cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in Use of High-Cost Technologies for Palliative Radiation Therapy by Radiation Oncologists.

Background Understanding the sources of variation in the use of high-cost technologies is important for developing effective strategies to control costs of care. Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is a discretionary treatment and its use may vary based on patient and clinician factors. Methods Using data from the SEER-Medicare linked database, we identified patients diagnosed with metastatic lung, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers in 2010 through 2015 who received RT, and the radiation oncologists who treated them. The costs of radiation services for each patient over a 90-day episode were calculated, and radiation oncologists were assigned to cost quintiles. The use of advanced technologies (eg, intensity-modulated radiation, stereotactic RT) and the number of RT treatments (eg, any site, bone only) were identified. Multivariable random-effects models were constructed to estimate the proportion of variation in the use of advanced technologies and extended fractionation (>10 fractions) that could be explained by patient fixed effects versus physician random effects. Results We identified 37,361 patients with metastatic lung cancer, 3,684 with metastatic breast cancer, 5,323 with metastatic prostate cancer, and 8,726 with metastatic colorectal cancer, with 34%, 27%, 22%, and 9% receiving RT within the first year, respectively. The use of advanced technologies and extended fractionation was associated with higher costs of care. Compared with the patient case-mix, physician variation accounted for a larger proportion of the variation in the use of advanced technologies for palliative RT and the use of extended fractionation. Conclusions Differences in radiation oncologists' practice and choices, rather than differences in patient case-mix, accounted for a greater proportion of the variation in the use of advanced technologies and high-cost radiation services.
Discrete Linear Systems

Many systems in diverse fields can be characterized by an input-output analysis. One starts such an analysis by figuratively placing the system in a black box. As indicated in Figure 4.1, we denote the system by S, the output by b, and the input by a.
NOTES ON A SCHEMA FOR STORIES

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses that the structure of stories is ordinarily more than pair wise relationships among sentences, and strings of sentences combine into psychological wholes. It also explains the nature of these wholes and presents a simple story grammar that accounts for many of the salient facts about the structure of simple stories and that will serve as the basis for a theory of summarization. The grammar consists of a set of syntactical rules that generate the constituent structure of stories and a corresponding set of semantic interpretation rules that determine the semantic representation of the story. The symbol “+” is used to form two items in a sequence; the symbol “|” is used to separate mutually exclusive alternatives. A “*” following a structure name indicates one or more of those units; for example, A* is one or more As. In the semantic structures the convention is followed that the predicate names are written in the ovals and the arguments of the predicates are pointed to by arrows. The propositions that are the units of the story are simply numbered.
Bullous eruption and elevated leukocyte alkaline phosphatase in the course of busulfan-treated chronic granulocytic leukemia.

A 35-year-old man presented with a bullous eruption similar to erythema multiforme following the administration of high doses of busulfan therapy for chronic granulocytic leukemia. There was pancytopenia, hypoplasia of the bone marrow, elevation of serum vitamin B12 and B12 binding capacity and a paradoxical elevation of the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase level. Discontinuation of the busulfan and the administration of prednisone were followed by gradual healing of the skin lesions, reversal of the pancytopenia and reduction of the leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity to zero. This case illustrates an unusual and previously unreported untoward response to busulfan and is another example of the capacity of the leukocytes in some patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia to develop high alkaline phosphatase activity in response to inflammation.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CAIRN TERRIERS WITH PRECLINICAL RENAL DYSPLASIA

Renal dysplasia is a hereditary disease characterized by abnormal differentiation of renal tissue. The ultrasonographic appearance of dysplastic canine kidneys has been reported in the late stage of the disease where inflammatory and degenerative changes are already present and the dogs are in chronic renal failure. In this study, we describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the kidneys of five related Cairn Terriers affected with renal dysplasia before the onset of clinical or laboratory evidence of renal failure. Common findings included poor corticomedullary definition and multifocal hyperechoic speckles in the renal medulla, or a diffusely hyperechoic medulla. Severity of ultrasonographic changes was related to the severity of histopathologic findings. The ability to detect dysplastic changes before clinical signs develop makes ultrasound a potentially useful screening method for canine renal dysplasia.
A critical evaluation of cystic features in primary glioblastoma as a prognostic factor for survival: Clinical article

Object The presence of cystic features in glioblastoma (GBM) has been described as a favorable prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to determine the survival outcome in patients undergoing surgery for newly diagnosed primary GBM with a large cystic component as compared with a large cohort of patients with noncystic GBM, while controlling for well-characterized prognostic factors. Methods A retrospective review of 354 consecutive patients treated with resection of primary GBM was performed using medical records and imaging information obtained at the University of California, San Francisco from 2005 to 2009. Within this cohort, 37 patients with large cysts (≥ 50% of tumor) were identified. Clinical presentations and surgical outcomes were statistically compared between the cystic and noncystic patients. Results There were no statistically significant differences in clinical presentation between groups, including differences in age, sex, presenting symptoms, tumor location, or preoperative function...
Dynamical Systems: Mathematics

Dynamical systems are mathematical models for describing how the state of a biological or an artificial system changes over time. Keywords: dynamical systems; attractors; phase portraits; catastrophe; chaos
Temporal, spatial, and cell type-specific control of Cre-mediated DNA recombination in transgenic mice.

We have developed a universal system for temporal, spatial, and cell type–specific control of gene expression in mice that (1) integrates the advantages of tetracycline-controlled gene expression and Cre-recombinase-loxP site-mediated gene inactivation, and (2) simplifies schemes of animal crosses by combination of two control elements in a single transgene. Two transgenic strains were generated in which the cell type–specific control was provided by either the retinoblastoma gene promoter or the whey acidic protein promoter. Both promoters drive the expression of the reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA). Placed in cis configuration to the rtTA transcription unit, the rtTA-inducible promoter directs expression of Cre recombinase. In both strains crossed with cActXstopXLacZ reporter mice, which have a loxP-stop of transcription/translation-loxP-LacZ cassette driven by chicken β-actin promoter, Cre-loxP-mediated DNA recombination leading to LacZ expression was accurately regulated in a temporal, spatial, and cell type-specific manner. This approach can be applied to establishment of analogous mouse strains with virtually any promoter as systems to control gene regulation in a variety of cell types.
The Distribution And Clinical Significance Of Sleep Time Misperceptions Among Insomniacs.

It is well recognized that sleep time misperceptions are common among insomniacs, but little is known about the distribution and clinical significance of these subjective distortions. The current investigation was conducted to examine the distribution of sleep time misperceptions among a large (n = 173), diverse group of insomniacs and to determine if such misperceptions might relate to the patients' clinical characteristics. Consistent with previous studies, our subjects, as a group, produced sleep estimates that were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than polysomnographically determined sleep times. However, patients' sleep time perceptions were widely distributed across a broad continuum, which ranged between gross underestimates and remarkable overestimates of actual sleep times. Results also showed that subgroups, formed on the basis of presenting complaints and diagnostic criteria (i.e. International Classification of Sleep Disorders nosology), differed in regard to the magnitude and direction of their sleep distortions. Moreover, these differences appeared consistent with the types of objective sleep disturbances these subgroups commonly experience. Hence, the tendency to underestimate actual sleep time is not a generic attribute of all insomniacs. Furthermore, it appears that the accuracy and nature of sleep time perceptions may relate to the type of sleep pathology underlying insomniacs' presenting complaints.
Troglomorphic Sculpins of the Cottus Carolinae Species Group in Perry County, Missouri: Distribution, External Morphology, and Conservation Status

The existence of cavernicolous sculpin (here allocated to Cottus carolinae, banded sculpin, and referred to as grotto sculpin), in the karst regions of Perry County, Missouri, first came to our attention in 1991. Examination of 35 caves in Missouri, 96 in Illinois, 17 in Tennessee, two in Indiana, and 11 in Arkansas revealed that banded sculpin are common in cave habitats; however, grotto sculpin are limited to two karst areas of Perry County, Missouri, where they are known from only six cave systems. These caves and their streams are extensive and apparently provide a unique habitat compared to other karst systems; this may be a critical factor in the present restricted distribution of the grotto sculpin. Grotto sculpin occupy pools and riffles of cave streams, and occur over a variety of substrates, from sediment to breakdown. Density estimates in Mystery and Running Bull caves were 0.29 and 0.63 individuals m-2, respectively. Grotto sculpin have small eyes (1–6% SL vs. 6–10% SL in epigean samples), significantly reduced pigmentation (including nearly complete loss of dorsal saddles), a reduction in pelvic fin ray number (from 4 + 4 elements to often 4 + 3, or 3 + 3), and enlarged cephalic lateralis pores (e.g., mandibular pores of cavernicolous samples are 2–3 times those of epigean stream samples). Multivariate analyses of body shape revealed statistically significant separation of epigean and hypogean samples, with eye size highly variable, but smallest in the Running Bull Cave population. We interpret these results as representative of losses associated with long-term cave habitation. Caves of Perry County provide ample habitat for grotto sculpin, but because the caves are located downgradient of the city of Perryville and an intensively farmed landscape, point and non-point source pollution threaten their continued existence. Escape of farm-pond fishes through the extensive sinkhole network in Perry County has increased potential predation pressure on grotto sculpin by channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and other species normally excluded from cave environments.
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography and auto-fluorescence findings in adult-onset vitelliform dystrophy.

Adult‐onset vitelliform dystrophy (AOVD) is an uncommon pattern dystrophy that is characterised by progressive visual loss between the ages of 30 and 50 years.2013 Symptoms also include metamorphop...
Very Long Baseline Interferometry

The technique of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) has undergone two decades of steady growth and refinement since its inception in 1967. In the beginning, only crude measurements of visibility on single baselines were possible. Now 18-station arrays have been used to produce images with dynamic ranges exceeding 2000:1; relative motions of cosmic masers have been tracked at the microarcsecond level of accuracy; and angular size measurements have been made with baseline lengths up to 2 two earth diameters with an orbiting satellite as a receiving element.
Energy Absorption Characteristics of Stitched Composite Sandwich Panels

The energy absorption characteristics of sandwich panels with through-the-thickness stitches, under edgewise compression, was investigated by conducting static crush tests. The effects of stitch row spacing on the sustained crush load were of particular interest. Also, the effects of the stitch spacing on the instability preceding the crush failure mode was investigated using finite element analysis. The analysis indicated that the local instability mode was influenced by the stitch row spacing only when the spacing was less than the semi-wavelength of wrinkles that would develop in the absence of stitches. The static crush tests showed that the average sustained crush load increases with reduced stitch row spacing and thereby increasing the total energy absorbed. The other parameters of interest that were investigated were the load ratio and the load uniformity index.
On the Thermal Expansion Coefficient and Specific Heat at Constant Strain for Finite Plastic Deformation

General expressions for thermal expansion coefficient and specific heat at constant strain in the case of finite plastic deformation are derived from a general analysis of thermodynamics and finite plasticity theory. The present results show that these two thermal parameters are dependent, in a very complicated way, on the mechanical behavior of the material, such as the plastic yielding and flow, work-hardening and stress-strain relation. They are not constants but vary with the stress state, deformation state, and deformation history. It is shown that previously published experimental observations on thermal expansion coefficient can be described by the theory presented in this paper. 18 refs.
An extension of Chaiken's algorithm to B-spline curves with knots in geometric progression

Abstract Chaiken′s algorithm is a procedure for inserting new knots into uniform quadratic B-spline curves by doubling the control points and taking two successive averages. Lane and Riesenfeld showed that Chaiken′s algorithm extends to uniform B-spline curves of arbitrary degree. By generalizing the notion of successive averaging, we further extend Chaiken′s algorithm to B-spline curves of arbitrary degree for knot sequences in geometric and affine progression.
Geologic setting and genesis of iron oxides and manganese oxides in the San Francisco manganese deposit, Jalisco, Mexico

The San Francisco manganese deposit is a well-stratified mass of manganese oxides and iron oxides enclosed in a continental sequence of Tertiary volcanic rocks. The two oxides form irregular layers and lenses within the deposit and are clearly separated from each other: iron oxide layers predominate to the northwest, and manganese oxide layers and lenses to the southeast.The deposit's conformity with the surrounding tuffs and its textural and compositional stratification point to a syngenetic sedimentary origin. Ripple marks and cross-bedding in underlying sandstones and shales and an abundance of iron oxides in the adjacent tuffs indicate deposition in shallow water under oxidizing conditions. Empirical data from present-day environments and the mineralogic composition of the deposit give a probable range of Eh-pH for its formation and point to the mechanisms involved in the separation of iron and manganese in the depositional basin.The purity of the oxides, the large enrichment of manganese relative to iron as compared to crustal averages, and the trace element composition of the oxides suggest volcanic solutions as a source of the two metals.
Odd-item search in pigeons: display size and transfer effects

Pigeons searched arrays of small forms displayed on computer monitors. On each trial, a single target form appeared together with two or more identical distractor forms. A set of six different forms was used in each of three experiments. All possible combinations of these forms, paired as target and distractor, appeared in each experimental session. Both the accuracy and speed of search increased with the number of distractors displayed. When both targets and distractors were new, accuracy was above chance only for the large (24 item) display, where transfer was highly significant. The experiments do not support the attribution to pigeons of a general "oddity concept." Rather, the results suggest that odd-item performance depends in part on a perceptual isolation of the target and in part on familiarity with target-distractor combinations.
Focused Assessment of Foot Care in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of foot problems in non-diabetic individuals compared with those in a diabetic population in order to develop recommendations for preventive foot care in older people. DESIGN: Retrospective review of a convenience sample of all patients referred to a Foot Care Service during a 24-month period. SETTING: University Health Sciences Center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 308 patients aged 33 to 95 years (176 women and 132 men), of whom 183 had diabetes mellitus (DM) and 125 were without DM. INTERVENTION: Each subject had a detailed history of foot care behavior and a thorough foot examination for peripheral neuropathy (PN), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and foot deformities. PN was evaluated using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. PVD was graded by clinical measures and Doppler examination (ankle: brachial index < 0.8). MEASUREMENTS: Forty-three percent of subjects with diabetes had PN, 32% had PVD, and 19% had both conditions. Eighteen percent of subjects without diabetes had PN, 21% had PVD, and 6% had both. The risk of foot abnormalities in those without DM increased with age (r = .99, P = .0002). Thirty-eight percent of non-diabetic patients older than age 60 had one or more of these major risk factors and would be considered at high risk for the development of foot ulcers or amputation. Ninety percent of the subjects reported inappropriate foot care practices. Forty-seven percent of non-diabetic individuals with PN or PVD wore inappropriate shoes. CONCLUSION: Older individuals without DM are at high risk for foot-related disease and should receive the same foot care screening, education, and follow-up as those with DM. Older people who have PN, PVD, or physical and psychosocial limitations, may require referral to foot care specialists. J Am Geriatr Soc 44:310–313, 1996.
Fermion self-energies and pole masses at two-loop order in a general renormalizable theory with massless gauge bosons

I present the two-loop self-energy functions and pole masses for fermions in an arbitrary renormalizable field theory in the approximation that vector bosons are treated as massless. The calculations are done simultaneously in the mass-independent $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$, $\overline{\mathrm{DR}}$, and ${\overline{\mathrm{DR}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ renormalization schemes, with a general covariant gauge fixing, and treating Majorana and Dirac fermions in a unified way. As examples, I discuss the two-loop strong interaction corrections to the gluino, neutralino, chargino, and quark pole masses in minimal supersymmetry. All other two-loop contributions to the fermion pole masses in softly broken supersymmetry also can be obtained as special cases of the results given here, neglecting only the electroweak symmetry breaking scale compared to larger mass scales in two-loop diagrams that involve $W$ or $Z$ bosons.
Crystalline Spin-Labeled Hemoglobin as a Model to Compare Distances Measured by DEER Spectroscopy and X-Ray Crystallography

We have recently crystallized and resolved the structure of spin-labeled hemoglobin, while simultaneously using double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy to measure inter-spin-label distances within these crystals. Previously, no spin-labeled protein has been analyzed by both DEER-spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to determine whether the two techniques are in good agreement. Human hemoglobin (Hb) is a useful model system for this comparison, as it readily crystallizes and reacts specifically with the maleimide-TEMPO spin-label (MSL) at Cys93, found within the β subunits of the α2β2 hemoglobin tetramer. For our experiments, we have generated two crystal populations. The first consisted entirely of paramagnetic, EPR-active MSL-Hb, which was used in our X-ray crystallography experiments. The second population contained a low concentration of MSL-Hb in a large excess of hemoglobin labeled with an EPR-silent MSL analog, which assured that distances measured by DEER spectroscopy would not be altered by dipolar interactions between spin-labels of adjacent Hb tetramers. Our results show that both techniques yield similar inter-spin distance measurements, provided that certain precautions are taken to avoid EPR artifacts. We have varied DEER acquisition parameters, such as the dipolar evolution time and acquisition temperature, and analysis methods that affect the accuracy and precision of distance distributions observed by DEER spectroscopy, as compared to those obtained by X-ray crystallography. These results provide the most rigorous analysis to date of the reliability of EPR-based distance measurements. This work was supported by NIH grants (GM27906, AR32961, AG26160, RR22362, GM08700).
Help between disabled and ablebodied persons: An exploratory observational study of a feedback system

Because of concern among both disabled and ablebodied individuals about the issue of helping behavior, an exploratory observational study of helping in three settings was undertaken. Previous research had examined the frequency with which the disabled are helped, but had not examined the communication accompanying that help. The present study was interested in investigating the behaviors which actually occur in regard to helping, rather than what people say they do. The settings included a sheltered workshop, a social activity group, and a university with a large population of disabled students. The results indicate that much helping behavior occurred, but little verbal communication accompanied that help. There were few requests for or offers of help. In the three settings studied, helping did not appear to be a serious problem. No negative reactions to offers of or requests for help were observed. There were some instances, however, when those apparently needing help did not receive it. On the basis of ...
Le Corbusier’s Ruin : The Changing Face of Chandigarh’s Capitol

Abstract More than fifty years since its making, Chandigarh's Capitol Complex, designed by Le Corbusier remains a celebrated paradigm of Modern architecture and urbanism. But how has the 1950s Capitol been understood and accepted by its intended citizenry over half a century of India's sovereignty and post-colonization? This article traces the Capitol's multifarious guises—from what was originally envisioned, to what was built, to what it has become today—and speculates on its potential future identities. Through this post-occupancy review, it seeks to re-contextualize the Capitol's contemporary identity beyond its celebrated Corbusian profile, as an evolving compound trapped between its original intentions and their unforeseen consequences.
The Use of Ethnographic Interviewing to Inform Questionnaire Construction

Many researchers planning a quantitative study begin by conducting qualitative interviews to enhance their understanding of the phenomenon under study and to prepare for constructing a questionnaire. The rich insights that in-depth interviews provide into attitudes, values, and behaviors can be invaluable for survey design and measurement decisions. We incorporated a relatively unusual technique, the ethnographic interview, in developing a survey. In this paper, we describe what an ethnographic interview is, compare it to four other kinds of qualitative interviewing styles, and identify specific ways it can contribute to constructing surveys. We illustrate these points with examples from 10 ethnographic interviews that were conducted for a study of social support among inner-city mothers of children who had chronic illnesses.
Why Cultural Psychology

This essay is an edited and elaborated transcript of a tape recording of remarks made at the presidents' panel at the Bi-Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychological Anthropology, San Diego, California, October 12, 1997.
Beam interaction measurements with a Retarding Field Analyzer in a high-current high-vacuum positively charged particle accelerator

Abstract A Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA) was inserted in a drift region of the magnetic transport section of the High-Current Experiment (HCX), that is at high-vacuum, to measure ions and electrons resulting from beam interaction with background gas and walls. The ions are expelled during the beam pulse by the space–charge potential and the electrons are expelled mainly at the end of the beam, when the beam potential decays. The ion energy distribution shows the beam potential of ∼ 2100 V and the beam–background gas total cross-section of 3.1 × 10 - 19 m 2 . The electron energy distribution reveals that the expelled electrons are mainly desorbed from the walls and gain ∼ 22 eV from the beam potential decaying with time before entering the RFA. Details of the RFA design and of the measured energy distributions are presented and discussed.
Oxidation behavior of iron-based alloy HCM12A exposed in supercritical water

Abstract Supercritical water (SCW) is recommended for applications in contemporary and future power plants due to its high thermal efficiency and subsequent low emissions of deleterious combustion gases. One of the properties of most concern for materials selection in the SCW environment is oxidation resistance. The oxidation behavior of ferritic/martensitic alloy HCM12A exposed in SCW at 500 °C, 25 MPa, and two levels of oxygen partial pressure were investigated in this study by means of gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD). In addition to the spinel and magnetite formed on all of the samples, a thin layer of hematite containing a small amount of Cr was only observed on high-oxygen exposed samples. Oxygen partial pressure effects on oxide structure and porosity in oxide scale are rationalized in terms of thermodynamics and diffusion mechanism. This study indicates a desirable continuous protective oxide layer structure with limited pores may be obtained by controlling the oxygen partial pressure.
Numerical method for almost three-dimensional incompressible fluid flow and a simple internal obstacle treatment☆

Abstract An extension of the Simplified Marker and Cell (SMAC) method for the numerical solution of incompressible flows is used to investigate transient flows that are almost three dimensional. The equations of motion are two dimensional but contain functions that account for the effects of a third dimension. The method that results from this extension may also be used for the simple incorporation of internal obstacles in two-dimensional flows.
Automatic phonetic segmentation in Mandarin Chinese: Boundary models, glottal features and tone

We conducted experiments on forced alignment in Mandarin Chinese. A corpus of 7,849 utterances was created for the purpose of the study. Systems differing in their use of explicit phone boundary models, glottal features, and tone information were trained and evaluated on the corpus. Results showed that employing special one-state phone boundary HMM models significantly improved forced alignment accuracy, even when no manual phonetic segmentation was available for training. Spectral features extracted from glottal waveforms (by performing glottal inverse filtering from the speech waveforms) also improved forced alignment accuracy. Tone dependent models only slightly outperformed tone independent models. The best system achieved 93.1% agreement (of phone boundaries) within 20 ms compared to manual segmentation without boundary correction.
Two Poly(2,5-thienythiazolothiazole)s: Observation of Spontaneous Ordering in Thin Films†

The synthesis and properties of two new polymers based on thiazolothiazole are described. The polymers dissolve in common organic solvents such as chloroform and chlorobenzene. Their molecular weig...
Microprobe studies of three Luna 16 basalt fragments

Three small fragments of Luna 16 basalt (NASA sample designation G38) have been analyzed with an electron microprobe. The mineralogy is generally similar to that found in Apollo 11 and 12 igneous rocks: major amounts of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite and olivine; accessory spinel, troilite, Fe metal and residual phases. Unlike some Apollo 12 basalts, there is continuous zoning with no composition gap in the G38 spinels. Plagioclase analyses follow the same nonstoichiometric trends previously found in Apollo 11 and 12. The samples indicate a magmatic history (rapid crystallization from reduced melts) similar to that inferred from studies of Apollo 11 and 12 basalts.
Frequent binge drinking five to six years after exposure to 9/11: findings from the World Trade Center Health Registry.

Background Exposure to 9/11 may have considerable long-term impact on health behaviors, including increased alcohol consumption. We examined the association between frequent binge drinking, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and number of 9/11-specific experiences among World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry) enrollees five-to-six years after 9/11.
Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis and medical/surgical management, third edition: Ronald W. Moskowitz, Davis S. Howell, Roy D. Altman, Joseph A. Buckwalter, and Victor M. Goldberg. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders, 2001, 685 pp., $189.00

Abstract Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related surgery, Vol 18, No 6 (July-August), 2002: pp 678–678
A thermodynamic assessment of the potential synthesis of condensed hydrocarbons during cooling and dilution of volcanic gases

The possibility for abiotic synthesis of condensed hydrocarbons in cooling/diluting terrestrial volcanic gases has been evaluated on the basis of the consideration of metastable chemical equilibria involving gaseous CO, CO2, H2 and H2O. The stabilities of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) have been evaluated for several typical volcanic gas compositions under various conditions for cooling/diluting of quenched volcanic gas. The modeling shows that n-alkanes and PAHs have a thermodynamic potential to form metastably from H2 and CO below approximately 250 degrees C within the stability field of graphite. Despite the predominance of CO2 in volcanic gases, synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO2 and H2 is less favored energetically than from CO and H2. Both low temperature and a high H/C atomic ratio in volcanic gas generally favor stability of hydrocarbons with higher H/C ratios. PAHs are thermodynamically stable at temperatures approximately 10 degrees -50 degrees C higher than large n-alkanes; however, at lower temperatures, PAHs and n-alkanes have similar stabilities and are likely to form metastable mixtures. Both the energetic drive to form hydrocarbons and possible temperatures of formation increase as the oxidation state (fO2) of the volcanic gases decreases and as the cooling/dilution ratios of volcanic gases increase. Synthesis of hydrocarbons is energetically more likely in cooling trapped gases than in ashcloud eruptive columns. Mechanisms for hydrocarbon formation may include Fischer-Tropsch-type synthesis catalyzed by magnetite from solid volcanic products. On the early Earth, Mars, and Jupiter's satellite Europa, several factors would have provided more favorable conditions for hydrocarbon synthesis in volcanic gases than under current terrestrial conditions and might have contributed to the production of organic compounds required for the emergence of life.
Metal Ions in Biological System, Volume 36: Interrelations Between Free Radicals and Metal Ions in Life Processes.

Metal Ions in Biological System, Volume 36: Interrelations Between Free Radicals and Metal Ions in Life Processes. Astrid Sigel and Helmut Sigel, eds. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 797 pp, 1999.Nu...
Control of the microsomal mixed-function oxidase by Ox2 and Ox5 genes in houseflies.

The microsomal mixed-function oxidase (MFO) in houseflies is controlled by two semidominant genes, Ox2 and Ox5, situated on chromosomes 2 and 5, respectively. MFO controlled by these genes has almost similar affinity toward cyclodiene epoxidation, but only the one controlled by Ox5 can degrade DDT. A strain, YFc, homozygous for both oxidase genes shows twice as much MFO activity toward aldrin as either of the parent homozygotes, Fc or Y, but only as much activity toward DDT as the parent strain Fc. These Ox2 and Ox5 genes in the YFc strain maintain their identity with regard to DDT in their hybrids with a susceptible homozygous strain recessive for the two oxidases as seen by segregation in the test-cross progenies. The Ox2 gene is situated at 32 units from the Deh and car genes, 40 units from stw, and about 69 units from Mk. The Ox5 gene is situated at 40 units from the ocra gene and 82 units from apt on chromosome 5.
Enhancing research capacity and developing wireless communications curriculum for students in computer science and engineering

Largely because of the complex nature of wireless communications research, academia has been slow to respond to strong industry and government demands for trained professionals to develop and apply novel wireless techniques to the rapidly-growing demand. There is a high demand for professionals with a background in wireless. Wireless engineers and scientists are needed to analyze, index, represent, model, simulate, and process large volumes of calls made everyday on wireless systems. The development of an undergraduate curriculum in Computer Science and Engineering is essential to meeting the future needs of the industry. This must be initiated immediately so that students can be a part of the basic research of this emerging field and immediately available to meet the workforce needs of the technology world. At the present time Virginia State University has no undergraduate and/or graduate program in wireless communications and it would be essential to initiate the development of such a program for the future. The faculties at the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science and Engineering and Technology have been closely collaborating in an effort to enhance their graduates through scientific cooperation to establish research, as well as a curricular option in wireless communications. The proposed changes will enhance and strengthen such collaboration with research capacity in the area of the wireless communications at VSU for faculty and students.
Observatories, think tanks, and community models in the hydrologic and environmental sciences : How does it affect me?

[1] Multiple issues in hydrologic and environmental sciences are now squarely in the public focus and require both government and scientific study. Two facts also emerge: (1) The new approach being touted publicly for advancing the hydrologic and environmental sciences is the establishment of community-operated “big science” (observatories, think tanks, community models, and data repositories). (2) There have been important changes in the business of science over the last 20 years that make it important for the hydrologic and environmental sciences to demonstrate the “value” of public investment in hydrological and environmental science. Given that community-operated big science (observatories, think tanks, community models, and data repositories) could become operational, I argue that such big science should not mean a reduction in the importance of single-investigator science. Rather, specific linkages between the large-scale, team-built, community-operated big science and the single investigator should provide context data, observatory data, and systems models for a continuing stream of hypotheses by discipline-based, specialized research and a strong rationale for continued, single-PI (“discovery-based”) research. I also argue that big science can be managed to provide a better means of demonstrating the value of public investment in the hydrologic and environmental sciences. Decisions regarding policy will still be political, but big science could provide an integration of the best scientific understanding as a guide for the best policy.
The Spread of Aggressive Corporate Tax Reporting: A Detailed Examination of the Corporate-Owned Life Insurance Shelter

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the spread of aggressive corporate tax reporting by modeling a firm’s decision to adopt the corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) shelter. Prior studies identify firm characteristics associated with aggressive tax reporting (Desai and Dharmapala 2006; Frank et al. 2009) and tax shelter participation (Wilson 2009; Lisowsky 2010). This study examines whether social environment factors explain the pattern of tax shelter adoption. Building on theory related to the diffusion of innovations and institutional isomorphism, I hypothesize direct and indirect ties between prior and potential shelter adopters influence the spread of shelter use. I find that network ties via board interlocks increase the likelihood of adopting the COLI shelter. I also find weak evidence that COLI use spreads geographically. However, I find no evidence that the spread of COLI use is concentrated among a particular set of audit firms or industries.
Role of the umuC gene in postreplication repair in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli K-12 uvrB

The role of the umuC gene product in postreplication repair was studied in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli K-12 uvrB cells. A mutation at umuC increased the UV radiation sensitivities of uvrB, uvrB recF, uvrB recB, and uvrB recF recB cells; it also increased the deficiencies in the repair of DNA daughter-strand gaps in these strains, but it did not affect the repair of DNA double-strand breaks that arose from unrepaired DNA daughter-strand gaps. We suggest that the umuC gene product is involved in a minor system for the repair of DNA daughter-strand gaps, possibly the repair of overlapping DNA daughter-strand gaps.
Application of Sum Rules to the Low-Temperature Interacting Boson System

This paper is concerned with the application of sum rules satisfied by the density correlation function to the calculation of properties of the interacting Bose system, particularly liquid ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ and the hard-core gas. In addition to the two well-known sum rules which have been extensively discussed in the literature, we derive a third useful relation which directly involves the two-body interaction. The assumption that a single excitation exhausts all the sum rules (which is known to lead to the Feynman theory when only the first two sum rules are used) now provides, with the help of the additional sum rule, an explicit integral equation for the liquid structure factor $S(k)$. This equation can be solved quite easily for the hard-core gas, and we find the low-lying excitation spectrum to have the form ${{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{hc}}}^{2}(k)={k}^{2}{{v}_{T}}^{2}+{\left(\frac{{k}^{2}}{2m}\right)}^{2}+4\left(\frac{{k}^{2}}{2m}\right)\left[\left(\frac{P}{\ensuremath{\rho}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{2}{3}\frac{〈\mathrm{KE}〉}{〈N〉}\right)({\mathcal{P}}_{1}(\mathrm{ka})\ensuremath{-}{\mathcal{P}}_{1}(0))+\left(m{{v}_{T}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}\frac{2P}{\ensuremath{\rho}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{2}{3}\frac{〈\mathrm{KE}〉}{〈N〉}\right)({\mathcal{P}}_{2}(\mathrm{ka})\ensuremath{-}{\mathcal{P}}_{2}(0))\right],$ where ${v}_{T}$, $P$, $\frac{〈\mathrm{KE}〉}{〈N〉}$ and $a$ are, respectively, the sound velocity, pressure, kinetic energy per particle, and core diameter. ${\mathcal{P}}_{1}$ and ${\mathcal{P}}_{2}$ are sinusoidal functions given in the text. Although the sum rules themselves are exact, there are several difficulties associated with the use, even in the low-$k$ limit, of the sharp resonance assumption in all such integral relations. In spite of these difficulties, which are discussed briefly, we have pursued the consequences of the sharp-resonance approximation to obtain an integral equation for the liquid structure factor $S(k)$ together with the above closed-form solution for the hard-core gas excitation spectrum. The speculation that the approximation becomes essentially exact in the low-$k$ limit provides, through the third sum rule, an expression for the sound velocity in terms of the two-body potential $v(r)$ and the radial distribution function $S(r)$. We apply this relation to the case of liquid ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ and discuss extensions of the single-resonance approximation which can be made with the help of the third sum rule.
Psychological and behavioral factors associated with colorectal cancer screening among Ashkenazim.

Abstract Background. Psychological and behavioral factors related to annual colorectal cancer (CRC) screening were examined in a sample of Ashkenazi Jewish indi viduals. Identification of factors related to regular CRC screening in this population is important because of the possibility of a heightened incidence of CRC. Methods. Eligible participants were 171 Ashkenazi Jewish adults 40 years or older attending an educa tional program about breast cancer genetics. Compli ance with recommended guidelines for digital rectal examination and fecal occult blood test in the past year were dependent measures. Demographic variables, family history of CRC, perceived risk, physician recom mendation, and worry about cancer were indepen dent measures. Results. Digital rectal examinations and fecal occult blood tests had been obtained in the past year by 46 and 31% of the participants, respectively. A logistic re gression showed that physician recommendation was related significantly to obtaining digital rectal exami nations. Physician recommendation and education were related significantly to obtaining fecal occult blood tests. Although participants with family histor ies of CRC perceived themselves as being at increased risk of developing CRC, and were more worried about developing colon cancer, they were no more likely to adhere to CRC screening guidelines than those without such histories. Conclusions. Overall, compliance with recommended CRC screening was low even among high-risk individu als. Physicians play a key role in motivating people to comply with CRC screening. Physicians need to en courage all asymptomatic patients 50 years and older to be screened for CRC.
Identifying natural volatile compounds that control gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) during postharvest storage of strawberry, blackberry, and grape

Botrytis-inoculated fruit were treated with three levels of naturally occurring volatile compounds in capped bottles and rated for Botrytis development and evidence of phytotoxicity during 7 days of storage at 2 °C followed by 3−6 more days at 22 °C for strawberry and 7 days at 15 °C for blackberry and grape. Hexanal, 1-hexanol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-6-nonenal, (E)-3-nonen-2-one, methyl salicylate, and methyl benzoate exhibited potential as postharvest fumigants for control of Botrytis on strawberry at the lowest level tested. Ten compounds were evaluated on blackberry and grape. None caused phytotoxic responses as with strawberry, while nearly all of the compounds inhibited Botrytis at all three test levels. Strawberry, blackberry, and grape metabolized (E)-2-hexenal with reduction of the aldehyde to an alcohol and saturation of the carbon−carbon double bond adjacent to the carbonyl, but strawberry yielded more esters as major products. Keywords: Fragaria × ananassa; Rubus; Vitis vinifera; metabolism; an...
Dominance Rank and Parental Investment in Swine (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Using domestic swine, we tested the general prediction from life history theory that females increase their investment in offspring with increasing age and parity. Because increased investment may have a greater beneficial impact on the lifetime reproduction of sons than daughters, we also tested the prediction that older females would invest more in sons than in daughters compared to younger females. Finally, we examined whether age- or parity-related patterns of change in reproductive effort were associated with differences in the social dominance ranks of females. Female swine from a large number of domestic breeds were assigned to social groups, and their dominance ranks were determined based on the outcome of agonistic encounters. The prediction that older females produce larger litters was supported, but the increase was related only to age, not to parity. Across all ages, high-ranking females produced a greater proportion of sons than low-ranking females. Contrary to our prediction, there was no rank-related change in the proportion of sons born with increasing age or parity. However, the mean body masses offspring born to high-ranking females increased with increasing maternal age and parity, but this was not the case for offspring of low-ranking females. Studies of free-ranging groups of swine are needed to determine whether an increase in body mass at birth would have different effects on the reproduction of sons or daughters.
Tree-Based Indexes for Image Data

As in conventional database management systems (DBMSs), to allow users to efficiently access and retrieve data objects, a multimedia database management system (MMDBMS) must employ an effective access method such as indexing and hashing. This paper provides a survey of tree-based multidimensional indexing techniques for MMDBMSs that maintain image data represented as feature vectors. These techniques support such data while maintaining desirable characteristics of a B-tree, an index structure most commonly used in traditional DBMSs. In this survey, we provide descriptions of each tree as well as give examples of the different data organization schemes. We also describe the advantages and disadvantages of using each technique. In addition, we provide classifications of the trees using several different properties. These classifications should assist researchers in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of any new indexing technique they develop as well as help users determine the most appropriate data structure for their applications.
INELASTIC COLLISIONS OF FAST CHARGED PARTICLES WITH ATOMS: IONIZATION OF THE ALUMINUM L SHELL.

Born-approximation calculations of the ionization of aluminum $L$-shell electrons have been performed using Hartree-Slater wave functions. Generalized oscillator strengths and proton energy-loss cross sections from threshold to ionized-electron energies of 128 Ry have been calculated. The results show a delayed maximum above threshold, and the ramifications of this phenomenon are discussed. Comparison is made with hydrogenic results and good agreement is found at intermediate and large energy loss, but the hydrogenic calculation is totally inadequate near threshold. The implications of this for stopping-power calculations and subshell corrections is discussed. The Bethe asymptotic cross section is obtained and the variation of parameters therein is investigated.
A geometric programming solution to the optimal recovery of solids from gas cyclones

Abstract A cost minimization problem involving the optimum number of cyclones necessary to recover a valuable solid suspended in a gas has been solved by geometric programming. Also determined were the minimum particle size recovered and the inlet gas velocity. These were compared with numerical results available in the literature.
Looks are deceiving: The portraits of Christopher Columbus

Since no portraits of the famed discoverer, Christopher Columbus, were made during his lifetime, an analysis of the images used to describe the physical attributes of the man and his place in histo...