cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relations in the Central Limit Theorem Version of the Response Time Law

We study the accuracy of the estimators of mean response time and throughput in closed interactive systems such as Web systems. The response time law allows us to calculate the throughput from the mean response time and vice versa. However, we find that the accuracy of the two estimators can be quite different. We refine the response time law using the central limit theorem and study the asymptotic accuracy of the estimators when the measurement time approaches infinity. Based on the asymptotic accuracy of the estimators, we derive rules of thumb for the accuracy of the measured mean response time and measured throughput. Extensive simulation study suggests that the rules of thumb are often valid under realistic measurement time.
Discovering the Lexical Features of a Language

This paper examines the possibility of automatically discovering the lexieal features of a language. There is strong evidence that the set of possible lexical features which can be used in a language is unbounded, and thus not innate. Lakoff [Lakoff 87] describes a language in which the feature -I-woman-or-fire-ordangerons-thing exists. This feature is based upon ancient folklore of the society in which it is used. If the set of possible lexieal features is indeed unbounded, then it cannot be par t of the innate Universal Grammar and must be learned. Even if the set is not unbounded, the child is still left with the challenging task of determining which features are used in her language. If a child does not know a priori what lexical features are used in her language, there are two sources for acquiring this information: semantic and syntactic cues. A learner using semantic cues could recognize that words often refer to objects, actions, and properties, and from this deduce the lexical features: noun, verb and adjective. Pinker [Pinker 89] proposes that a combination of semantic cues and innate semantic primitives could account for the acquisition of verb features. He believes that the child can discover semantic properties of a verb by noticing the types of actions typically taking place when the verb is uttered. Once these properties are known, says Pinker, they can be used to reliably predict the distributional behavior of the verb. However, Gleitman [Gleitman 90] presents evidence that semantic cues axe not sufficient for a child to acquire verb features and believes that the use of this semantic information in conjunction with information about the subcategorization properties of the verb may be sufficient for learning verb features. This paper takes Glei tman's suggestion to the extreme, in hope of determining whether syntactic cues may not just aid in feature discovery, but may be all tha t is necessary. We present evidence for the sufficiency of a strictly syntax-based model for discovering
Algorithmic and architectural methods for performance enhancement of avionics systems

Many studies on managing obsolescence and refreshing technology concentrate on replacing hardware to improve the performance of legacy systems. In contrast, the author's research has concentrated on the development of methods that can significantly enhance the performance of legacy systems while requiring few or no hardware modifications. If hardware replacement is allowed, these methods can be leveraged to further improve the upgraded systems. The methods can be characterized either as algorithmic or architectural methods. Algorithmic methods include techniques such as new data compression routines. A previous paper by the author and a fellow researcher has presented data compression routines that are suitable for implementation on legacy MIL-STD-1553 data buses. As expected, these routines where shown to increase the communication throughput. What may be less obvious is that they also increased the time available to perform computation. Architectural techniques include repartitioning of software functions and/or communications to free system resources. This paper presents these and other methods for increasing the performance of legacy avionics systems. The same techniques can also be applied to improve the design of new systems.
Savoring (Pin wei 品味), from Aesthetics to the Everyday

This chapter examines the temporal, narrative, and cognitive structures of savoring, focusing in particular on Si-Kong Tu’s (837–908) formulation of aesthetic savoring. I point out the wide-ranging implications of savoring for the narrative-based theory of emotion, dual process theory, emotion regulation, and self-reflection. I also examine savoring’s contribution to self-regulation and the authentic self, focusing especially on its implications for problems in self-regulation such as self-deception and self-alienation.
Sandia National Laboratories, California Environmental Management System program manual.

The Sandia National Laboratories, California (SNL/CA) Environmental Management System (EMS) Program Manual documents the elements of the site EMS Program. The SNL/CA EMS Program conforms to the International Standard on Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001:2004and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 436.1. Sandia National Laboratories, California (SNL/CA) has maintained functional environmental programs to assist with regulatory compliance for more than 30 years. During 2005, these existing programs were rolled into a formal environmental management system (EMS) that expands beyond the traditional compliance focus to managing and improving environmental performance and stewardship practices for all site activities. An EMS is a set of inter-related elements that represent a continuing cycle of planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving processes and actions undertaken to achieve environmental policy and goals. The SNL/CA EMS Program conforms to the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001:2004 (ISO 2004). The site first received ISO 14001 certification in September 2006 and recertification in 2009. SNL/CA's EMS Program is applicable to the Sandia, Livermore site only. Although SNL/CA operates as one organizational division of the overall Sandia National Laboratories, the EMS Program is site-specific, with site-specific objectives and targets. SNL/CA (Division 8000) benefits from the organizational structure as it provides corporate level policies, procedures, and standards, and established processes that connect to and support elements of the SNL/CA EMS Program. Additionally, SNL/CA's EMS Program benefits from two corporate functional programs (Facilities Energy and Water Resource Management and Fleet Services programs) that maintain responsibility for energy management and fleet services for all Sandia locations. Each EMS element is further enhanced with site-specific processes and standards. Division 8000 has several groups operating at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico (SNL/NM). Although these groups, from an organizational perspective, are part of Division 8000, they are managed locally and fall under the environmental requirements specific to their New Mexico location. The New Mexico groups in Division 8000 follow the corporate EMS Program for New Mexico operations.
Hot Tearing of Aluminum Alloys

Hot tearing is a common and severe defect in casting and it is perhaps the pivotal issue defining an alloy’s castability. The subject has been extensively studied through various perspectives for decades and more recently computational models have been developed; however, despite these accomplishments there is confusion in the literature. The governing mechanisms and the control of hot tearing are not totally clear. Experiments show inconsistent results and different opinions exist about what roles processing or alloy factors play. WPI’s Casting Center (ACRC) initiated a major project devoted to developing a reliable experimental apparatus/methodology to quantitatively study hot tearing and to use it in studying the effects of various parameters on hot tearing. As part of this endeavor, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. The review focuses on: (i) Theories of hot tearing; (ii) Hot tearing variables; and (iii) Test methods. A summary of hot tearing criteria/models are also provided.
Clinical and laboratory characteristics in congenital ANKRD26 mutation-associated thrombocytopenia: A detailed phenotypic study of a family

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with non-syndromic, autosomal dominant thrombocytopenia secondary to germ line ANKRD26 mutations appear to be heterogeneous. Except for a targeted molecular genotyping approach, there is no distinct clinical or laboratory phenotype that has been specifically associated with this particular gene mutation. Such heterogeneity could be due to variations in mutation and genetic background in different families. To understand the phenotypic heterogeneity, we thoroughly studied one affected family using the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding assessment tool and both clinically validated standard and esoteric platelet testing (electron microscopy (EM) and flow cytometry). We found that decreased platelet aggregation with arachidonic acid and epinephrine agonists was common in affected family members. EM studies demonstrated persistent borderline low mean dense granules per platelet, decreased alpha granules and an increased canalicular network pattern in all affected members. Since these characteristics are subtle or non-pathognomonic, molecular testing for ANKRD26 mutation remains the most reliable test to render a diagnosis and should be considered when evaluating a patient or family with congenital thrombocytopenia, particularly if there is a history of myeloid neoplasms.
Numerical Methods for the Nonlinear Shallow Water Equations

Abstract Free surface flows often appear in ocean, engineering and atmospheric modelling. In many applications involving unsteady water flows where the horizontal length scale is much greater than the vertical length scale, the shallow water equations are commonly used to model these flows. Research on effective and accurate numerical methods for their solutions has attracted great attention in the past two decades. In this chapter, we review some work on designing positivity-preserving and well-balanced methods for solving the shallow water equations with a nonflat bottom topography. Some shallow water-related models, including the shallow water flows through channels with irregular geometry, the shallow water equations on the sphere and the two-layer shallow water equations, and their numerical approximation will also be presented.
Assessment of an infant oral health education program on resident physician knowledge.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate the effect of an early childhood oral health education program given to physician residents at Columbia University Medical Center, New York City. It was hypothesized that a short training program in infant oral health would improve the oral health knowledge base of these future physicians and promote the age 1 dental visit. METHODS A sample size of 92 physician residents participated in this study. A 1-hour seminar describing common dental findings, including poor oral hygiene and early childhood caries (ECC), was presented, and an identical 14 question pre- and post-test were completed. The pre- and post-tests were administered to all participants, and statistical differences between pre- and post-tests were calculated using a paired t-test (P <.05) and SAS 9.1 statistical software. RESULTS There was an average of 77% correct responses on the pre-test and 90% correct responses following instruction (n=92, P <.001), with a mean improvement in the scores of 2 questions on the post-test. There was a significant improvement in the knowledge base of residents on topics related to ECC and its prevention and fluorides. CONCLUSION A 1-hour seminar resulted in significantly improved post-test scores for physician residents about infant oral health.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ALLELOCHEMICAL FROM RUSSIAN OLIVE

Plants excrete compounds that can be beneficial or detrimental to the receiving organism. The detrimental compounds are referred to as allelochemicals and typically inhibit growth, delay germination, and may result in death. Previous unpublished work at Rocky Mountain College has indicated that leaves of the invasive tree species, Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), contain a substance that causes delayed germination and stunted root growth in radish bioassays. The main goal of this study is to extract, isolate, and characterize the compounds causing this delayed germination via bioassays and analytical chemistry techniques. Our current results indicate that extractions of leaves using polar solvents may contain an allelochemical. Future work will include separation of the extract with chromatography and the characterization of the compound. Implications off this research include better infestation management practices and potential applications in agriculture.
An explanation and generalization of the AESOPS and peals algorithms

This paper explains the basic computational algorithms of the AESOPS and PEALS software routines in terms of traditional eigenvalue analysis. It shows that these routines can be extended to compute various modes in detailed models of multi-machine systems and can be modified to improve convergence and computational speed.
Shareholder Proposals on Executive Compensation

We examine 169 shareholder proposals on executive compensation filed against 106 firms by 74 sponsors over the period 1992-95. We find the probability of receiving a proposal is associated with the firm?s executive compensation policies, firm performance, and the composition of the shareholder base, but is unassociated with the existence of alternative monitoring mechanisms. Voting outcomes are associated with firm performance, the shareholder base, and the proposal sponsor, but are unassociated with the structure of executive compensation or the existence of alternative monitoring mechanisms. We find no evidence that proposals put to a vote trigger subsequent changes in executive compensation policies. However, 20% of proposals are withdrawn prior to a vote. Withdrawal occurs when the proposal sponsor and target firm reach an accomodation (IRRC 1996). A plurality (41%) of withdrawn proposals deal with the independence of the compensation committee. Additionally, two-thirds of the proposals on compensation committee independence are subsequently withdrawn. To the extent that shareholder proposals on executive compensation lead to changes in compensation policies, it is through the indirect mechanism of increased compensation committee independence.
Using two port network parameters for equipment specification to ensure stability and limit power ripple in DC power systems

Analysis methods for DC power interfaces using techniques built around the Nyquist stability criteria have previously been utilized to create system level specifications to ensure the stability of interconnected systems. This paper extends these concepts to not just ensure stability, but to also ensure a guaranteed maximum level of voltage and current perturbation within the system. The technique relies on representation of the subsystems as two-port networks using a definition of two-port networks modified slightly from the conventional understanding. This paper discusses the modified two-port definition, how to combine these networks and use them to calculate ripple at an interface, and how these relationships can be used to form system specification. An example is also presented to illustrate how system specifications may be developed.
CRT-200.27 Are We Closing The Gender Gap In 2017? Vascular Complications Following Common Femoral Arterial Access: Then and Now

Femoral arterial access (FAA) in diagnostic (DA) and interventional (PCI) coronary and peripheral procedures is associated with 2-6% vascular complication (VC) rate. FEMORIS randomized study comparing 21-gauge Micropuncture technique (MPT) with 18-gauge failed to demonstrate statistical superiority
Anti-Theft Travel Bag Design: Perception and Design Factors

The tourism industry represents almost 10% of global GDP and is one of only a handful of sectors that continue to grow (World Travel Trends Reports, 2013). However, tourists have always been easy targets for thieves (Holcomb & Pizam, 2006). The importance of the tourism industry suggests that prevention of bag theft is worth considerations and exploration. The problem of bag theft is usually under-reported and this is rarely mentioned by major media (Smith, Bowers, & Johnson, 2006).
ConSpeciFix: classifying prokaryotic species based on gene flow

Summary Classification of prokaryotic species is usually based on sequence similarity thresholds, which are easy to apply but lack a biologically-relevant foundation. Here, we present ConSpeciFix, a program that classifies prokaryotes into species using criteria set forth by the Biological Species Concept, thereby unifying species definition in all domains of life. Availability and implementation ConSpeciFix's webserver is freely available at www.conspecifix.com. The local version of the program can be freely downloaded from https://github.com/Bobay-Ochman/ConSpeciFix. ConSpeciFix is written in Python 2.7 and requires the following dependencies: Usearch, MCL, MAFFT and RAxML.
Effects of hypoxia on the discharge of group III and IV muscle afferents in cats

The reflex pressor response evoked by static muscular contraction is widely believed to be caused by the stimulation of group III and IV afferents. Although the specific nature of the contraction-i...
Listening to and Learning from the Perspectives and Experiences of Black and Latinx Students with Disabilities: Examining the Challenges and Contradictions of High-Stakes Testing Policies

This study explores the experiences and perspectives of 15 Black and Latinx students with disabilities as they journeyed through the process of taking and attempting to meet high-stakes testing policies in an urban high school in southern California. Utilizing critical policy sociology and student voice, findings reveal material and structural challenges related to lack of teacher quality, excessive use of substitute teachers, and lack of access to essential course curricula. In addition, contradictions between general and special education policy mandates demonstrate the failure of a one-size-fits-all policy approach that overlooks students’ multidimensional needs. Finally, despite the multiple structural and material challenges students faced, their family and peers played a pivotal role in their preparation both emotionally and academically for the exam. Given these findings, recommendations for policy and practice are offered.
Occupancy sensing in buildings: A review of data analytics approaches

Abstract A review of the literature pertaining to building occupancy detection, counting, and tracking – three areas under the umbrella of building occupancy estimation – is presented with a focus on mathematical approaches and corresponding metrics. The idea is to provide the reader with a background on the hardware and techniques used for occupancy inference, subsequent to data collection, with emphasis placed on the algorithmic characterization of occupancy estimation. The various approaches employed by researchers to tackle the problem are surveyed and summarized, including: data collection, cleaning processes, algorithm utilization and categorization, as well as data structuring and organization. The scope of prediction and performance metrics are used to establish a benchmarking system through a comprehensive summary of (indoor) occupancy estimation, presented in the context of the mathematical tools utilized.
Does humic acid alter visually and chemically guided foraging in stickleback fish

Sensory systems function under the influence of multiple, interacting environmental properties. When environments change, so may perception through one or more sensory systems, as alterations in transmission properties may change how organisms obtain and use information. Humic acids, a natural and anthropogenically produced class of chemicals, have attributes that may change chemical and visual environments of aquatic animals, potentially with detrimental consequences on their ability to locate necessary resources. Here, we explore how environmental disturbance affects the way threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) use visual and olfactory information during foraging. We compared foraging behavior using visual, olfactory, and bimodal (visual and olfactory) information in the presence and absence of humic acids. We found evidence that humic acids reduced olfactory-based food detection. While visual perception was not substantially impaired by humic acids, the visual sense alone did not compensate for the loss of olfactory perception. These findings suggest that a suite of senses still may not be capable of compensating for the loss of information from individual modalities. Thus, senses may react disparately to rapid environmental change, and thereby push species into altered evolutionary trajectories.
Pharmacotherapy of Functional Disorders in Children

Functional disorders (FDs) can often be managed with non-pharmacologic therapies. When drug therapy is employed, selection of medications should be based on the primary underlying cause(s) followed by considerations for symptom abatement. This chapter reviews some of the more common FDs and the evidence for proposed drug therapies. The role of placebo effect is also addressed. A significant focus on gastrointestinal disorders complements the abundance of literature related to this subset of FDs. Consensus guidelines, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews are summarized, and the value of less scientifically rigorous citations is discussed. Drug selection in pediatric FDs is further complicated by added considerations including optimal dose determinations, dosage form challenges, and developmental, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacogenetic variability.
Elastography applications in pregnancy

Abstract Elasticity imaging in pregnancy is not part of routine clinical practice, primarily because pregnancy tissues are not as straightforward as tissues such as breast or liver, for which elastography applications are well established. However, the field is rapidly but the field is rapidly developing and possibilities are exciting. This chapter reviews potential applications of elasticity techniques to two important pregnancy tissues: the cervix (for predicting preterm birth or success of labor induction) and the placenta (for evaluating function).
Vasoactive and Inotropic Support, Tube Feeding, and Ischemic Gut Complications After Cardiac Surgery

Background: Vasoactive and inotropic support (VIS) may predispose cardiac surgery patients to ischemic gut complications (IGCx). The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of VIS on the manner in which we deliver tube feeds (TFs) and determine its relationship with IGCx in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: We reviewed cardiac surgery patients at a single institution and examined the effect of VIS (none, low, medium, high) on TF administration and evaluated IGCx. Results: Of 3088 cardiac surgery patients, 249 (8%) required TFs, comprising 2151 total TF-days. Increasing VIS was associated with decreased amounts of TF administered per day (P = .001) and an increase in time that TF was held per day (P < .001). High VIS was associated with less intact, more semi-elemental/elemental formula use (P < .001) and increased use of gastric route (P < .001). Of all cardiac surgery patients, 11 of 3125 suffered IGCx (0.4%), with a mortality of 73%. Of the 3 receiving TF, 2 IGCx were focal and consistent with acute embolus, whereas one was diffuse, on high VIS and an intra-aortic balloon pump. Of the 8 IGCx in the patients not receiving TF, 5 were focal, whereas 3 were diffuse and not embolic (P = .21). Conclusions: Despite 32% of TF-days on moderate to high VIS, non-embolic IGCx were not increased compared with patients not receiving TF. As delivered at this institution, TF in even those requiring moderate to high inotropic and pressor support were not associated with an increase in attributable IGCx.
How Mathematicians Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Computer

Though mathematicians invented the modern computer as a theoretical entity, and a few of them helped build the first modern digital computers, mathematicians as a whole lagged far behind scientists, engineers, and other professionals in actually using them (In this article, unless noted to the contrary, I use the term “mathematician” to refer to pure mathematicians, who focus on formulating and proving statements about abstract mathematical structures.). Recognizing that the field was in danger of falling too far behind, in May 1988, the American Mathematical Society launched a new section in its newsletter Notices, sent out to all members ten times a year, titled “Computers and Mathematics”. Its aim was to promote the use of computers by mathematicians and provide them with information about the many new mathematical software systems being developed. The section was initially edited by the Stanford mathematician Jon Barwise, who ran it until February 1991, after which the AMS asked me to take it over. I held the reins from the March 1991 issue until the AMS and I decided to end the special section in December 1994. That six-and-a-half-year run achieved the intended goal. By the time the special section wound up, the computer had become a staple tool for mathematicians, both in teaching and research.
Near-ideal reverse leakage current and practical maximum electric field in β-Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diodes

We investigate the intrinsic reverse leakage mechanisms in Ni-based Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated on a ( 2 ¯01) single crystal β-Ga2O3 substrate, where a uniform bulk reverse leakage current has been designed and confirmed. The temperature-dependent reverse leakage characteristics are analyzed by a numerical reverse leakage model, which includes both the image-force lowering and doping effects. We found that the reverse leakage current is near-ideal and dominated by Schottky barrier tunneling throughout the entire range of the surface electric field from 0.8 MV/cm to 3.4 MV/cm. The extracted barrier height from the reverse leakage model is consistent with the values extracted from the forward current–voltage and capacitance–voltage measurements. The practical maximum electric field, defined by the maximum allowable reverse leakage current levels, is calculated as a function of the barrier height. These results suggest that it is possible to approach the intrinsic breakdown electric field in β-Ga2O3 SBDs, as long as a sufficiently high barrier height (∼2.2 to 3 eV) is employed.
Government and Nonprofits

Federal, state, and local governments are similar to nonprofits in that their labor inputs pay taxes, but they are otherwise tax exempt. Governments are involved in some activities special to them, for example, defense, police, and court systems, but many government activities overlap with those of nonprofits, for example, education, healthcare, research, and programs for the poor. Nonprofits sell some goods and services, for example, education, and health services, but many also get revenues from donations. Governments also sell some goods and services, but their major revenues are from taxes. Many citizens value government activities. Republicans like defense; democrats like social services. It is, however, puzzling that republicans and democrats alike typically go to great lengths to minimize their taxes. Donations to governments are rare. I offer an explanation.
Making Space for Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights Under Current International Environmental Law

This paper considers how international agreements on intellectual property could be utilized to protect indigenous knowledge
Computing All Solutions to a Discretization-Invariant Formulation for Optimal Mechanism Design

Kinematics is the first consideration in designing the mechanical structures that comprise robots. Of the many subcategories that exist under this umbrella, an often early design goal is to achieve some desired workspace. This goal applies to both single and multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Previous literature has applied the diversity of extant optimization techniques for achieving such design goals. A conceptually simple approach to single-objective optimization is to symbolically derive a gradient vector, then find all of its zeroes. This approach is easier said than done since the resulting system is nonlinear. For this reason, sophisticated optimization heuristics are more commonly employed. In this paper, we revitalize the former approach, offering a route to efficiently find all of the gradient zeroes, including the global minimum. Our approach is facilitated by homotopy continuation. We connect the theoretical results to practical problems by demonstrating the design of a mechanism for a humanoid walking gait and the finger of a robotic hand.
Applications of ρ-Functions

Once we start measuring mathematical objects using infinite cardinals we are led naturally into two-cardinal combinatorics which is a field about combinatorial constructions with associated two cardinals. Various internal and external questions can be asked, all related to the relation between the two associated cardinals, e.g.: What could be heights of superatomic Boolean algebras with countable width? What are the possible sizes of Hausdorff spaces with points Gδ and countable Lindelof degree? Is it possible to construct a c.c.c forcing notion (and in particular a cardinal preserving forcing notion) that adds a function f: ω2 × ω2 → ω which isn’t constant on a product of any two infinite sets?
A Result on Tracking Equilibria for Slowly Varying Nonlinear Systems

This paper considers the problem of tracking a time varying equilibrium point for a nonlinear system. The fundamental issue of concern is described roughly as follows: Given a nonlinear system x?(t) = f(x(t), u(t)) with compact restraint set for u(t), assume that asymptotic tracking to equilibrium is guaranteed whenever u(t) is constant. Then, does it follow that tracking will be preserved when u(t) and the associated equilibrium point are "slowly" varying? In this paper, we answer this question in the affirmative subject to regularity assumptions on f(.,.,) and a sufficiently small bound on |?(t)|.
The Hopelessness Theory of Depression: A Test of the Diathesis-Stress Component in the Interpersonal and Achievement Domains

Two prospective studies tested the diathesis-stress component of the hopelessness theory in the interpersonal and achievement domains. In Study 1, 149 high school seniors applying to the University of Pennsylvania completed measures of mood and three cognitive vulnerability factors (cognitive diatheses about self, consequences, and causes) 1–8 weeks before receiving their admissions decision (Time 1). They also completed measures of mood shortly after they received their admissions decision (Time 2), and 3 days later (Time 3). In Study 2, 77 college students rushing fraternities/sororities completed similar measures 1–8 weeks before rush (Time 1), shortly after they received their rush outcome (Time 2), and 3 days after receiving their rush outcome (Time 3). Consistent with the diathesis-stress component of the hopelessness theory, in both studies, all three vulnerability factors predicted increases in depressed mood immediately following a negative outcome (Time 2). None of these factors, however, predicted enduring depressed mood after a negative outcome (Time 3).
Dairy Food Consumption, Blood Pressure and Stroke

Recent clinical and biochemical evidence supporting the hypothesis that consumption of dairy products may be associated with reduced blood pressure and risk of stroke is reviewed. The two prospective studies of dairy food consumption and stroke incidence both indicate that a higher intake of dairy foods reduces risk. It is difficult to associate any one mineral in dairy products to reduction in blood pressure or stroke incidence because an appropriate metabolic balance of all three is important and because of the strong correlations among Ca, Mg and K intakes when dairy products are consumed. In fact, the evidence reviewed indicates that although K apparently has the greatest effect, all three minerals potentially contribute to blood pressure and stroke reduction, i.e., a dietary balance of all three is recommended. Milk and food products such as yogurt made from milk, which retain substantial amounts of K, Ca and Mg, are important dietary sources of all three of these minerals. In addition, milk is a low Na food, which, as seen in Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) II, provides further benefit in blood pressure reduction. New studies have associated dairy food consumption with other potential mechanisms affecting stroke, mainly reduction of platelet aggregation and insulin resistance. Further research is required to explore the relationship of dairy food consumption and stroke.
Workload-driven floorplanning for MIPS optimization

An approach to early floorplanning in which optimization of a CPU chip floorplan is done in the context of a program benchmark (workload) is presented. The methodology integrates workload-driven cycles-per-instruction estimation into the traditional cycle-time evaluation process implied by an (early) floorplanning tool. This effectively adds an extra dimension to the floorplanning optimization cost function and search space, allowing superior MIPS-tuning of the VLSI chip. >
Modeling and analysis of high speed parallel token ring networks

Four factors in parallel token ring systems which can improve network performance are identified. An analytical model is developed to predict the performance of these systems. The predictions obtained with the analytical model are compared with simulation results. While the current model accurately predicts the performance of networks with 16 or more rings, it is not so accurate at lower numbers of rings. The short/long cycle behavior of the token interarrival times is identified as one cause of the inaccuracies. The benefits and limitations of parallel token ring networks for gigabit speeds are discussed. >
The effect of disabilities on exits from AFDC.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 replaces AFDC, the largest means-tested cash assistance program for low-income families, with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. Unlike AFDC, assistance under TANF is limited to five years in a lifetime, and states are required to move families from the assistance rolls into jobs. But not all adult welfare recipients can easily move to work because either they themselves are disabled or they have a child with disabilities requiring special care. This article examines the extent and impact of disability among families on AFDC to gain insight into the potential impact of changes under TANF. Using data from the 1990 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we find that in nearly 30 percent of the families on AFDC either the mother or child has a disability. Furthermore, we find that having a disability significantly lowers the probability that a woman leaves AFDC for work but not for other reasons, such as a change in living arrangements. Finally, we find little evidence that having a child with a disability affects the probability of leaving AFDC for any reason. © 1998 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Toward a Conceptualization of Leadership for Change.

This paper concerns a conceptualization of leadership for change in adult education, i.e., how change can be effected and who brings it about. The change process, itself, is delineated in terms of research on the subject. Personal influence and opinion leader ship, as these affect the change process, are examined as well as resistance forces, adoption, diffusion, and perpetuation of change. The change leader's helping and leadership roles are detailed. The author advises that this research cannot provide all the answers needed for adult education change leadership. More research re garding communication barriers between social classes, class value difference affecting group participation versus spectatorship, effec tive learning approaches to the lower socio-economic adult, im poverishment barriers to learning, and instruments for measuring these is needed before a definitive, reliable methodology can be provided to leaders of change in adult education.
Modeling plume behavior for nonlinearly sorbing solutes in saturated homogeneous porous media

Abstract Transport of a sorbing solute in a two-dimensional steady and uniform flow field is modeled using a particle tracking random walk method. The solute is initially introduced from an instantaneous point source. Cases of linear and nonlinear sorption isotherms are considered. Local pore velocity and mechanical dispersion are used to describe the solute transport mechanisms at the local scale. The numerical simulation of solute particle transport yields the large scale behavior of the solute plume. Behavior of the plume is quantified in terms of the center-of-mass displacement distance, relative velocity of the center-of-mass, mass breakthrough curves, spread variance, and longitudinal skewness. The nonlinear sorption isotherm affects the plume behavior in the following way relative to the linear isotherm: (1) the plume velocity decreases exponentially with time; (2) the longitudinal variance increases nonlinearly with time; (3) the solute front is steepened and tailing is enhanced
Interference in memory for multiple contexts

Remembering that an item occurred in several different lists is formulated here in terms of retrieval of corresponding list tags associated to the item. Therefore, associative interference should operate upon remembering the several list contexts in which an item appeared. Experimental Ss studied four (or five) overlapping lists of 16 words, sampled from a master set of 32 words, with a given word exemplifying one of the 2 4 (or 2s 5 ) possible sequences of appearances and nonappearances over the four (or five) lists. Later Ss rated from memory for each word and for each list whether that word had occurred in that list. After correcting for interlist generalization effects, indices of discriminative memory revealed strong proactive interference and weaker retroactive interference. Discriminative memory that an item occurred in a given list was poorer the more prior or more subsequent lists in which that item had also occurred. Thus, list differentiation appears explicable in terms of item-specific associative interference.
Access/Utilization of Dental Care by Homeless Children

Homelessness in the United States has significantly increased with homeless women/children representing the fastest growing group. The Surgeon General’s report, Oral Health in America, declared dental caries the “silent epidemic” with the worst oral health found among the poor. A prospective repeated measures study elucidated predictors of oral health access, utilization, and oral health status for children in female-headed homeless families, and determined whether shelter-based care increased utilization. A convenience sample of 120 homeless families was recruited from a shelter. Predictor factors based on the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations were measured. The families were followed up one month later and outcomes were measured. The level of health/oral health status of homeless children was also measured. The level of health (the number of health conditions) found each homeless child (N = 236) had an average of 2–3 health conditions with only 24 children having no health conditions. Dental caries (n = 98) was the number one health problem of homeless children. Ten independent variables explained 33% of the variance in the dependent variable access barriers to care. Seven independent variables were significant; and the three most influential were mental health (B = −0.426), oral health beliefs (B = 0.243), and victimization (B = 0.185). Ten independent variables explained 24.3% of the variance of oral health status. Mother’s age (B = 0.351), no. of children at access (B = 0.337), and race (B = 0.154) had the most influence. Shelter-based care was effective in improving access because 43% of families were able to secure appointments and perceived access barriers decreased after shelter-based care (p
Dretske's innate modesty

(1996). Dretske's innate modesty. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 74, No. 2, pp. 258-274.
Chemiluminescent reactions of Ca with hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Electronic chemiluminescence has been observed in reactions of Ca in ground and metastable ( 3 P o ) states with H 2 O 2 in beam-gas experiments. Ground state Ca yields predominantly CaO emission, while excited state Ca gives CaOH. The ground state chemiluminescent cross section falls more steeply with increasing collisional energy. It is suggested that the different behavior of the atomic states can be attributed to a varying amount of time available during collisions for the H atom to migrate to form H 2 O.
Direct control of CSF pulsatility and its effect on CBF: initial findings using a novel method and device

Background Over the past several years, there has been newly emerging and overlapping fields of research investigating CSF pressure and flow pulsatility (CSFp), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). It is not known whether CSFp is merely a passive epiphenomena or alternatively, plays a physiologically significant role in cerebral compliance and blood flow. Thus, the relationship between CSFp and CBF is not clearly understood. In order to study the effect of CSF pulsatility on blood flow, we have developed a novel method and device for controlling (i.e., reducing or augmenting) pulsatility.
Comparison of different distal radius dorsal and volar fracture fixation plates: a biomechanical study.

Abstract Purpose: To compare the biomechanical properties of 6 dorsal and volar fracture fixation plate designs in a cadaver model. Method: Six different plating techniques were used on surgically simulated, unstable, extra-articular distal radius fractures in fresh-frozen cadavers. Specimens were tested to failure in axial compression with the Materials Testing System machine, and were analyzed with a motion analysis system. The 6 different fixation systems studied included an AO stainless steel Pi plate (group 1), an AO titanium Pi plate (group 2), a Forte plate (group 3), a dorsally placed Symmetry plate (group 4), a volarly placed Symmetry plate (group 5), and a volarly placed SCS/V plate (group 6). Results: All dorsal plates (groups 1, 2, 3, 4) failed in apex dorsal angulation and all volar plates (groups 5, 6) failed in apex volar angulation. No group developed an average angular deformity greater than 5° with a load of 100 N, which compares with the physiologic loads expected with active wrist motion. Only the volarly placed SCS/V plated specimens (group 6) resisted deformation of 5° or more at loads up to 250 N, which compares with the physiologic loads expected with active finger motion, and was significantly stronger and more rigid than the other 5 plate groups. Conclusions: The SCS/V plate fixation system is the most rigid of the systems tested and may offer adequate stability for the treatment of the distal radius fracture in which the anterior and/or posterior metaphyseal cortex is comminuted severely. (J Hand Surg 2003;28A:94-104. Copyright © 2003 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.)
On nonnegative solvability of linear integral equations

Abstract Let (Ω,Σ,μ) denote a σ-finite measure space, and L p (Ω,Σ,μ) (1⩽ p p th summable real-valued functions. Suppose, moreover, K is an integral operator whose nonnegative kernel k (·,·) is ( Σ × Σ )-measurable on Ω×Ω and which maps L p (Ω,Σ,μ) into itself while possessing a compact iterate. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for the integral operator equation λƒ = K ƒ+g to possess a nonnegative solution ƒϵ L p (Ω,Σ,μ) whenever g is a given nontrival and nonnegative element of L p (Ω,Σ,μ) and λ is any given positive parameter. This analysis extends that by Victory [ SIAM J. Algebraic Discrete Methods 6:406–412 (1985)] for the matrix case.
Homogeneous hydroformylation of 1-octene in supercritical carbon dioxide with [RhH(CO)(P(p-CF3C6H4)3)3]

A novel catalyst, RhH(CO)(P(p-CF3Ph)3)3, was synthesized for homogeneous catalytic hydroformylation of olefins in supercritical carbon dioxide. The incorporation of p-(trifluoromethyl) groups to the conventional hydroformylation catalyst, HRhCO(PPh3)3, provided enhanced solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide while maintaining catalyst activity and selectivity in the hydroformylation of 1-octene. The reaction rate showed a first-order dependency on the catalyst concentration. The total system pressure had no effect on either the reaction rate or selectivity. However, selectivity was found to depend on the catalyst concentration.
The effect of aging on phenylephrine response in normal subjects.

INTRODUCTION: With aging, cardiac responses to β-adrenergic stimulation decline but the responses to α1-stimulation are less clear. Moreover, whether aging, in the absence of disease, influences the left ventricular response to an increase in afterload is unclear. This study examined the effect of aging on heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), cardiac index (CI) and several left ventricular contractility measurements during α 1-stimulation with a phenylephrine infusion. METHODS: Subjects were rigorously screened to be normal by history, physical, blood tests, ECG, ETT and echocardiogram. Twelve young (mean 26 years, all male) and 15 aged (69 years, 11 males) subjects were studied during 10 minute infusions of phenylephrine at 0.5 and 1.0 mcg/ kg/min. HR, BP and radionuclide ventriculographic cardiac volumes were measured. RESULTS: Systolic BP increased more in the aged than in the young (22 vs. 13%, p=0.003), while heart rate (16 vs. 21%, p=0.05) fell less. Contractile responses to phenylephrine, including EF, stroke volume index (SVI), stroke work index and left ventricular contractility index were not altered with aging. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was higher at baseline and at each infusion rate, but there was no age-associate change in the response to PE. CONCLUSIONS: In a healthy normal aged population, a preserved SVI response in the setting of a higher baseline SVR results in an increased SBP response to α1-stimulation. Contractile responses to increased afterload are not altered with aging. Age-associated differences in the response to α1-stimulation are small and are explained by altered baroreflex sensitivity and a stiffer vasculature.
Changing obstetric practices associated with decreasing incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in neonatal and obstetric practices that may have contributed to the decreasing incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome in our population during this time. METHODS: We compared neonatal and obstetric characteristics of 61 infants diagnosed with meconium aspiration syndrome with 1365 infants born through moderate or thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid at more than 37 weeks’ completed gestation. Data were prospectively collected, and all respiratory diagnoses were concurrently made. Three distinct birth year groups were analyzed based on changing obstetric practice paradigms. RESULTS: Meconium aspiration syndrome decreased nearly four-fold from 1990–1992 to 1997–1998 (5.8% to 1.5% of meconium-stained infants more than 37 weeks; P < .003). The only change in neonatal characteristics was a 33% decrease in births more than 41 weeks with a reciprocal 33% increase in births 38–39 weeks during 1997–1998. Significant changes in obstetric practice included more frequent diagnosis of nonreassuring fetal heart rate patterns, greater use of amnioinfusion, and increased cesarean delivery rate in 1997–1998. By logistic regression analysis, the only consistent risk factor for meconium aspiration syndrome across all three epochs was the presence of tracheal meconium. CONCLUSION: Reduction in post-term delivery was the most important factor in reducing meconium aspiration syndrome.