cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endocrine influences on rat ovarian proteinase activity.

Lyophilized ovaries collected from intact rats were shown to possess proteolytic activity in both acid and alkaline pH ranges, with apparent optima at about pH 4 and 8. Administration of ovine FSH (folliclestimulating hormone) and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) resulted in a decrease in the level of proteolytic activity at pH's more acid than pH 5, and an increased level of proteolytic activity at pH's alkaline to pH 5, with a maximum increase around pH 8. Treatment of intact rats with partially purified ovine FSH alone, as well as with partially purified ovine TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) or partially purified ovine LH (luteinizing hormone), resulted in increased levels of activity of the pH 8 enzyme. HCG alone does not produce this effect. Hypophysectomy is followed by a decrease in the level of the pH 8 enzyme, with no change being observed in the level of the pH 4 enzyme. The activity of the pH 8 proteinase can be increased to levels above those in intact controls by treatment with partially ...
General Steady-state Theory of Cylindrical Magnetrons

ABSTRACT This paper presents a general steady-state theory of cylindrical magnetrons. Space charge and the Maxwellian velocity distribution of the emitted electrons are taken into account, but the collisions between individual electrons are neglected. The paper explains the mathematical basis of the calculations and gives expressions for the volume density of the electrons and for the two components of the electron current density. No calculations of the actual potential distributions are given but the problem is briefly discussed at the end of the paper. It is shown however that for certain important ranges of potential distributions the following conclusions concerning the steady-state theory of cylindrical magnetrons can be drawn (1)Brillouin's single-stream flow is not possible when the emission velocities are taken into account (2)In a well ‘ cut-off ’ magnetron the azimuthal component of the current density may be several hundred times larger than the radial component. Thus, even slight imperfection...
PERFORMANCE OF PROCESS CAPABILITY INDICES FOR WEIBULL AND LOGNORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS OR AUTOREGRESSIVE PROCESSES

The usual definitions of process capability indices assume that observations are independent and identically normally distributed. The process mean may shift and from that point forward the process is out of control but the observations are still independent and normally distributed. When the observations are non-normal or correlated, the estimation of the standard capability indices can be greatly affected. In this paper comparison of estimators of capability indices is presented when the process measurements are from one of two families of skewed distributions, Weibull or lognormal. Also, an investigation of estimators of the standard index, Cpk, is presented for normally distributed process measurements which follow an autoregressive model of order one.
Building Trust in Economic Space

While there is widespread recognition of the importance and role of trust in facilitating regional development, technology transfer, and agglomeration economies, the concept remains rather undertheorized within economic geography and regional science. This paper reviews and assesses the literature on the role and constitution of trust for economic and industrial development and presents a conceptualization of the trust building process that accounts for the influences of agency, institutions, materials, and interpersonal expression. In doing so, geographic concerns about the role of space and context are linked to economic and sociological conceptualizations of trust and to scholarship from actor-network theory (ANT) and social psychology regarding the influence of power, non-human intermediaries, and performance on social outcomes and network configurations. The result is a heuristic framework for analyzing trust-building processes as temporally and spatially situated social phenomena shaped by context-s...
Postmortem chemistry update. Emphasis on forensic application

This article reviews the postmortem chemistry of body fluids. The articles reviewed have been written in English during the last 15 years and the subjects discussed include carbohydrates, nitrogenous compounds, electrolytes, trace elements, lipids, proteins, bile pigments, enzymes, hormones, blood gases, pH, biochemical markers, metabolic disorders, SIDS, time of death, and the physical characteristics of serum. Language: en
A General Upper Bound on the List Chromatic Number of Locally Sparse Graphs

Suppose that G is a graph with maximum degree d(G) such that, for every vertex v in G, the neighbourhood of v contains at most d(G)2/f (f > 1) edges. We show that the list chromatic number of G is at most Kd(G)/log f, for some positive constant K. This result is sharp up to the multiplicative constant K and strengthens previous results by Kim [9], Johansson [7], Alon, Krivelevich and Sudakov [3], and the present author [18]. This also motivates several interesting questions.As an application, we derive several upper bounds for the strong (list) chromatic index of a graph, under various assumptions. These bounds extend earlier results by Faudree, Gyarfas, Schelp and Tuza [6] and Mahdian [13] and determine, up to a constant factor, the strong (list) chromatic index of a random graph. Another application is an extension of a result of Kostochka and Steibitz [10] concerning the structure of list critical graphs.
En el País de Nunca Jamás: la infancia en la poesía de Jorge Teillier.

Este estudio profundiza en uno de los temas poco estudiados de la poesia de Jorge Teillier: su representacion de la infancia. Esta se presenta a traves de la figura de un sujeto devenido en nino, una suerte de lazarillo del lar, quien muestra al lector un espacio poetico habitado especialmente por ninos, al cual se llega atravesando un espejo. Este espacio unico resulta ser deslumbrante, luminoso y multicultural, reforzado por la presencia intertextual de la literatura infantil y juvenil. La infancia, finalmente, termina siendo reafirmada como un tiempo y un espacio de realizacion personal y estetica.
Moral Valuation: A Third Domain of Conscience Functioning

ABSTRACT Objective To assess development of moral valuation in normal children and adolescents, that is, how moral rules for living are derived and justified, and to examine the relationship of this progression with previously identified stages of conceptualization of conscience. Method Using three semistructured questions from the Stilwell Conscience Interview, 132 normal volunteers between the ages of 5 and 17 years were assessed. All moral valuation responses were examined within three aspects of social reference: authority-derived, self-derived, and peer-derived. Each aspect was scaled for complexity into six anchored levels. Results The levels of all three aspects correlated positively with conceptualization stages as well as with each other. When the covariate, age, was taken into consideration, peer-derived valuation was significantly correlated with both age and stage. Conclusions Moral valuation is a domain of conscience functioning in which moral rules and their justifications are socially referenced in relationship to authority, self, and peers. Anchored levels of these three aspects of moral valuation provide developmental guidelines for mental status examinations in patients between 5 and 17 years of age as well as providing criteria for future comparative studies in various diagnostic categories of psychopathology.
Hydrodenitrogenation of quinoline catalyzed by MCM-41-supported nickel phosphides

A series of MCM-41-supported nickel phosphides with an initial Ni/P atomic ratio of 0.5−2 in the oxidic precursors were prepared by an in situ reduction method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), CO chemisorption, N2 adsorption, and transmission electron microscopy. Their catalytic performances were evaluated in the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of quinoline and compared with MCM-41-supported Ni−Mo sulfide. The supported nickel phosphides with initial Ni/P ratios of 1 or 1.25 exhibited much higher HDN activity than the supported Ni−Mo sulfide. XRD patterns of both high-performance phosphide catalysts revealed that the active phase was Ni2P. It is indicated that the HDN of quinoline on the MCM-41-supported nickel phosphides exclusively proceeds via a pathway, which involves fully saturated intermediates. The cleavage of the C−N bond in the decahydroquinoline is the rate-determining step in the HDN of quinoline on the supported nickel phosphides. In addition, the effects of H2S (CS2 as the precursor)...
The International Workshop on Alternative Methods to Reduce, Refine, and Replace the Use of Animals in Vaccine Potency and Safety Testing: introduction and summary

Abstract Vaccines contribute to improved animal and human health and welfare by preventing diseases and deaths from infectious diseases. However, testing necessary to ensure vaccine effectiveness and safety can involve large numbers of animals and significant pain and distress. NICEATM and ICCVAM recently convened an international workshop to review the state of the science of available alternative methods and approaches that can further reduce, refine, and replace the use of animals for human and veterinary vaccine potency and safety testing, and to identify research, development, and validation efforts necessary to further advance new and improved alternative methods. Workshop participants identified human and veterinary vaccines that should have the highest priority for future efforts. Prioritization criteria included testing that involves significant pain and distress, large numbers of animals, and pathogens that are dangerous to people and animals. Participants noted that in vitro antigen quantification assays have replaced animals for potency testing for some killed vaccines, and recommended that this approach be expanded to other vaccines. Recommendations to support more humane animal use included development and use of humane endpoints for all challenge tests, development of serologic assays to replace challenge tests, and development of in vitro toxin neutralization tests (TNT) to replace in vivo TNTs. Workshop participants recommended several approaches that might further reduce the number of animals required for specific potency tests. Participants also recommended priority vaccines for which alternative safety testing methods should be pursed and that would have the greatest impact on avoiding pain and distress and reducing animal numbers. Finally, workshop participants recommended enhanced international harmonization and cooperation efforts and closer collaborations between human and veterinary researchers to expedite progress. Implementation of the workshop recommendations is expected to advance new methods for vaccine testing that will reduce animal use, benefit animal welfare, and ensure continued and improved protection of human and animal health.
Some aminoacido-bis-ethylenediamine-rhodium (III) iodides

Abstract Although complexes of natural amino acids have been studied extensively for many years, the only rhodium compound reported is the [Rh4Cl5(H2NCH2CO2)(N2H3)4(N2H4)4,5].(1) In conjunction with studies on the chemical and biological properties of metal complexes of natural amino acids, several complexes of the type [Rh(en)2(AA)]I2 were synthesized and characterized. The compound [Rh(en)2I2]I was isolated from unsuccessful reactions.
Rural health disparities in asthma care and outcomes

Fifty-nine million Americans (21% of the US population) live in rural areas of the United States. Compared with persons living in urban areas of the United States, rural populations have lower income, a higher rate of government versus private insurance, and decreased access to health care. Although there are reports of lower asthma prevalence in rural areas, the majority of these data have been published on international populations, with few available studies looking at American urban versus rural asthma prevalence on a national scale or comparing rural with nearby urban cohorts in the United States. A large body of literature, mainly generated from studies of rural Europe, suggests that lower prevalence might be due to beneficial effects of exposure to farm environments, but the extent to which this applies to the rural United States, where a smaller proportion of the population engages in farming, is unclear. The United States has the additional covariate of having a higher proportion of African Americans, who have a greater asthma burden than whites independent of socioeconomic status, clustered in cities. There are data indicating that rural patients have increased difficulty obtaining health care in general and limited data suggesting that they receive inferior care for asthma. Future work is needed to more clearly define asthma prevalence and morbidity among residents of the rural United States, as well as to identify interventions effective in this population.
Scattering From ZnSe Used As An Infrared Window

The scattering of infrared radiation from ZnSe was measured for three laser wavelengths (0.6328, 3.39, and 10.6 μm) and three material thicknesses (6 mm, 19 mm, and 25 mm). The data from these experiments are shown and a scattering model for this material is presented.
Polarization of protons from the 12C(d, p)13C reaction

Abstract The polarization of protons from the 12C(d, p)13C reaction has been measured for deuteron bombarding energies between 3.9 and 5.8 MeV. Angular distributions of the polarization for protons leaving 13C in its ground state have been measured for laboratory angles between 10° and 135° at several energies in the vicinity of a resonance at 4 MeV in order to determine the effect of that resonance on the polarization. Additional measurements were made at 0.4 MeV intervals throughout the energy range. These measurements demonstrate that the compound-nuclear resonances observed in the cross section do not significantly alter the polarization angular distributions except at back angles. The shape of the observed polarization angular distributions at all energies is quite similar to previous results obtained for deuteron bombarding energies up to 15 MeV.
Reaction set simplification using variable selection techniques

Abstract A novel approach to reaction set reduction is presented which utilizes variable selection (VS) techniques from the statistics literature to identify a family of reduced reaction sets. By taking advantage of the structure of elementary reaction sets and the nature of macroscopic reactor balances, a linear regression model of the complete reaction set is developed from a sampling of data points along the reactor concentration and reaction-rate profiles. Utilizing a modification of the Leaps and Bounds algorithm (Furnival and Wilson, 1974, Techometrics , 16 (4), 499–511), the best reduced linear models for each parameter subset size are identified, and these solutions are used as approximations of the global solutions of the reaction set reduction problem that would be found by complete enumeration of all reduced reaction sets. With the use of weighted least squares, the procedure can be directed to preferentially select reduced reaction sets that accurately represent the full reaction set kinetics for specific species while downplaying the importance of other species. The proposed VS procedure offers significant computational savings over complete enumeration by avoiding the repeated integration of differential equations for reduced reaction sets. The VS procedure is tested on an 18 reaction 10 species reaction set for a batch reactor, and results compare favorably with those found using complete enumeration.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone-like axons in the adrenal glands of fetal and postnatal sheep

The presence of corticotropin-releasing hormone outside of the brain suggests that it may have functional roles besides the stimulation of pituitary adrenocorticotropin. The purpose of the present study was to determine immunohistochemically, the ontogeny of corticotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactivity in sheep adrenals from fetal day 100 to adult. Adrenal corticotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactivity: 1) was found in all animals examined, 2) existed as clusters of darkly beaded axon-like fibers over medullary cells at the medullary-cortical interface or over islands of medullary cells surrounded by cortex or rays of medullary cells extending into the cortex, 3) showed a definite increase with age, 4) was depleted in newborns < 12 h old, and 5) was found in pre- and postnatal splanchnic nerves. In conclusion, corticotropin-releasing hormone-like immunopositive fibers are present in the ovine adrenal medulla at various stages of development, supporting the concept that corticotropin-releasing hormone in pre- and postnatal sheep may play a direct local part in the regulation of adrenal function.
Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone on follicular development in the immature rat.

To determine if small sustained increases in serum LH (hCG) activity can stimulate the maturation of small antral follicles in intact prepubertal rats, 24- or 29-day-old animals were injected twice daily for 2 days with 0.15 IU hCG. Functional changes in follicular cells were determined by measuring granulosa and thecal cell LH/hCG receptor content, follicular arornatase activity, endogenous estradiol production, and hormonally responsive progesterone accumulation, prostaglandin production, and adenylate cyclase activity in vitro. Each of these follicular components or activities increased progressively after the administration of 0.15 IU hCG in vivo. A bolus injection of 5 IU hCG induced ovulation in these low dose hCGtreated animals, with an average of 11 ovulations/rat, indicating that preovulatory follicles had developed. To determine if physiological concentrations of serum progesterone have an effect on the responsiveness of small antral follicles to hCG, progesterone implants (delivering 50–70 ng/m...
Equilibrium of three liquid phases and approach to the tricritical point in benzene-ethanol-water-ammonium sulfate mixtures

Abstract We have determined the region of coexistence of three liquid phases in the system C 6 H 6 - EtOH - H 2 O -( NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 at 21°, 45°, 48° and 48.6°C, and have located the tricritical point. The temperature and composition at the tricritical point are T t = 48.9° C and mass fractions x salt = 0.0175, x water = 0.351, x ethanol = 0.450, x benzene = 0.181. This composition is inferred to lie outside the three-phase region at 21° and 45°, in agreement with the phenomenological theory of Griffiths. The locus of the three liquid phases in the isothermal composition tetrahedron has the parabolic, inflected (cubic), and cusped aspects predicted by the theory. For the three exponents β 1 , β 2 , and β 3 associated with the vanishing of the three characteristic dimensions of the coexistence region, we find β 1 = 0.4, β 2 = 1.0, β 3 = 1.5, compared to the theoretical β 1 = 1 2 , β 2 = 1, β 3 = 3 2 . We verify that the algebraic degree 1/ β ′ of the coexistence curve near the two critical end points exceeds its classical value of 2.
The lack of correlation of gallium (67Ga) scans with known prognostic indicators in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Gallium (67Ga-citrate) scans were performed on 45 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis. The extent of uptake and distribution of gallium were compared to known prognostic indicators of age, initial white count, and bone marrow lymphoblast immune markers (T, B, and null cell). Selective increased uptake was noted in bone, kidney, liver/spleen, lymph nodes, or other sites in 29 patients, and 16 patients had normal scans. A scoring system giving one point for selective uptake in each organ system was used. Patients were grouped according to scores of zero, 1 to 2, and 3 or greater. There was no significant correlation found between total gallium scores and any of the three prognostic indicators. There was also no significant correlation when prognostic factors were compared to uptake in the individual organ systems except that T cell disease was associated with a significantly greater propensity for lymph node uptake. There was a suggestion that children with normal gallium scans may have a better long-term prognosis, since 6 of 7 nonrelapsers observed for longer than 18 months had scores of zero at diagnosis compared to 4 of 6 early deaths with scores greater than zero. This study indicatesmore » that the 67Ga scan does not significantly correlate with known prognostic indicators, with the possible exception of lymph node uptake in T cell disease, and its value as an independent indicator of long-term survival will require longer follow-up.« less
Within‐storm variations in runoff and sediment export from a rapidly eroding coal‐refuse deposit

Measurements of rainfall, runoff and sediment export from a barren deposit of coal mine refuse in south-western Indiana were collected during three storms in the summer and autumn of 1990. Interfluve sheetwash, sediment mass flux, sediment concentration and, to a lesser extent, trunk gully discharge all responded quickly to changes in rainfall intensity. Grain-size distributions varied considerably during storms, containing exclusively fine-grained sediment at low sediment discharges but very large quantities of coarse (> 2mm) sediment at peak sediment discharges. Although data from a fairly long, multipulsed storm indicate that sediment production is limited by supply, the imbricated layer of flat chips that exists at the surface of the deposit is apparently mobilized during most high-intensity pulses of rainfall, thereby producing large volumes of coarse sediment during summer thunderstorms.
Identification of glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in Oregon

Abstract A suspected glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass biotype was collected from a filbert orchard near Portland, OR, where glyphosate was applied multiple times per year for about 15 yr. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine if this biotype was glyphosate resistant. The plants were sprayed with glyphosate (0.01 to 3.37 kg ae ha−1) 14 d after planting and shoot biomass was determined 3 wk after herbicide treatment. Based on the dose–response experiments conducted in the greenhouse, the suspected Italian ryegrass biotype was approximately fivefold more resistant to glyphosate than the susceptible biotype. Plants from both susceptible and resistant biotypes were treated with glyphosate (0.42 and 0.84 kg ha−1) and shikimic acid was extracted 12, 24, 48, and 96 h after treatment. The susceptible biotype accumulated between three and five times more shikimic acid than did the resistant biotype. Leaf segments from both susceptible and resistant biotypes were incubated with different glyphosate con...
Some Recommendations for Characterization of Composite Panels by Means of Drop Tower Impact Testing

Instrumented drop tower impact-test devices have been long used for inflicting impact damage onto test specimens for damage tolerance characterization of composite panels. However, there are many considerations that need to be made regarding the test setup to avoid the inconveniences related to the acquisition and interpretation of the impact data. Because there are many advantages associated with this type of experiment, to benefit fully from the amount of information available from an impact test, a multiparameter approach needs to be used, and the entire test history needs to be interpreted. The previously demonstrated similitude between impact and quasistatic indentation tests is used to gain even further understanding in the mechanics of the event and its associated damage mechanisms. The fundamental characteristics of damage resistance tests are illustrated for the engineer being initiated to this type of work, particularly with regards to the understanding of impact traces. A summary of lessons learned is reported, and guidelines for the setup of the test and the interpretation of the results are given. A set of recommendations for best practice is given with the intent of laying down the foundation for a standard approach to future research programs.
The role of surface tension on the residual water content of fabrics

Cotton has been shown to hold up to 80% of its initial weight in water due to strong capillary forces after washing. According to the LaPlace equation for capillary rise, the rise is proportional to the surface tension of the air-liquid interface. The use of a tailored rinse additive has the potential to alter the surface tension of solutions significantly, thus lead- ing to a lower capillary rise. This lower rise can be related to the residual water content in fabrics. The reduction of surface tension lowers the force required to displace liquid inside the capillaries formed by fabric fibers. If the amount of residual water in fabrics can be significantly lowered, the drying time of the fabrics would be decreased as well. We have shown that by reducing the surface tension of solutions, the residual moisture content of fabrics also decreases. Paper no. S1429 in JSD 8, 91-94 (January 2005).
Engaging and Supporting Problem Solving in Engineering Ethics

Learning to solve ethical problems is essential to the education of all engineers. Engineering ethics problems are complex and ill structured with multiple perspectives and interpretations to address in their solution. In two experiments, we examined alternative strategies for engaging ethical problem solving. In Experiment 1, students studied two versions of an online learning environment consisting of everyday ethics problems. Students using question hypertext links to navigate applied more perspectives and canons and wrote stronger overall solutions to ethics problems than those using embedded hypertext links. In Experiment 2, students engaged in a more generative task, evaluating alternative arguments for solutions to the cases or generating and supporting their own solutions. Both groups better supported their solutions and generated more counterclaims than control students. These studies focused on solving realistic case-based ethics problems as an effective method for addressing ABET's ethics criteria.
Reducing handover time in heterogeneous wireless networks

A novel approach for handover in heterogeneous wireless networks is proposed in this paper. In our approach, the mobile terminal (MT) sends the handover-initiating message to the new base station instead of the old base station before it loses connection with its old base station. Hence, it reduces the time to perform handover, which is crucial for packet switched networks. Furthermore, we propose that MT activates its interfaces only in the measurement region, which is the region just before the MT enters the handover region.
Estimation of oxygen consumption in elderly patients with aortic stenosis

Background Invasive evaluation of aortic stenosis requires measuring cardiac output. With the Fick equation, a measure of oxygen consumption (VO2) is required. Standard equations for estimating VO2 were derived in younger and healthier populations than the ones referred for possible transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The goal of this study was to determine the best method of estimating VO2 in elderly patients with aortic stenosis. Methods We directly measured VO2 in elderly patients undergoing invasive assessment of aortic stenosis. We compared standard equations estimating VO2 and two prespecified hypothesized equations for VO2 to determine which was most accurate. We also examined the subgroup of patients with low flow. Results Among 51 patients, aged 80–97 years, the mean VO2 was 198 mL/min. Using 125*body surface area (BSA) to estimate VO2 the average error was 35 mL/min, and 67% of values were within 25% of the true value. Using 3*Weight to estimate VO2, those numbers were 29 mL/min and 65%. The hypothesized equations did better: 100*BSA had error of −12 mL/min and 90% within 25% of measured VO2; for 2.5*Weight it was −9 mL/min and 84%. Among the 20 patients with low flow, hypothesized equations performed best. Using 2.5*Weight and 100*BSA there were 90% and 85% within 25% of measured VO2, respectively, compared to 55% and 75% when 3*Weight and 125*BSA were used. Weight and BSA were the only independent predictors of VO2. Conclusions When estimating VO2 in an elderly population with aortic stenosis, the best equations are 2.5*Weight and 100*BSA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pleiotropy, “sexy” traits, and speciation

The evolution of mating signals and preferences assists speciation by facilitating assortative mating within diverging lineages, thereby closing down conduits of gene flow between lineages. However, sexual communication traits are frequently subject to stabilizing selection, suggesting that new variants will be selected against, thereby discouraging their divergent evolution. Pleiotropic mutations may assist the evolution of sexual communication systems by introducing genetic covariation to signal and preference traits. New data from a range of taxa and sensory modalities are challenging more traditional views on the general importance of pleiotropy in sexual signaling systems. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
The Humboldt penguin in Peru

Numbers of Humboldt penguins Spheniscus humboldti, which live on the coast and islands of Chile and Peru, have been declining since the mid-1800s. Extracting guano for fertiliser has damaged their breeding sites; they have been exploited for food and skins and captured for pets or zoos; they are incidentally caught in fishing nets and recent over-fishing may have caused a food shortage. The author surveyed the Humboldt penguins in Peru in 1981 and here discusses the conservation measures that are being taken.
Scenario-based requirements analysis techniques for real-time software systems: a comparative evaluation

One of the most critical phases of software engineering is requirements elicitation and analysis. Success in a software project is influenced by the quality of requirements and their associated analysis since their outputs contribute to higher level design and verification decisions. Real-time software systems are event driven and contain temporal and resource limitation constraints. Natural-language-based specification and analysis of such systems are then limited to identifying functional and non-functional elements only. In order to design an architecture, or to be able to test and verify these systems, a comprehensive understanding of dependencies, concurrency, response times, and resource usage are necessary. Scenario-based analysis techniques provide a way to decompose requirements to understand the said attributes of real-time systems. However they are in themselves inadequate for providing support for all real-time attributes. This paper discusses and evaluates the suitability of certain scenario-based models in a real-time software environment and then proposes an approach, called timed automata, that constructs a formalised view of scenarios that generate timed specifications. This approach represents the operational view of scenarios with the support of a formal representation that is needed for real-time systems. Our results indicate that models with notations and semantic support for representing temporal and resource usage of scenario provide a better analysis domain.
Apparatus for measuring the dynamic tensile modulus of thin polymeric films

A method and apparatus have been developed specifically for the determination of the dynamic tensile modulus of thin polymeric films. A weight is attached to a 2 × 60-mm. strip of film, the upper end of which is clamped to a phonograph recording head. The recording head is used to set the system into either longitudinal or transverse vibration. The cross-sectional area of the film is determined in place from the length, the density, and the transverse resonant frequency (the Vibroscope principle). The modulus is found from the dimensions of the specimen and the longitudinal resonant frequency. The apparatus has been used to study the moduli of a series of polymeric packaging films, the dependence of the modulus of polyethylene film on the angle between the long axis of the specimen and the machine direction, the gage dependence of the stiffness of polyolefin films, and the relationship between the modulus and the moisture and glycerol contents of cellophane.
Psychological stress and antibody response to immunization: a critical review of the human literature.

Objective The objective of this review was to evaluate the evidence for the hypothesis that psychological stress influences antibody response to immunization in humans. Methods A critical review of the literature was conducted. Results The evidence supports an association between psychological stress and suppression of humoral immune (antibody) response to immunization. This association is convincing in the case of secondary immune response but weak for primary response. The lack of consistent evidence for a relation with primary response may be attributed to a failure to consider the critical points when stress needs to be elevated in the course of the production of antibody. Lower secondary antibody responses were found among patients with chronically high levels of stress (severe enduring problems or high levels of trait negative affect). These responses were found most consistently among older adults. Lower secondary responses were also found for those reporting acute stress or negative affect, but only in studies of secretory immunoglobulin A antibody in which psychological and antibody measures were linked very closely in time. Health practices did not mediate relations between stress and antibody responses; however, there were indications that elevated cortisol levels among stressed patients could play a role. Evidence also suggests the possible influences of dispositional stress-reactivity and low positive affect in the inhibition of antibody production. Conclusions The literature supports a relationship between psychological stress and antibody responses to immunizations. The data are convincing in the case of secondary response but weak for primary response. More attention to the kinetics of stress and antibody response and their interrelations is needed in future research.
Microfibrous substrate geometry as a critical trigger for organization, self-renewal, and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells within synthetic 3-dimensional microenvironments

Substrates used to culture human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are typically 2-dimensional (2-D) in nature, with limited ability to recapitulate in vivo-like 3-dimensional (3-D) microenvironments. We examined critical determinants of hESC self-renewal in poly-d-lysine-pretreated synthetic polymer-based substrates with variable microgeometries, including planar 2-D films, macroporous 3-D sponges, and microfibrous 3-D fiber mats. Completely synthetic 2-D substrates and 3-D macroporous scaffolds failed to retain hESCs or support self-renewal or differentiation. However, synthetic microfibrous geometries made from electrospun polymer fibers were found to promote cell adhesion, viability, proliferation, self-renewal, and directed differentiation of hESCs in the absence of any exogenous matrix proteins. Mechanistic studies of hESC adhesion within microfibrous scaffolds indicated that enhanced cell confinement in such geometries increased cell-cell contacts and altered colony organization. Moreover, the microfibrous scaffolds also induced hESCs to deposit and organize extracellular matrix proteins like laminin such that the distribution of laminin was more closely associated with the cells than the Matrigel treatment, where the laminin remained associated with the coated fibers. The production of and binding to laminin was critical for formation of viable hESC colonies on synthetic fibrous scaffolds. Thus, synthetic substrates with specific 3-D microgeometries can support hESC colony formation, self-renewal, and directed differentiation to multiple lineages while obviating the stringent needs for complex, exogenous matrices. Similar scaffolds could serve as tools for developmental biology studies in 3-D and for stem cell differentiation in situ and transplantation using defined humanized conditions.
The geriatric amputee

There are special aspects of aging with an amputation and with being elderly at the time of an amputation. Older adults who have undergone amputation have many issues to contend with, including comorbidities that affect postoperative care and rehabilitation, general deconditioning and loss of mobility (especially if the onset of rehabilitation is delayed), and lack of social support upon returning to the community. These problems are compounded by a lack of knowledge about caring for the residual limb and prosthesis, maintenance of general health, and management of comorbid conditions. People who have sustained an amputation at an early age and who are ambulatory may find increasing difficulties as they age. Acquired chronic disease occurs more frequently as people age. These conditions can adversely affect function after amputation. Prosthetic designs may need modification because certain components may become more difficult to use. The prevention of a (second) amputation results in saving a limb and preserving self-image and independent function. Considering the emotional and economic cost of amputation and lifelong management of a prosthesis, it is worth the time and effort to practice preventive measures. Should amputation become necessary, careful patient assessment, compassionate management, and communication among the team members results in a more favorable outcome. Including the physiatrist early in the clinical course makes this process easier.
TOCOPHEROL EFFECTS ON FROZEN GROUND PORK COLOR

To assess the effects of alpha-tocopherol addition on lipid and pigment oxidation of ground pork, 10, 100 or 1000 ppm was added directly in a food grade carrier (2% medium chain triglyceride oil) then pork was overwrapped with polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) film and frozen (-34C) for seven months. Storage time increased extracted deoxymyoglobin percentage, metmyoglobin percentage determined by reflectance spectrophotometry, TBARS, hue angle, and pH, and decreased extracted oxymyoglobin percentage, L *, a* and b * values, and instrumental red color (% reflectance at 630 nm - % reflectance at 580 nm). Extracted metmyoglobin percentage increased through 140 days then decreased through 196 days. Alpha tocopherol increased deoxymyoglobin and decreased oxymyoglobin (extracted) expressed as a percentage of the total pigment, when compared with control samples. Metmyoglobin percentage (reflectance was highest in 10 ppm samples and lowest in 1000 ppm samples. Hue angle and total color were best correlated with other measures of red color.
Decorating the Dining-Room: Still-Life Chromolithographs and Domestic Ideology in Nineteenth-Century America

On several occasions during the late 1860s, the novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe exhorted readers to adorn their homes with chromolithographs, color prints which reproduced original oil-paintings or, less often, depicted images created specifically for the print medium. In her 1869 domestic advice manual, The American Woman's Home , co-authored with her sister Catharine Beecher, Stowe described chromolithographs (or “chromos,” as they were commonly called) as essential components of a properly embellished home interior. In proposing a hypothetical budget devoted to parlor furnishings, the authors recommended that almost one-fourth of the total be allocated to lithographic reproductions of “really admirable pictures” by some of “America's best artists.” Stowe's advocacy of chromos also appeared in the promotional publications of L. Prang & Company, one of the country's largest publishers of these images. The short-lived quarterly Prang's Chromo: A Journal of Popular Art (published in five issues from January 1868 to April 1869) printed a letter in which Stowe thanked Louis Prang for sending her several free chromolithographs. After praising the “beautiful objects,” Stowe concluded her note with the kind of testimonial Prang no doubt had been seeking when he sent her the complimentary items: “Be assured I shall neglect no opportunity of proving my sympathy with your so charming and beautiful mission, and bringing it to everyone's notice, so far as I can.” And, though it is impossible to know what exact role Stowe's promotions played in the overall sale of chromos, it is clear that she aligned herself with a hot commodity: from 1840 to 1900, chromolithographs in America sold by the millions.
Ventilatory efficiency slope correlates with functional capacity, outcomes, and disease severity in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is widely used in a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Ventilatory efficiency slope can be derived from submaximal exercise testing. The present study sought to evaluate the relationship between ventilatory efficiency slope and functional capacity, outcomes, and disease severity in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome following carotid stenting

A 60-year-old woman on venlafaxine presented with headache and left-sided weakness 1 month after undergoing right common carotid artery stenting. Catheter-based angiogram identified new irregularities of the right anterior cerebral and right middle cerebral artery (figure, A–C). Investigations for vasculitis, including CSF studies, were unremarkable. The vessel irregularities and symptoms improved after administration of intra-arterial verapamil (figure, D–F). Unilateral reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome has previously been described after carotid endarterectomy. The mechanism is unclear; however, it may be due to disturbance of cerebral autoregulation.1,2 Concomitant use of a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor may have been a predisposing factor.
The Effect of Bilingualism on Self-Perceived Multicultural Counseling Competence.

Nathaniel N. Ivers, NCC, is an Assistant Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University. Jose A. Villalba is a Professor and Associate Dean at Wake Forest University. Correspondence may be addressed to Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University, Department of Counseling, P.O. Box 7406, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, iversnn@wfu.edu. Nathaniel N. Ivers, Jose A. Villalba The Effect of Bilingualism on Self-Perceived Multicultural Counseling Competence
Entrapment of the Posterior Interosseous Nerve at the Arcade of Frohse With Sonographic, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Intraoperative Confirmation

Entrapment of the radial nerve, specifically the deep branch of the radial nerve (DBRN) in the arcade of Frohse, was first described in 1963. 1 Prolonged entrapment may lead to a constellation of symptoms described in posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) paralysis. 2 Reported attempts at diagnosis using imaging have mostly involved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with a limited number of studies characterizing the utility of sonography. Confirmation of entrapment via MRI, sonography, and gross specimens obtained intraoperatively during surgical decompression is presented.
EFFECT OF IMPACT ON THE COMPRESSION RESPONSE OF LARGE COMPOSITE SANDWICH PLATES

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was the experimental quantification of the effect of defects in structural sandwich panels fabricated using the state-of-the-art Navy licensed processing technique, “SCRIMP”. This paper will present experimental results that measure the effect of impact damage on compression response of large scale cored composite plates. The test panels were manufactured with E-glass woven roving face sheets, and the core materials investigated were (1) end grain balsa, (2) PVC foam core and (3) web-reinforced PVC foam core. All panels were manufactured using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding and cut to planar dimensions of 36 in. × 48 in. Balsa panels were impacted at specific energy levels to create damage sizes of 5 inches and 10 inches in diameter. Foam and webbed foam panels were impacted with the same energy level using the balsa 10-inch delamination size as a guide. These impacted samples along with undamaged (baseline) samples were then fitted with specially designed end fixtures to eliminate problems associated with compression load introduction such as bending and end crushing, and to facilitate acceptable failure modes in the gage test section. The balsa panels exhibited backside delamination between the skin and core as a result of the applied impact, which proceeded to unzip across the panel width with applied load causing instability failure. The foam core tended to adhere better to the facesheet glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and exhibit local crushing and core shear failure only above the load level where the panel fails to resist bending. The significance of this difference in material response is that although the baseline balsa cored panels show almost double the load carrying capacity as the baseline foam cored panels, they are much more susceptible to delamination than the foam cored panels at the same energy level and subsequently show a greater percent reduction in load carrying capacity. The initial web-reinforced foam core panel results indicate load carrying capacity competitive with balsa yet less susceptible to impact damage.
International trends and techniques used to teach studio art courses through distance education

This research collected data about international trends and techniques used to teach studio art courses through distance learning. The study presents information about methods of curriculum and instruction, background information about teaching face-to-face art courses and transitioning to online instruction, the amount of time dedicated to online studio art courses by students and instructors, and details about educational resources and projects. The information provides ideas and methods to solve problems in art education through distance learning and speculates about the pedagogical effects of international classes. This self-report survey was sent to online studio art instructors at postsecondary institutions in the international arena. The instructors responded to a series of statements and questions regarding trends and techniques used to teach studio art courses through distance learning. This resulted in standardized, quantifiable information from members of the focused population. Data collection method was e-mail. Of the professors surveyed, the most successful part of teaching studio art online was listed as the ability to reach a broader population. The most frustrating part was listed as skepticism on the success of studio art taught online and students' lack of experience with technology. The majority of professors considered an international population of students to be a multicultural learning opportunity despite language barriers. Eighty-eight percent of the instructors surveyed felt that online art instruction held the potential to become more prevalent in the future because of accessibility, cost effectiveness, and technological advancements. Recommendations about techniques and trends of online studio art courses have been provided based on the research data.