The approach is applied to a sentiment analysis dataset to show its efficacy and interpretability. One particularly useful application is for finding sub-populations in a randomized trial for which an intervention (treatment) is beneficial, often called the uplift problem. Some new concepts are introduced that are useful for uplift analysis. The value is demonstrated in an application to a real world credit card promotion dataset. In this example, although sending the promotion has a very small average effect, by targeting a particular subgroup with the promotion one can obtain a 15% increase in the proportion of people who purchase the new credit card.