cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding Environmental Pollution: Drinking-water pollution

The “wall between us and microbes, is beginning to crumble.” American Academy of Microbiology Most of us in developed countries take clean and plentiful water as a given, not just drinking water, but water for many household, yard, and other uses. Yet, says the American Academy of Microbiology, “Microbiologically safe drinking water can no longer be assumed, even in the United States and other developed countries, and the situation will worsen unless measures are taken in the immediate future – the crisis is global.” Treating drinking water to kill pathogens is given much credit for increasing the life span of US citizens, from 47 years at the turn of the twentieth century to 77 years. But the twenty-first century begins with one-fifth of the world's humanity still without clean drinking water. Even poor-quality water is becoming scarcer because ever-increasing numbers of people live in areas of water scarcity in which not only is drinking water a problem, but also water for sanitary needs. Within 10 to 15 years the United Nations estimates that at least 40% of the world's people will live in countries where they cannot get enough water to satisfy basic needs. Wildlife is increasingly deprived of water. Domestic animals may go wanting too. Demand for fresh water increased six-fold in the twentieth century, more than twice the rate of population growth. Reasons for water scarcity include increasing human populations that need and want ever-more water. Industrial use of water has increased too.
Patient and physician reported toxicity with two-fraction definitive high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy: the impact of implant interval

Purpose High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy is an effective method of treating localized prostate cancer. There are limited data on the relationship between implant interval and outcomes. This study aims to assess if the implant interval between HDR treatments has an impact on patient-reported health-related quality of life (QOL) and physician-graded toxicity in men treated for localized prostate cancer. Material and methods Patients were treated with HDR brachytherapy as monotherapy with 27 Gy in 2 fractions, given over two implants, performed 1-2 weeks apart. Patients were dichotomized into one-week and two-week cohorts. Patient-reported EPIC-26 genitourinary (GU), gastrointestinal (GI), and sexual QOL were assessed. Linear regression, chi-squared testing, and generalized linear mixed effect models were used to assess the differences in patient characteristics, patient-reported QOL, and physician-graded toxicity. Results Outcomes of 122 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 18 months. Patient-reported GU and GI QOL worsened after treatment with a return towards baseline over time, while patient-reported sexual QOL worsened after treatment, but did not return towards baseline. There were no differences in patient-reported health related QOL as a function of implant interval. Maximum physician-graded GU, GI, and sexual toxicity rates of grade 2 or 3 were 68%, 3%, and 53%, respectively. There was no difference in rates of grade 2 or 3 toxicity as a function of implants interval. Conclusions HDR brachytherapy for prostate cancer is a well-tolerated treatment. The interval between treatments is not associated with differences in patient-reported QOL or physician-graded toxicities.
A comparison at infrared wavelengths of metal-grating and dielectric-film free-electron lasers

A comparison of the tuning, gain, saturation, and beam-quality-related restrictions of metal-grating and dielectric-film free-electron lasers will be presented. While recent operation of the former has resulted in tunable radiation in the low mm wavelength band, indications are that the device may readily be scaled to operate at submm, far-infrared, and possibly shorter wavelengths. For the latter, operation to date has been well into the FIR. These results, and an in depth look at the prospects of the metal-grating FEL, will also be summarized.
Prediction of Covid-19 Infections Through December 2020 for 10 US States Using a Two Parameter Transmission Model Incorporating Outdoor Temperature and School Re-Opening Effects

Abstract Covid-19 infection case predictions (total cases) are made for August through December 2020 for 10 US States (NY, WA, GA, IL, MN, FL, OH, MI, CA, and NC). A two-parameter model based on social distance index (SDI) and disease transmission efficiency (G) parameters is used to characterize SARS-CoV-2 disease spread. Current lack of coherent and coordinated US policy causes the US to follow a linear infection growth path with a limit cycle behavior that modulates the US between accelerating and decaying infection growth on either side of a linear growth path boundary. Four prediction cases are presented: No school re-openings; fall season temperature effect No school re-openings; no fall season temperature effect School re-openings; fall season temperature effect School re-openings; no fall season temperature effect Fall outdoor temperatures, in contrast to the 1918 pandemic, are predicted to be beneficial for dampening SARS-CoV-2 transmission in States as they pass through “swing season” temperature range of 70F to 50F. Physical re-opening of schools in September are predicted to accelerate infections. States with low current infectious case numbers (eg, NY) are predicted to be minimally impacted while States with high current infectious case numbers (eg, CA and FL) will be significantly impacted by school re-openings. Updated infection predictions will be posted monthly (Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec) with adjustments based on actual trends in SDI and G. Assessments related to outdoor temperature impact, school re-openings, and other public gathering re-openings will be discussed in updated reports.
396 Team Time: an online strategy of storytelling as part of reflective practice to improve staff wellbeing within a paediatric emergency department during the coronavirus pandemic

Aims/Objectives/Background Team Time was developed by the Point of Care Foundation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is a 45-minute reflective practice using storytelling. It provides an opportunity for people taking part to share recent experiences of their work in health and social care, focusing on participants’ emotional and social response to their work. Unlike Schwartz Rounds, the audience is restricted in numbers (maximum 30), is drawn from a single department of a healthcare site rather than from across the organisation, is run and facilitated using virtual platforms, and relays stories from the recent (not distant) past. Methods/Design Two facilitators already trained in delivering Schwartz Rounds (one PEM consultant from the department plus one Trust clinical psychologist) were given additional specific training for running Team Time in March 2020. Six sessions between April and July 2020 were held. The formats of these sessions were as per guidance set by the Point of Care Foundation (UK). A theme for each session was set in advance, with two storytellers invited and prepared in advance by the two facilitators. Two storytellers related a five minute story each uninterrupted, followed by a facilitated discussion with the audience to share their own experiences and/or resonances to the stories told. Standardised web surveys designed by the Point of Care Foundation designed to collate both quantitative an qualitative feedback were distributed by E-mail to all participants the same day. Results/Conclusions Survey respondents n=40 85% strongly agreed that Team Time would help them work better with colleagues. 90% plan to attend Team Time again. 95% would recommend Team Time to colleagues. 92.5% felt that the sessions overall were either excellent or exceptional. Qualitative feedback themes included: not feeling alone; the benefits of hearing perspectives of different roles; and the advantages of sharing honest feelings in a boundaried, reflective space.
Induced Magnetization in Dilute Au-Fe Alloys

The 57Fe Mossbauer spectra of Au-Fe alloys with Fe concentrations of 0.26–18 at. % have been measured under applied magnetic fields of 0 and 50 kOe. The incremental changes in the line position and line widths are consistent with a random distribution of Fe spins. The bulk magnetization of these alloys is greater than can be explained by the Fe ions alone. This indicates a magnetic contribution from the conduction band or Au core electrons or both.
Universal Cholesterol Screening among Pediatric Primary Care Providers within California and Minnesota: A Qualitative Assessment of Barriers and Facilitators.

Objective To assess current pediatric cholesterol screening practices, and attitudes, among pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) via qualitative semistructured interviews designed to identify barriers and facilitators to universal cholesterol screening practices recommended by the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Study design An online survey and subsequent 30-minute semistructured phone interview were completed with PCPs from regions in Northern California and Minnesota (survey n = 25, interview n = 12). Interviews were qualitatively analyzed using the consolidated framework for implementation research to categorize barriers, facilitators, and strategies to increase pediatric cholesterol screening among PCPs. Results PCPs from California (n = 8) and Minnesota (n = 4) consistently identified cost of cholesterol screening, particularly the cost of time due to competing visit priorities, as a barrier. A supportive learning environment, feelings of self-efficacy, access to resources, and well-established clinical networks with specialists (eg, cardiologists) were facilitators to screening. The perceived level of endorsement behind cholesterol screening within the clinic, perceived validity of national guidelines, and ability to adapt guidelines to existing clinical workflow were notable differentiators between high vs low self-reported screen rates. Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that efforts to increase universal pediatric cholesterol screening will likely require the development of strategies to increase provider education about the long-term benefits of cholesterol screening (knowledge and beliefs), and ensuring providers feel supported and empowered when assessing/acting on the results of this screening (self-efficacy, engaging leaders, networks, and communication).
One word of truth: the Cold War memoir of Michael Bourdeaux and Keston College: edited by Michael Bourdeaux, London, Darton, Longman, & Todd, 2019, 311 pp., £19.99 (hardback), ISBN 978-0232534146

In his 1970 Nobel Prize speech on the power of literature to overcome violence and falsehood, Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn concluded with the proverb, ‘One word of truth will...
Revlon, Inc. v. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc. Rewritten

This is a rewritten opinion of Revlon, Inc. v. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc., to be published as part of the edited volume FEMINIST JUDGMENTS: REWRITTEN CORPORATE LAW (KELLI ALCES WILLIAMS, ANNE CHOIKE, & USHA R. RODRIGUES, EDS.) (CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, forthcoming 2021). In Revlon, the Delaware Supreme Court famously announced that when it becomes clear that a “break-up of [a] company is inevitable,” the board’s duty “change[s] from preservation of [the company] as a corporate entity to the maximization of the company’s value at a sale for the stockholders’ benefit.” The rewritten opinion reaches the same overall conclusions as the original opinion. However, the rewritten opinion utilizes feminist viewpoints and reasoning; it expands upon various aspects of the original opinion, principally using the masculinity contest culture theory. It begins with a more detailed narrative exposition of the facts. The rewritten opinion focuses on the differing backgrounds of Michel Bergerac, CEO & Chair of Revlon, and Ronald O. Perelman, CEO & Chair of Pantry Pride. It also addresses the composition of the Revlon board which was dominated by men with only one woman director. The rewritten opinion places emphasis on the animosity between Bergerac and Perelman and the role it might have played in the Revlon board’s continued rejections of Perelman and Pantry Pride’s offers. The rewritten opinion differentiates between director independence and disinterestedness. It develops a definition of independence, which considers various factors, including diversity, length of board service, friendships, and overlapping social circles. The rewritten opinion recognizes that when a break-up of the company becomes inevitable a board is obligated to maximize shareholder value and take reasonable steps to extract the highest bids from all potential bidders. But it specifies that value can encompass factors beyond the highest financial bid. The rewritten opinion clarifies that in weighing various bids, boards can take a broader view and consider the potential impact of each bid, including goodwill and longer-term plans for the company.
The Language of Negotiation

Plea bargaining, the major means by which cases are funneled through the criminal justice process, is not a new practice. There is evidence of its presence in the United States before the Civil War, and it became a predominant means of administering justice shortly thereafter. What is new is the amount of attention it has received recently. Plea bargaining was only sporadically discussed in the early decades of this century, though in the 1920s various states surveyed their criminal courts and discovered just how dominant plea bargaining had become. It was not until the 1960s, however, that plea bargaining emerged as a national issue, and numerous professions and disciplines, including law, political science, and sociology, began to focus on the practice. In the 1970s, there was a virtual explosion of published material, as over two-thirds of the extant books, articles, and studies concerning plea bargaining were written during the decade.1 Despite all this attention, and although we have learned much by the use of surveys, interviews, and firsthand observations, the picture we have of courtroom negotiation is largely an outside view.
Leukoreduced whole blood-derived platelets treated with antimicrobial peptides maintain in vitro properties during storage.

Background Bacterial sepsis is still a complication in patients transfused with stored platelets (PLTs). We have recently demonstrated that selected antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have bactericidal activity in bacteria-spiked PLTs. In a subsequent preclinical study, we have also shown that these AMPs do not elicit antibody response in rabbits and treatment of PLTs before transfusion does not affect their in vivo recovery and survival in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Here we have selected two such AMPs, Arg-Trp (RW) repeats of tri- and tetra-peptides (RW3 and RW4) in combination (i.e., cocktail), and evaluated their effect on the in vitro properties of PLTs. Study Design and Methods Leukoreduced ABO- and D-identical whole blood–derived PLT concentrates were pooled and divided into two 60-mL aliquots in CLX storage bags. On Day 0, one bag received a peptide cocktail of RW3 plus RW4 at 0.01 mmol/L final concentration (test) and the other bag received only phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the AMP solvent (control). The treated PLTs were stored for 7 days at 20 to 24°C. Samples were collected on Days 1, 5, and 7 to evaluate the in vitro properties of PLTs with standard assays. Results In vitro properties of the RW3 plus RW4 cocktail–treated PLTs were similar to those incubated with PBS only. There were no significant differences between the control and test PLTs during the 7-day storage. Conclusion Leukoreduced whole blood–derived PLTs treated with a mixture of RW3 and RW4 peptides maintain their in vitro properties during 7 days of storage.
Improving Social Work Practice with Foster Adolescents: Examining Readiness for Independence

All young people encounter developmental challenges as they make transitions from adolescence to adulthood. Adolescents in the child welfare system experience additional struggles since they suffer from child abuse/neglect, separation from their biological family, and placement instability in out-of-home care. Using reliable measures and face-to-face interviews with 152 randomly selected foster adolescents, this study found that a majority of adolescents who remained in care until late adolescence (a) had severe emotional or behavioral problems, (b) demonstrated poor reading skills compared to non-foster youth in the general population, and (c) had limited job opportunities. Practice implications are discussed and recommendations for future research are outlined.
Impacts of Ammonium Sulfate Treatment on the Foliar Chemistry of Forest Trees at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine

Foliar chemistry was examined in mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) in response to chronic, watershed-level additions of ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4]. Following four years of treatment, N concentrations were significantly higher in foliage from the treated watershed for all four species, with increases ranging from 6% in American beech to 33% in sugar maple. Sugar maple foliage from the treated watershed had significantly lower Ca concentrations (18%). Concentrations of K were significantly lower in beech (13%) and red spruce (9%) from the treated watershed. Foliar Mg was not different between watersheds. Aluminum concentrations were significantly higher in the foliage from the treated watershed for beech (18%), red maple (33%), and sugar maple (65%), but no differences in Al concentration occurred in current year red spruce foliage. Red spruce foliage resampled following a fifth year of treatment contained higher concentrations of N and Al and lower concentrations of Ca and Mg in the treated watershed. Despite these differences in red spruce foliar chemistry, wood production and density did not appear to be affected by the treatment.
On the weak nematic elasticity

The paper considers the general case of incompressible non-classical elasticity with small deformations and rotations. The thermodynamic stability is analysed for free energy density with three rotational degrees of freedom. Although the theory generally predicts the stress to be non-symmetric, the stress tensor can still be considered as symmetrical in the absence of external fields and when the inertia effects of internal rotations and couple stresses are neglected. When the condition of stress tensor symmetry is applied, it results in simplified, "reduced" expressions for the free energy density and stress, which preserve the general stability conditions and allow easy calculations of stress-strain relations and rotations. Using this reduced formulation, a general condition of existence of soft deformations is analysed for the weak nematic elasticity. The reduction procedure is exemplified using the infinitesimal Warner potential derived from a molecular model.
Code for collagen's stability deciphered

The most abundant protein in animals is collagen. In connective tissue, this protein is present as chains wound in tight triple helices which are organized into fibrils of great tensile strength and thermal stability1,2. We propose a new explanation for this stability.
Materials science: Asymmetry the easy way

Creating asymmetric structures is useful for liquid crystal displays and optical switches, but it has not been easy. Now, subtle chemical interactions between block copolymers —which are themselves a blend of carefully selected polymers - are tailored to produce a self-assembling non-centrosymmetric nanostructure.
SU-E-T-394: Evaluation of Microwave Ablation Zone Variance Based On Reported Changes in Thermal and Electrical Properties of Tissues

Purpose: Image-guided percutaneous ablation is an, effective, inexpensive, and accessible treatment for liver, lung, and kidney cancers. However, its relatively high recurrence rate makes it more palliative. We hypothesize that higher rates are due in part to inadequate margin estimation, resulting from over-simplified geometric planning. Better predictive planning is needed, however, this requires numerical model accounting for the physical characteristics of heterogeneous tissues around the target. Literature suggests that pathologies such as cirrhosis and malignant tissue have varying thermal and electrical properties when compared to normal tissue. The objective of this study is to employ a simulation based approach to determine the impact of heterogeneous tissue physical properties on treatment outcome. Methods: An electromagnetic-thermal finite-element model of the BSD Medical ST antenna was created. The antenna placed inside the center of a tumor that was immersed within liver tissue. The variance of ablation zone sizes with tissue physical properties was evaluated by assigning varying tissue dielectric and thermal properties to the tumor, consistent with data reported in the literature. 10–30 % variations in tissue effective electrical conductivity, and varying perfusion levels for tumor, normal, and cirrhotic liver (3–18 kg/m3/s) were considered. The CEM43 > 240 min threshold was used to estimate ablation zone extents. Results: Less than 4 mm variation in ablation zone extents was observed when considering 10–30 % differences in effective electrical conductivity between malignant and normal tissue. Perfusion variations showed the largest difference when compared to homogeneous simulation (∼ 4.5 mm − 1.0 cm). Conclusion: The results suggest that dielectric inhomogeneities have limited impact on predicted ablation zone extents. However, variances in tumor and normal liver tissue blood perfusion, within the range of clinically measured values reported in the literature, significantly affects predicted ablation zone volumes. Further research investigating the impact of other tissue properties is warranted.
Search for naturally occurring superheavy element Z = 110 , A = 294

A search for the superheavy element $Z=110$ and $A=294$ has been made using the Tandem accelerator as a highly sensitive mass spectrometer. The observed background leads to an upper limit on the presence of $^{294}110$ in a sample of placer platinum of 1 in ${10}^{11}$. This result implies that $^{294}110$ either has a lifetime less than about 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{8}$ yr, or was not produced in the amounts predicted by Schramm and Fowler, or did not follow its homolog platinum in the geophysical and chemical processing of the material.NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Search for superheavy element (110, 294), upper limit found, use of Tandem accelerator as sensitive mass spectrometer.
Proteomic analysis of individual fruit fly hemolymph.

Abstract Analysis of blood proteins holds critical promise for in depth understanding of physiological states. Protein content of hemolymph from Drosophila melanogaster is of particular analytical interest because the insect open circulatory system involves chemical signaling through the hemolymph. The challenge of working with this sample, however, is the nanoliter volumes of solution available for analysis. In this study, we developed a novel hyphenated Agilent nano-HPLC chip column-MS method to obtain proteomic information from individual fruit fly hemolymph, using a low-volume sample collection technique established previously. The total amount of individual Drosophila hemolymph protein is determined around 0.798 ± 0.251 μg/100 nL based upon a Bradford assay with BSA. Hemolymph samples around 50 nL were collected from single flies and digested using a customized micro-scale digestion protocol. Mass spectral analysis shows a total of 19 proteins were identified from the hemolymph of individual flies. Of these findings, 6 novel proteins have been identified for the first time with evidence at the translation level. Detection of 13 proteins well-known in the literature speaks to the method's validity and demonstrates the ability to reproducibly analyze volume-limited samples from individual fruit flies for protein content. This nano-scale analysis method will facilitate future study of Drosophila and lead to a more complete understanding of the physiology of the fly model system.
Sexual dysfunction among patients with arthritis

The relationship of arthritis and sexual dysfunction was investigated among 169 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and spondyloarthropathy, 130 of whom were pair-matched to controls. Assessments of marital happiness and depressed mood were also made using the CES-D and the Azrin Marital Happiness Scale (AMHS). Sexual dysfunctions were found to be common among patients and controls, the majority in both groups reporting one or more dysfunctions. Impotence was more common among male patients than controls and was found to be associated with co-morbidity and the taking of methotrexate. Depressed mood was more common among patients and was associated with certain sexual difficulties, but not with impotence. Marital unhappiness as indicated by AMHS scores, was not associated with arthritis but was associated with sexual dysfunction, sexual dissatisfaction and being female.
Transient electrophoresis of a dielectric sphere

Abstract The response of a spherical dielectric particle, with a diameter much larger than the double layer thickness, to a transient electric field is determined analytically. Inertial effects within the thin double layer are neglected as are any changes in the double layer structure. The particular case of electrophoretic motion in response to a step application of an electric field is considered in detail. The relaxation time proves to be negligible in most cases, verifying that the particle velocity will closely follow Smoluchowski's equation with the instantaneous electric field.
Potassium-Induced Lesions of the Small Bowel: I. Clinical Aspects

Enteric-coated potassium chloride is responsible for a striking increase in ulcerative lesions of the small intestine. Pathologically these lesions are venous infarctions of varying severity; patients present with obstruction or signs of perforation, or both, and rarely with bleeding. Roentgenologic studies demonstrate partial intestinal obstruction. Careful investigation of drug ingestion is essential in making the diagnosis. Based on clinical, experimental, and pathological studies, aggressive surgical therapy is recommended. Because irreversible damage may have occurred by the time symptoms appear, medications containing enteric-coated potassium should be limited to patients who require thiazides and whose potassium requirements cannot be met by dietary means.
Soil-Web: An online soil survey for California, Arizona, and Nevada

Digital soil survey products represent one of the largest and most comprehensive inventories of soils information currently available. The complex structure of these databases, intensive use of codes and scientific jargon make it difficult for non-specialists to utilize digital soil survey resources. A project was initiated to construct a web-based interface to digital soil survey products (STATSGO and SSURGO) for California, Arizona, and Nevada that would be accessible to the general public. A collection of mature, open source applications (including Mapserver, PostGIS and Apache Web Server) were used as a framework to support data storage, querying, map composition, data presentation, and contextual links to related materials. Application logic was written in the PHP language to ''glue'' together the many components of an online soil survey. A comprehensive website (http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/map) was created to facilitate access to digital soil survey databases through several interfaces including: interactive map, Google Earth and HTTP-based application programming interface (API). Each soil polygon is linked to a map unit summary page, which includes links to soil component summary pages. The most commonly used soil properties, land interpretations and ratings are presented. Graphical and tabular summaries of soil profile information are dynamically created, and aid with rapid assessment of key soil properties. Quick links to official series descriptions (OSD) and other such information are presented. All terminology is linked back to the USDA-NRCS Soil Survey Handbook which contains extended definitions. The Google Earth interface to Soil-Web can be used to explore soils information in three dimensions. A flexible web API was implemented to allow advanced users of soils information to access our website via simple web page requests. Soil-Web has been successfully used in soil science curriculum, outreach activities, and current research projects. Although not the only online soil survey application, Soil-Web remains the simplest and most rapid means of accessing soils information for California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Plasma simulation with an artificial dielectric in a horn geometry

The simulation of a plasma sheath using an artificial dielectric is studied in this investigation and is applied to an antenna geometry which is similar to some configurations encountered in aerospace applications. The antenna configuration is equivalent to a horn in an infinite ground plane with an unbounded plasma layer in front of the horn. The plasma layer is simulated by a rodded medium, and the radiation patterns of the antenna system are studied experimentally at 9, 10, and 11 Gc/s. Two constructions of rodded media are utilized in the pattern measurements. The experimentally determined radiation patterns have a secondary maximum associated with the properties of the plasma sheath. More energy is radiated in the OFF-axis region when the plasma sheath is present.
Development and Evaluation of a Standard Weight (WS) Equation for Yellow Perch

Abstract Weight-length data for 78 populations of yellow perch Perca flavescens in 20 states and 6 Canadian provinces were used to develop a standard weight (Ws ) equation. We used the regression-line-percentile (RLP) technique, which provides a 75-percentile standard, to develop the Ws relationship. The proposed equation in metric units is log10 Ws = –5.386 + 3.230 log10 L ; Ws is weight in grams and L is total length in millimeters. The English equivalent of this equation is log10 Ws = –3.506 + 3.230 log10 L ; Ws is weight in pounds and L is total length in inches. These equations are proposed for use with 100-mm (4-in) and longer yellow perch. Relative weight (Wr ) values calculated with the proposed Ws equation did not consistently increase or decrease with increasing fish length. Mean population Wr values were significantly correlated with growth and size structure of yellow perch populations, but correlation coefficients were generally low.
Ménière's disease is a viral neuropathy.

Morphological and clinical evidence supports a viral neuropathy in Meniere's disease (MD). Quantitative examination of 11 sectioned temporal bones (TBs) from 8 patients with a history of MD revealed a significant loss of vestibular ganglion cells in both the endolymph hydropic (EH) and non-EH ears. Transmission electron microscopy of vestibular ganglion cells excised from a patient with MD revealed viral particles enclosed in transport vesicles. Antiviral treatment controlled vertigo in 73 of 86 patients with vestibular neuronitis (85%) and 32 of 35 patients with MD (91%).
On the symbiotic nature of key antijamming and antiscintillation functions for MFSK and DPSK channels

The relationships between the detector, diversity combiner, and soft-decision generator are unique in the way they contribute to providing the antijamming (AJ) and antiscintillation (AS) capability. The primary focus of this work is on describing this symbiotic relationship. This is done with an approach that permits possible architectures for detection, diversity combining, and soft-decision generation to surface as the secondary focus. The soft-decision generators for DPSK (differential-phase-shift keying) and MFSK (M-ary frequency-shift keying) channels are discussed in detail, because such generators present a variety of implementation problems related to automatic gain control and jamming sensitivity. >
Some Alternatives to Linear Unbiased Estimation and Traditional Pretest Procedures

In economics the most widely used statistical technique is based on the linear statistical model and least squares and maximum likelihood concepts. These tools are supported by a body of theory that dates back well over a century to Gauss and Legendre and includes the powerful and beautiful Gauss-Markoff theorem, which says in effect that, out of the class of linear unbiased estimators, least squares is the "best" (minimum variance, minimum mean square error) estimator. The linear unbiased restrictions that are necessary to achieve the Gauss-Markoff result appear to be generally accepted in econometric analysis. However, for the economic researcher who is interested in parameter estimation or prediction appropriate for choice or decision purposes, the property of unbiasedness, which yields an estimator that is right on the average, may have limited usefulness. In addition the best unbiased statistical property only holds if the statistical model is correctly specified, and in economics the sampling process by which the data are generated is seldom known. Consequently, the purpose of this expository note is to point out that over a range of criteria for evaluating estimators, distributional assumptions, and conditions normally fulfilled in practice, simple estimators exist that are uniformly and nontrivially superior over the parameter space to the least squares and pretest estimators used by most applied researchers in economics.
Emerging Methodologies and Methods Practices in the Field of Mixed Methods Research

This special issue marks a reflective turning point in thinking about the theory and practice of mixed methods research. As a field of study, mixed methods practice is both “old” and “emergent.” It is old in that the field of mixed methods has an historical legacy of practice that has remained invisible. Early on, social science research practice employed mixed methods data. Hesse-Biber (2010) notes,Mixed methods research developed with the earliest social research projects; among these are studies of poverty within families conducted in the 1800s in Europe by researchers such as Frederic LePlay (1855) and Charles Booth (1891) . . . research practices included the use of demographic analysis, participant surveys and observations, and social mapping tech-niques. These methods practices filtered into the research landscape in the United States by the begin-ning of the 20th century. . . . The
The utility of the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) in testing quality of life theory: an evaluation using structural equation modeling

Purpose This study uses structural equation modeling to assess the utility of the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS)—the Centers for Disease Control’s premier surveillance tool for monitoring behavioral risk factors—in predicting health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Comment on "is there a 'most perfect fluid' consistent with quantum field theory?".

A Comment on the Letter by Thomas D. Cohen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 021602 (2007). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
A model for the evolution of communal foraging in hierarchically structured populations

A kin selection model is described for populations in which groups of interacting individuals (trait groups, sensu Wilson 1975) are spatially situated within larger aggregations. The model predicts the optimal foraging strategy when resources are shared with other trait group members and there is an individual risk in foraging. The ecological mechanism of variation in group fitness, differential resource accumulation, is explicitly incorporated into the model. The optimal foraging rate obtained from this model depends on the product of a benefit-to-cost ratio and a relatedness parameter. The appropriate definition of relatedness for the evolution of communal foraging is determined by the details of the ecological interaction between consumers and resources. When competition is purely intra-specific, the genetic correlation among interactants relative to other members of the local aggregation defines the relatedness parameter applicable to selection on foraging propensity. When competition is primarily inter-specific, the genetic correlation among trait group members relative to the entire population defines relatedness.
Binding of methylene blue to alginate: Effect of acid treatment on metachromasy

Abstract The spectral properties of methylene blue (MB) in solutions of Na alginate depend on the severity of prior acid treatment of the polysaccharide. The spectral properties affected are the fraction of MB in monomeric form, the relative amounts of metachromatic dye absorbing near 570 and near 595 nm, and the intensity and sign of circular dichroism (CD) activity associated with the 570 nm bands, at various ratios of polymer equivalents to dye (P/D) from 1300 to 4. Acid treatment consisted of reaction of dry, alcohol-precipitated and presumably native alginate with 0·3 m HCl at room temperature for 5 min to 8 h. Acid-induced changes showed immediate (5 min) and slow (4–8 h) stages. In both stages the fractions of MB in monomeric form and in the 595 nm metachromatic form increased. CD activity was little affected by brief acid treatment (except in range P/D=165 to 55), but diminished at all P/D values on prolonged acid treatment. Minor changes were observed in the infrared spectra of alginate films. Fresh alcohol-precipitated alginate, untreated with acid, did not precipitate when dye was in excess, nor did it form gel beads in CaCl2 solution. It is concluded that dilute acid treatment alters the stereospecific properties of native alginate, perhaps by inducing conformational changes in the constituent copolymer segments.
Triangular propagation patterns for contiguous‐disk magnetic bubble devices

Triangular propagation patterns1 are proposed for contiguous‐disk magnetic bubble devices in ion‐implanted garnet films with tridirectional crystalline inplane anisotropy. These patterns offer superior results in bias field margins (53 Oe or 15%), and allow decreases in inplane drive field as well as high frequency operations (up to 700 kHz). The underlying theory for designing the propagation pattern based on the three‐vetex critical curves and micromagnetic structures is discussed. A simple design rule for pattern geometry and orientation to optimize the bias margin and minimum drive is presented.
Reconciling channel formation processes with the nature of elevated outflow systems at Ophir and Aurorae Plana, Mars

[1] Many Hesperian outflow channels head at elevations compatible with aquifer recharge beneath the Martian south polar cap, and such channels are widely interpreted as the products of this recharge. Some outflow channels head at greater elevations that are inconsistent with southern recharge, including three systems located in Aurorae Planum and eastern Ophir Planum. These three systems have previously been interpreted as having formed through aqueous outbursts from local aquifers recharged by the meltwaters of ancient upland glaciers to the west. However, the viability of this interpretation is weakened by the lack of a geomorphic record supportive of past meltwater flow from western uplands, inconsistencies between hypothesized processes and the nature of regional topography and mineralogy, and the absence of satisfactory analog processes for catastrophic aqueous flow from the subsurface. In contrast, a volcanic origin for the Ophir and Aurorae systems appears to be in accord with the basic characteristics of constituent channels and associated landforms, the volcanotectonic nature of the Valles Marineris system and adjacent upland plains, and the nature of available analog landforms and processes. Though numerous uncertainties remain, a volcanic interpretation of these outflow systems can more simply account for the existence of component channels. The attributes of other elevated outflow systems on Mars similarly appear to be most consistent with volcanic origins. If the Ophir and Aurorae systems formed volcanically, thermal considerations imply minimum erupted lava volumes of 6.4 × 103 km3 for Allegheny Vallis and 6.2 × 104 km3 for Elaver Vallis.
Enabling Power-Efficient DVFS Operations on Silicon

With the perpetual power increase in modern VLSI systems, efficient and effective power management has been critical to next-generation IC designs. To overcome this grand challenge, techniques, such as dynamic voltage/frequency scaling (DVFS), have been proposed to jointly optimize power, energy and operating performance, leading to significantly improved system reliability, efficiency and battery lifetime. From both system-level and circuit-level perspectives, this paper investigates key design issues, control schemes, circuit architectures and future research directions, involved in the development of application-aware, multiple- and variable-output DC-DC power converters. The article first discusses key multiple-output converters such as the single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) DC-DC converters and their system-level integration for DVFS power management, followed by our investigation on various adaptive-output power converter topologies and corresponding design challenges. The paper also addresses the importance of hardware-software co-design for future power management systems. With the integration of the enabling hardware platform, power processing, in addition to the traditional signal processing, rises to become another key factor to next-generation VLSI designs. This naturally enables effective on-chip power tracking, power processing and thermal monitoring. More importantly, it would significantly change traditional design concepts and largely benefit signal processing in return, eventually leading to revolutionary changes on system reliability, performance, efficiency and operating lifetime.
Energy drinks, weight loss, and disordered eating behaviors.

Abstract Objective: The present study examined energy drink consumption and relations with weight loss attempts and behaviors, body image, and eating disorders. Participants/Methods: This is a secondary analysis using data from 856 undergraduate students who completed the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II confidentially online during February 2012. Results: This study revealed that the majority reported lifetime consumption of energy drinks (68.4%) and a substantial minority (30.2%) reported past-30-day consumption. Chi-square and t test results suggest that consumption is associated with concerns about personal appearance, weight loss attempts, and disordered eating behaviors (eg, vomiting). Hierarchical logistic regressions revealed that after controlling for demographics, the relations between energy drink consumption and the act of trying to lose weight, the use of diet pills, and the use of vomiting/laxatives remained significant. Conclusions: The current findi...
A Direct Injection Assay of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme in Tissue Extracts

Abstract A rapid, sensitive and selective method for the determination of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in tissue extract and serum is described. The procedure is based on the high performance liquid chromatographic separation of the synthetic substrate furylacryloylphenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine (FAPGG) from the hydrolysis product furylacryloylphenylalanine (FAP). Baseline separation is accomplished in ten minutes by direct injection of biological assay mixtures onto a 15 cm shielded hydrophobic phase column with isocratic elution using 180 mM ammonium acetate/ 15% acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Both substrate and product are detected by absorbance at 305 nm.
The Role of Particle Interactions in the Distribution of Electricity in Thunderstorms

Abstract The growth of electric fields in clouds resulting from charge rearrangement due to particle interaction and translation is calculated under the assumption that the initial electrification is provided by the fair weather charge distribution of the atmosphere or by some other basic charge separating process. The results demonstrate that particle interaction must be taken into account in the electrification process during the precipitation formation period. In fact, they show that, starting with the normal fair weather field, it is possible to explain qualitatively and quantitatively many of the presently known observations of the electrical growth and field recovery behavior of thunderstorms.
Natural Radioactivity of Rhenium

The natural radioactivity of Re/sup 187/ was investigated by the method of internal gas-tube low-level Geiger counting. A half-life of (l.2 plus or minus 0.4) x l0/sup 11/ yr was found for the direct beta decay. Gas-tube proportional measurements suggest a value of about 3 kev for the maximum beta energy. This value of the endpoint energy, the lowest known, suggests that it may be a Re atom and not the nucleus alone which is decaying. (auth)
The use of occlusion to resolve ambiguity in parallel projections.

Previous research has shown that the three-dimensional structure of an object usually can be perceived when viewing a parallel projection of the object rotating in depth. Accurate judgments of direction of rotation, however, have been found only with polar projections. The present study demonstrated that accurate direction judgments can occur with parallel projections if occlusion is included in the displays. The stimuli were parallel projections of pentagonal texture elements on the surface of a rotating sphere. In one condition, the elements were occluded as they rounded the edge of an opaque sphere. In another condition, elements on the far surface of a transparent sphere were occluded by elements on the near surface. Accuracy of direction judgments was consistently high in the first condition and increased monotonically with element size in the second condition, from chance to over 80% correct. The relationship of these results to the general issue of perceptually combining structure in depth information from one source with relative distance information from another source is discussed.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Medical Settings

Meditation, as a psychological intervention, has become of increasing interest to psychologists who conduct clinical research with or provide clinical services to medical populations. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a manualized program which teaches a variety of meditation techniques and has frequently been used in medical settings with mixed medical populations. The following is a review of the literature, which provides preliminary support for the effectiveness of MBSR in specific medical populations, including persons with chronic pain, cancer and heart disease. Despite these encouraging findings, experts agree that continued research is needed, especially controlled studies with more rigorous methodology.
p-values of a test on homogeneous means in a multivariate isotonic regression

This paper considers a multivariate isotonic regression model in which the columns of the mean matrix are constrained by a quasi-ordering. For the test on the homogeneity of the means an ad hoc test statistic is derived. When the order restriction is confined to the elements of only one row, another statistic is obtained. A sufficient condition is established under which the p-value of the test is expressed through the distribution of the second statistic at a specified parameter point. This result not only simplifies the expression of the p-values but also makes the computation for the p-values by the Monte Carlo method possible.