cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact characteristics in shod and barefoot running

Increased impact characteristics are often cited as a cause of running injuries. One method that has been used to reduce impact characteristics is to increase the thickness of the midsole of running footwear with the intention of attenuating greater shock from the foot-ground collision. A second method that has been suggested is to run barefoot. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact characteristics of running footwear of different midsole thickness to a barefoot condition. Three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were collected as participants ran at their preferred running speed and at a fixed speed. Impact characteristics (impact peak, time to impact peak and vertical loading rate) were derived from the vertical ground reaction force component. Ankle and knee joint stiffness during the loading phase of support were derived from the change in moment divided by the change in angle. The impact parameters were statistically analyzed using a two-way, repeated measures ANOVA. There were no s...
Glycosylation of synthetic T helper cell epitopic peptides influences their antigenic potency and conformation in a sugar location-specific manner

The immunodominant T helper cell epitopes 31D and VF13N of rabies virus nucleoprotein and glycoprotein, respectively, correspond to peptide sequences AVYTRIMMNGGRLKR and VVEDEGCTNLSGF, and are expressed between amino acids 404-418 and 29-41, of the appropriate proteins. We investigated how internal or external glycosylation affects the biological activity and conformation of the peptides 31D and VF13N. Mid-chain incorporation of maltobiose or N-acetylglucosamine moieties into the asparagine residues greatly diminished the T-cell stimulatory activity in vitro (due to the diminished ability of the glycopeptides to bind to major histocompatibility complex determinants) and reduced the characteristic alpha-helicity of the peptides in aqueous trifluoroethanol solutions. In contrast, addition of maltobiose- or N-acetylglucosamine-coupled asparagines to the N-termini of peptides 31D and VF13N resulted in unchanged T-cell activity. Furthermore, N-terminal glycosylation of peptide 31D, as indicated by the functional assay, decreased the sensitivity of the peptide to degradation in human serum and did not affect the alpha-helical conformation. These data indicate that glycosylation of T-cell epitopes is not a preferable method for the preparation of antagonists, but incorporation of the sugars to appropriate positions may be advantageous in the design of T-cell agonists and peptide-based vaccines.
Covariance Eigenvector Sparsity for Compression and Denoising

Sparsity in the eigenvectors of signal covariance matrices is exploited in this paper for compression and denoising. Dimensionality reduction (DR) and quantization modules present in many practical compression schemes such as transform codecs, are designed to capitalize on this form of sparsity and achieve improved reconstruction performance compared to existing sparsity-agnostic codecs. Using training data that may be noisy a novel sparsity-aware linear DR scheme is developed to fully exploit sparsity in the covariance eigenvectors and form noise-resilient estimates of the principal covariance eigenbasis. Sparsity is effected via norm-one regularization, and the associated minimization problems are solved using computationally efficient coordinate descent iterations. The resulting eigenspace estimator is shown capable of identifying a subset of the unknown support of the eigenspace basis vectors even when the observation noise covariance matrix is unknown, as long as the noise power is sufficiently low. It is proved that the sparsity-aware estimator is asymptotically normal, and the probability to correctly identify the signal subspace basis support approaches one, as the number of training data grows large. Simulations using synthetic data and images, corroborate that the proposed algorithms achieve improved reconstruction quality relative to alternatives.
Radical formation during laser-tissue interaction

Laser spectroscopic methods have been used for on-line investigations of laser tissue interaction processes concerning the production of toxic and carcinogenic substances in the laser plume during cutting and evaporation of tissue in laser surgery. Laser spectroscopic investigations demonstrated that the original tissue molecules were split into basic metastable compounds under the high temperature conditions in the reaction zone. The produced radicals are one source for the formation of the chemical s produced during the laser tissue interaction process. The formation of the harmful substances can be influenced by the surrounding gas atmosphere. These substances can be reduced significantly by the addition of an oxygen donor e.g. water, into the reaction zone.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Some hydride generation inter-element interference studies utilizing atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

Abstract Three commercially available hydride generation devices have been used in conjunction with atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry to study the possible inter-element interferences from fifty elements. Nineteen of these elements caused signal reductions of at least 10%. These interferences were reduced (drastically in some cases) by an appropriate choice of hydride generation system and by manipulation of the acid strength.
A Review of Rhoptobaris LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) from North and Central America

ABSTRACT Rhoptobaris LeConte (= Orthoris LeConte, new synonymy), a small genus of North and Central American weevils, is revised. The adult, larva, and pupa are described. Five species are recognized: Rhoptobaris canescens LeConte, Rhoptobaris cylindrifera (Casey), new combination [from Orthoris], Rhoptobaris obrieni Prena, new species [El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico], Rhoptobaris piercei Prena, new species [Mexico, USA], and Rhoptobaris scolopax (Say), new combination [from Aulobaris LeConte]. At least three species are associated with blazingstar (Mentzelia L., Loasaceae). Orthoris angustula Casey, Orthoris captiosa Casey, Orthoris crotchii LeConte, Orthoris robustula Casey, Orthoris tenuirostris Casey, and Orthoris tumidirostris Casey are new synonyms of R. scolopax. Lectotypes are designated for R. canescens, O. crotchii, O. captiosa, Orthoris cylindrifera Casey, and O. tenuirostris. Baridius anthracinus Boheman is designated as the type species for Aulobaris LeConte. Aulobaris pusilla (LeConte) is rec...
Performance limit for economized cycles with continuous refrigerant injection.

While economizing can improve the performance of vapor compression cycles, the cost of multi-stage compressors has limited its implementation to large-scale applications. However, the development of compressors with injection ports presents new opportunities for economizing in smaller-scale applications. In addition to eliminating the need for a costly multi-stage compressor, multiple injection ports can be added at relatively low cost to further improve cycle performance. In the current study, a model was developed to study the effect of the number of injection ports on performance and determine the limit to performance with injection. The model predicts that continuous injection, in which economized refrigerant is injected at an infinite number of ports to maintain saturated vapor in the compressor, provides very significant performance improvements for air-conditioning and refrigeration applications. At standard operating conditions, the COP increases between 18% and 51% depending on the application, with higher temperature lift cycles benefiting most significantly.
Real-time analysis of EEG using Walsh transforms.

Abstract Analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals has been an area of considerable interest since the advent of inexpensive minicomputers in the mid to late 1960's. One of the major drawbacks to EEG analysis has been the inability to handle multiple demands in real-time. This paper presents a reasonable alternative to traditional Fourier analysis by proposing the use of the Fast Walsh Transform. Such problems as phase sensitivity and general acceptability of the Walsh power spectrum are discussed.
Development of oxidative stress by cytochrome P450 induction in rodents is selective for barbiturates and related to loss of pyridine nucleotide-dependent protective systems.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress have been considered in a variety of disease models, and cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes have been suggested to be a source of ROS. Induction of P450s by phenobarbital (PB), β-naphthoflavone (βNF), or clofibrate in a mouse model increased ROS parameters in the isolated liver microsomes, but isoniazid treatment did not. However, when F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs) were measured in tissues and urine, PB showed the strongest effect and βNF had a measurable but weaker effect. The same trend was seen when an Nfr2-based transgene reporter sensitive to ROS was analyzed in the mice. This pattern had been seen earlier with F2-IsoPs both in vitro and in vivo with rats (Dostalek, M., Brooks, J. D., Hardy, K. D., Milne, G. L., Moore, M. M., Sharma, S., Morrow, J. D., and Guengerich, F. P. (2007) Mol. Pharmacol. 72, 1419–1424). One possibility for the general in vitro-in vivo discrepancy in oxidative stress found in both mice and rats is that PB treatment might attenuate protective systems. One potential candidate suggested by an mRNA microarray was nicotinamide N-methyltransferase. PB was found to elevate nicotinamide N-methyltransferase activity 3- to 4-fold in mice and rats and to attenuate levels of NAD+, NADP+, NADH, and NADPH in both species (20–40%), due to the enhanced excretion of (N-methyl)nicotinamide. PB also down-regulated glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, which together constitute a key enzymatic system that uses NADPH in protecting against oxidative stress. These multiple effects on the protective systems are proposed to be more important than P450 induction in oxidative stress and emphasize the importance of studying in vivo models.
Radioresistance development of DNA repair deficient Escherichia coli DH5α in ground beef subjected to electron beam at sub-lethal doses.

Purpose: Electron beam (e-beam) efficiently and non-thermally inactivates microorganisms in food by lethal DNA changes (direct effects) and free radicals from water radiolysis (in-direct effects). Non-pathogenic Escherichia coli DH5α (α substrain of DH5 described by Hanahan , ‘DH’ stands for Douglas Hanahan) is a microorganism that lacks DNA repair capability, resulting in high radiosensitivity. Studying microbial inactivation of E. coli DH5α repeatedly subjected to sub-lethal e-beam in ground beef may enhance understanding of microbial radioresistance. The objective of this study was to determine if repetitive processing with e-beam at sub-lethal doses increases D-value (e-beam dose required to inactivate one log of microbial population) of E. coli DH5α in ground beef.Materials and methods: Survivors from the highest e-beam dose were isolated and incubated in ground beef for the next cycle of e-beam processing. Five cycles were conducted. To acclimatise E. coli DH5α, first two cycles used low doses. D-va...
Zidovudine (AZT) Reduces Virus Titer, Retards Immune Dysfunction, and Prolongs Survival in the LP-BMS Murine Induced Immunodeficiency Model

Using the murine LP-BM5 retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency model, the therapeutic value of zidovudine (AZT) was analyzed. Continuous low dose (60 mg/kg per day) oral AZT administration for 6 weeks increased survival time by 5-6 weeks. Decreasing the duration of therapy to 3 weeks decreased the mean survival time. Extending the therapy from 6 to 14 weeks increased the median survival time (8 weeks). This dose was nontoxic and reduced virus titers, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. AZT also retarded the immune dysfunction syndrome characteristic of this model. Hypergammaglobulinemia was reduced by AZT and was also a marker for disease progression. AZT reduced hyperproliferation of large blast cells and delayed the loss of splenic B cells.
A Coiled Coil with a Fluorous Core

The design, synthesis, and structural characterization of a highly fluorinated peptide system based on the coiled coil region of the yeast transcription factor GCN4 is described. All four leucine residues (a position) and three valine residues (d position) were replaced by the unnatural amino acids 5,5,5-trifluoroleucine and 4,4,4-trifluorovaline, respectively. The peptide is highly α-helical at low micromolar concentrations as judged by circular dichroism spectra, sediments as a dimeric species in the 5−30 μM concentration range, and exhibits a dimer melting temperature that is 15 °C higher than a control peptide with a hydrocarbon core. Furthermore, the apparent free energy of unfolding as calculated from guanidinium hydrochloride denaturation experiments is larger by ∼1.0 kcal/mol for the fluorinated peptide than its hydrocarbon counterpart. We conclude that additional stability is derived from sequestering the more hydrophobic trifluoromethyl groups from aqueous solvent. These studies introduce a new ...
The Concept of Mental Illness: A New Look at Some Old Assumptions

It is suggested that new conceptual models are necessary to rehabilitate the poor risk patient. The institutional model of rehabilitating the psychiatric patient is not enough, but must be complemented by a comprehensive mental health center approach based in the community. The emergence of the comprehensive mental health center from the therapeutic community idea is intimated, but caution is offered against making the same mistakes often made by the therapeutic community approach. Minimal emphasis on rehabilitation in comprehensive mental health centers is pointed out as a weakness. The importance of vocational rehabilitation as a therapeutic agent in the community is stressed.
Use of Scanning Research in Decision Making: An Examination of the Environmental Imperative and Power-Control Perspective

Environmental uncertainty provides the context for public relations practices. Arguably, environmental uncertainty leads to greater organizational responsiveness to those environments through strategic planning. This survey of 505 American Public Relations Society of America members indicated, however, that perceived environmental conditions were less important to management decision-making than how those conditions were translated or packaged as decision-making inputs through formal environmental scanning mechanisms. Environmental uncertainty had no impact on decision making, once the mediating influence of formal scanning was controlled.
The hourglass facial deformity as a consequence of orbital irradiation for bilateral retinoblastoma.

We report a case illustrating characteristic facial deformities following irradiation during infancy for bilateral retinoblastoma. CT and MR imaging revealed distinctive features of the resulting “hourglass facial deformity”: hypotelorism, enophthalmos, depressed temporal bones, atrophy of the temporalis muscles, and a depressed nasion. This case also displayed premature metopic craniosynostosis and frontal sinus aplasia; these may be additional hallmarks of this deformity.
A microstructural observation of near-failure thermal barrier coating: a study by photostimulated luminescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract An intact thermal barrier coating (TBC) specimen, consisting of electron-beam physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) ZrO 2 –7 wt.%Y 2 O 3 (YSZ) topcoat, thermally grown oxide (TGO), grit-blasted (Ni,Pt)Al bond coat and CMSX-4 single crystalline superalloy, was characterized after 645 thermal cycles. Each thermal cycle was carried out in air, and consisted of 10-min heat-up to 1038 °C, 10-h hold at 1038 °C, and 10-min forced air-quench to ambient temperature. Characteristics of TGO scale were initially examined by photostimulated luminescence spectroscopy (PSLS) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) with nano-spot energy dispersive spectroscopy, high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging, selected area diffraction (SAD), convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), and electron energy loss spectroscopy was carried out for detailed microstructural characterization. A site-specific preparation of TEM specimen for the thermally cycled TBC was successfully carried out using focused ion beam in-situ lift out technique. Photostimulated luminescence corresponding to negligible residual stress in TGO scale was observed for this intact TBC. Microstructural analysis showed undulation of interface between TGO and bond coat, and the corresponding damage near YSZ/TGO interface. Extensive decohesion within TGO (nearly 9 μm thick), near the YSZ/TGO interface, was observed by TEM/STEM, and related to the observation made by PSLS. Microstructure and phase constituents of mixed-oxide zone containing Zr, Y, Ta, Ni, Co, Cr, Ti in Al 2 O 3 matrix and continuous-columnar Al 2 O 3 TGO are presented based on TEM/STEM and related analytical techniques.
Control of underactuated mechanical systems using high frequency input

This paper describes an approach to closed-loop control of a class of underactuated mechanical systems using a high frequency periodic input whose amplitude is modulated through feedback. The approach makes use of the averaging theorem and the time scale separation between the high frequency forcing and the low frequency amplitude modulation. The paper begins with the special case of a two degree of freedom system with a single input. A closed-loop controller is developed that forces the time-averaged value of the unactuated coordinate to follow a desired (low frequency) trajectory. The method is then extended to systems with more degrees of freedom and multiple inputs and it is modified to enable low frequency trajectory tracking in the (averaged) actuated coordinates, as well as the unactuated coordinates. To illustrate, the approach is applied to the problem of position control for a three degree of freedom flapping plate in a uniform flow.
Foam formation in low gravity

An apparatus that produced the first polyurethane foam in low gravity has been described. The chemicals were mixed together in an apparatus designed for operation in low gravity. Mixing was by means of stirring the chemicals with an electric motor and propeller in a mixing chamber. The apparatus was flown on Consort 1, the first low-gravity materials payload launched by a commercial rocket launch team. The sounding rocket flight produced over 7 min of low gravity during which a polyurethane spheroidal foam of approximately 2300 cu cm was formed. Photographs of the formation of the foam during the flight show the development of the spheroidal form. This begins as a small sphere and grows to approximately a 17-cm-diam spheroid. The apparatus will be flown again on subsequent low-gravity flights.
A 31-Year-Old Patient With Colitis and Perianal Disease

31-year-old man with a 1-year history of Crohn’s disease (CD) returns for evaluation of new perianal pain and drainage. Four weeks ago he developed worsening pain with sitting down and with bowel movements. Last week he developed purulent perianal drainage that stains his undergarments. He now has 5 bloody bowel movements per day with associated urgency. He has lost 5 lb during the past month. Colonoscopy at diagnosis 1 year ago revealed a normal terminal ileum, moderate right-sided colitis, and proctitis. Remission was induced with steroids and maintained, until now, with azathioprine (AZA). On physical examination, his abdomen is soft with mild tenderness in the left lower quadrant. Examination of his perineum reveals a tender draining perianal lesion at 7 o’clock with surrounding induration that produces purulent fluid with modest pressure. On digital examination of the rectum there is no fluctuance or masses, but he is tender in the 7 o’clock region. He complains that his symptoms interfere with work because it is difficult to sit at his desk for long periods of time. He believes he could handle the other CD symptoms, but his perianal symptoms are much more upsetting and disruptive. The Problem Perianal disease is a debilitating and common manifestation of CD. In a US population-based study, perianal fistulas occurred in 21% of patients by 10 years after diagnosis and in 26% of patients by 20 years after diagnosis. Patients with CD and perianal involvement are more likely to have a disabling or relapsing disease course and are at greater risk for colonic resection. Before biologic therapy, 23% of patients with perianal CD underwent proctocolectomy or proctectomy and permanent ostomy. Symptoms of perianal drainage and pain, a relapsing disease course, the need for multiple surgical procedures, and, in some cases, incontinence from aggressive surgical interventions all can lead to significantly decreased quality of life in patients with perianal CD. Optimal evaluation and management of perianal CD begins with an understanding of the anatomy of the anal canal, which is formed by the internal and external anal sphincters. The internal anal sphincter is composed of smooth muscle and is not under voluntary control. The external anal sphincter is formed from skeletal muscle arising from the puborectalis and
Comparison of phototrap complexes from chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, and the R-26 mutant of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides.

— After dissolution of the membrane structure of chromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, and the R-26 mutant of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, active phototrap complexes from each have been purified by a column electrophoresis procedure. Phospholipids and transition metals were well separated from the phototrap complex in all three systems. The purified R. rubrum phototrap complex retained a full complement of antenna bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid pigments which had nearly the same absorbance spectra as in the intact cell, and which delivered absorbed light energy to the phototrap with just as high efficiency as in the intact cell. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) disc gel electrophoresis using Tris buffer showed that these preparations often contained only two prominent polypeptides of 30,000 ± 2000 and 12,000 ± 4000 mol. wt., and a lesser amount of a third polypeptide of 21,000 ± 2000 mol. wt. The phototrap complexes prepared from the wild type and the R-26 mutant of R. spheroides were similar, in that a partial separation from antenna pigments occurred during column electrophoresis. Both complexes had prominent polypeptides of 24,000 ± 2000 and 21,000 ± 2000 mol. wt., but no polypeptide of 30,000 mol. wt remained after electrophoresis. A third major polypeptide occurred with a mol. wt. of about 12,000 but seemed identifiable with an incompletely separated antenna pigment fraction. The phototrap complex prepared from the R-26 mutant had a typical reaction center spectrum. In the case of wild type R. spheroides purification, two distinct protein-pigment complexes separated. Although the absorbance of the bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were little changed from those of the in vivo system, different polypeptides in the two fractions were observed by SDS disc gel electrophoresis; only one fraction seemed to be intimately related with the phototrap complex.
Ribosome-like granules within areas of the perinuclear space in cells of 13--14 somite chick embryos.

Studies of the ultrastructure of somite cells from 13–14 somite chick embryos have indicated the presence of ribosome-like granules in polysome-like configurations in the perinuclear space within nuclear blebs. The average size of the nuclear blebs is approximately 0.3 by 0.24 microns. Some of the the blebs are contiguous with elements of the endoplasmic reticulum. The lumen of other blebs is continuous with the lumen of tubules of endoplasmic reticulum. The possible significance of these structures is discussed.
Cylindrical cellular automata

A one-dimensional cellular automaton with periodic boundary conditions may be viewed as a lattice of sites on a cylinder evolving according to a local interaction rule. A technique is described for finding analytically the set of attractors for such an automaton. Given any one-dimensional automaton rule, a matrixA is defined such that the number of fixed points on an arbitrary cylinder size is given by the trace ofA n , where the powern depends linearly on the cylinder size. More generally, the number of strings of arbitrary length that appear in limit cycles of any fixed period is found as the solution of a linear recurrence relation derived from the characteristic equation of an associated matrix. The technique thus makes it possible, for any rule, to compute the number of limit cycles of any period on any cylinder size. To illustrate the technique, closed-form expressions are provided for the complete attractor structure of all two-neighbor rules. The analysis of attractors also identifies shifts as a basic mechanism underlying periodic behavior. Every limit cycle can be equivalently defined as a set of strings on which the action of the rule is a shift of sizes/h; i.e., each string cyclically shifts bys sites inh iterations of the rule. The study of shifts provides detailed information on the structure and number of limit cycles for one-dimensional automata.
Spinal Cord Convulsions in Developing Rats

Tonic hind-limb convulsions were elicited by electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. The flexor-extensor pattern characteristic of adult animals was observed in rats as young as 1 day old.
Thrombin regulates vascular smooth muscle cell growth and heat shock proteins via the JAK-STAT pathway.

The growth-stimulating effects of thrombin are mediated primarily via activation of a G protein-coupled receptor, PAR-1. Because PAR-1 has no intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, yet requires tyrosine phosphorylation events to induce mitogenesis, we investigated the role of the Janus tyrosine kinases (JAKs) in thrombin-mediated signaling. JAK2 was activated rapidly in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) treated with thrombin, and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT1 and STAT3) were phosphorylated and translocated to the nucleus in a JAK2-dependent manner. AG-490, a JAK2-specific inhibitor, and a dominant negative JAK2 mutant inhibited thrombin-induced ERK2 activity and VSMC proliferation suggesting that JAK2 is upstream of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway. To elucidate the functional significance of JAK-STAT activation, we studied the effect of thrombin on heat shock protein (Hsp) expression, based upon the following: 1) reports that thrombin stimulates reactive oxygen species production in VSMC; 2) the putative role of Hsps in modulating cellular responses to reactive oxygen species; and 3) the presence of functional STAT1/3-binding sites in Hsp70 and Hsp90β promoters. Indeed, thrombin up-regulated Hsp70 and Hsp90 protein expression via enhanced binding of STATs to cognate binding sites in the Hsp70 and Hsp90 promoters. Together, these results suggest that JAK-STAT pathway activation is necessary for thrombin-induced VSMC growth and Hsp gene expression.
Influence of EEG electrodes on the BOLD fMRI signal.

Measurement of the EEG during fMRI scanning can give rise to image distortions due to magnetic susceptibility, eddy currents or chemical shift artifacts caused by certain types of EEG electrodes, cream, leads, or amplifiers. Two different creams were tested using MRS and T2* measurements, and we found that the one with higher water content was superior. This study introduces an index that quantifies the influence of EEG equipment on the BOLD fMRI signal. This index can also be used more generally to measure the changes in the fMRI signal due to the presence of any type of device inside (or outside) of the field of view (e.g., with fMRI and diffuse optical tomography, infrared imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation, ultrasound imaging, etc.). Quantitative noise measurements are hampered by the normal variability of functional activation within the same subject and by the different slice profiles obtained when inserting a subject multiple times inside a MR imaging system. Our measurements account for these problems by using a matched filtering of cortical surface maps of functional activations. The results demonstrate that the BOLD signal is not influenced by the presence of EEG electrodes when using a properly constructed MRI compatible recording cap. Hum. Brain Mapping 14:108–115, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A comparison of the effects of external control and self-control on the modification and maintenance of weight.

In an experimental study of weight reduction, 62 obese men and women were administered a pretreatment questionnaire and randomly assigned to three experimental treatment groups: (a) an external control group with a nonrefundable contingency; (6) a self-control group with a refundable contingency; and (c) a self-control group with a nonrefundable contingency. The results indicated that the self-control and external-control treatments were equally effective in producing reduction in weight. However, both self-control interventions were more effective than the external-control intervention in promoting maintenance of weight loss.
Robust inferences from random clustered samples: an application using data from the panel study of income dynamics

Abstract I examine the implications of clustered samples on inference. Important differences are revealed in comparisons between the estimated asymptotic variances derived assuming random and clustered sampling, even when there are only a few observations per cluster.
Do Women Directors Improve Firm Performance in China

Abstract This paper examines the effect of board gender diversity on firm performance in China's listed firms from 1999 to 2011. We document a positive and significant relation between board gender diversity and firm performance. Female executive directors have a stronger positive effect on firm performance than female independent directors, indicating that the executive effect outweighs the monitoring effect. Moreover, boards with three or more female directors have a stronger impact on firm performance than boards with two or fewer female directors, consistent with the critical mass theory. Finally, we find that the impact of female directors on firm performance is significant in legal person-controlled firms but insignificant in state-controlled firms. This paper sheds new light on China's boardroom dynamics. As governments increasingly contemplate board gender diversity policies, our study offers useful empirical guidance to Chinese regulators on the issue.
Small Organoselenium Molecules. 1. Dimethyl Selenoxide: Structure, Complexation, and Gas-Phase Transformation

For the first time the structural characterization of dimethyl selenoxide coordinated to metal complexes has been performed confirming the Me2SeO arrangement assigned by spectroscopic techniques for the molecule in solution and solid state. The structure of Me2SeO is trigonal pyramidal with Se−O and Se−C bond lengths of 1.70 and 1.92 A, respectively, and ΣX-Se-Y = 301°. As a ligand, dimethyl selenoxide was found to bind to the rhodium centers of various Lewis acidity strengths by using only its oxo functionality in both terminal and bridging fashions. This O-directed coordination preference contrasts with an ambidentate (−S and −O) binding character revealed by dimethyl sulfoxide upon formation of analogous donor−acceptor complexes. The study of dimethyl selenoxide in the gas phase at 135−140 °C resulted in a thermal degradation of this molecule. The major decomposition product has been entrapped by a metal complex and identified as dimethyl selenide. The isolation of the coordinated Me2Se fragment clearl...
Requisites of a course in playwriting

(1925). Requisites of a course in playwriting. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 31-37.
Semiclassical Surface Hopping H−K Propagator: Application to Two-Dimensional, Two-Surface Problems†

A semiclassical surface hopping Herman−Kluk (HK) propagator is developed for multisurface, multidimensional nonadiabatic problems. Its application for two-surface model problems is presented for two-dimensional collinear systems. Both noncrossing and crossing cases are investigated. The calculation on the basis of Monte Carlo method shows that the general multisurface semiclassical HK propagator method is efficient and accurate.
What's in a tip? The creation and refinement of a restaurant-tipping motivations scale: A consumer perspective

Abstract According to Segrave (1998) , since the late 1800s, the study of tipping has provoked debate in a range of abstract dimensions such as economics, sociology, and psychology. To date, the research on the topic has been largely qualitative in nature, while addressing motivating themes (service, social norm, and future service considerations) in isolation from one another. Following a thorough examination of the literature, there is a definite lack of research on the development and testing of a more holistic quantitative scale aimed at identifying the motivational Gestalt driving actual consumer tipping behavior. Therein lies the major theoretical contribution of this study, namely the development and testing of a Tipping Motivations Scale, which over two separate analyses, supports a number of drivers of consumer tipping motivation. In this study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the empirical dimensions of consumer tipping motivations. The results obtained indicate a reasonable fit between the data and the proposed model across both analyses. This was repeated on two separate occasions and the results largely remained consistent. The findings point to the key role of service in driving the consumer's decision to tip. Other important factors included social conformity, the issue of future visitation, and server actions. Further research is needed to explore whether these dimensions remain constant among other sample groups and across different tipped professions.
Skeletal Class II patterns in the primary dentition.

Abstract The aim of this longitudinal cephalometric study was to investigate early characteristics of favorable and unfavorable growth. Two groups of untreated subjects with skeletal Class II pattern were formed on the basis of an ANB angle at least 2.5° above the individual norm, according to Jarvinen, at age 5. The subjects were followed longitudinally until age 12. The favorable growth group (n = 13) consisted of subjects who exhibited a decrease in the individualized ANB angle of at least 1.5° during follow-up. The unfavorable growth group (n = 10) was characterized by an increase in the individualized ANB angle during the growth period from 5 to 12 years. Early characteristics of unfavorable growth included increased mandibular plane angle (measured to the sella-nasion line and the palatal plane, P P P P P P
Induction of nitric oxide synthase and over-production of nitric oxide by interleukin-1β in cultured lacrimal gland acinar cells

Abstract Purpose. Inflammation of the lacrimal gland is one of the major causative factors in aqueous tear-deficient dry eye syndrome. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production is upregulated in lacrimal gland autoimmune disease (i.e. Sjogren's syndrome) and is associated with cell death. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS/NOS-2) is known to be induced in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines in several secretory epithelial cell types. We hypothesize that pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cause a marked increase in nitric oxide (NO) production via induction of iNOS in lacrimal gland epithelial cells and that this may be a significant pathophysiological pathway of dry eye syndrome. Methods. Cultured immortalized rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells were incubated with IL-1β, iNOS inhibitor, or IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). Colorimetric detection of NO2− and NO3− in the media, measured by the Griess reaction, was used as an index of NO production. Expression of iNOS was determined by SDS–PAGE and Western blot. Results. IL-1β stimulated a concentration-dependent and time-dependent increase in NO production. IL-1β-induced NO production was significantly antagonized by co-incubation with IL-1ra or the iNOS-specific inhibitor, 1400W. Expression of iNOS protein was greatest at 4 hr after addition of IL-1β, and was nearly undetectable at 12 hr. IL-1ra greatly reduced IL-1β-induced iNOS expression. Conclusions. Lacrimal gland acinar cells are able to produce iNOS in response to the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. The amount of iNOS expressed and the subsequent levels of NO that are produced by lacrimal cells are far lower than those seen in macrophages, but are consistent with those reported for other cell types in the literature. This pathway of iNOS induction and overproduction of NO may be a factor in lacrimal gland cell death in dry eye syndrome. Inhibitors of iNOS or IL-1 receptor may be beneficial for controlling lacrimal gland inflammation.
P6 Binary Floating-Point Unit

The floating point unit of the next generation PowerPC is detailed. It has been tested at over 5 GHz. The design supports an extremely aggressive cycle time of 13 FO4 using a technology independent measure. For most dependent instructions, its fused multiply-add dataflow has only 6 effective pipeline stages. This is nearly equivalent to its predecessor, the Power 5, even though its technology independent frequency has increased over 70%. Overall the frequency has improved over 100%. It achieves this high performance through aggressive feedback paths, circuit design and layout. The pipeline has 7 stages but data may be fed back to dependent operations prior to rounding and complete normalization. Division and square root algorithms are also described which take advantage of high-precision linear approximation hardware for obtaining a reciprocal or reciprocal square root approximation.
Software solution to completely wireless presentation

Recent technology advances have made laptops tether-free, longer battery life enables a laptop to run for hours without a power cord, and wireless communication lets a laptop connect to a network without a network cable. However, in some cases, a cable is still needed to connect the laptop to a specific device. For example, a speaker has to use a video cable to connect the laptop to an overhead projector to make a presentation, although the laptop has wireless access capacity and the conference room has the wireless access point. This is mainly due to the lack of appropriate software. A lot of time is wasted connecting and disconnecting physical cable. The paper discusses a software solution which projects an application running on a laptop wirelessly onto the computer connected to an overhead projector. A prototype system has been implemented based on that idea. With this wireless presentation system, a speaker can immediately access the overhead projector without using a single physical cable. As a result the time saved is substantial.
Exploratory Use of Track and Camera Surveys of Mammalian Carnivores in the Peloncillo and Chiricahua Mountains of Southeastern Arizona

Abstract We explored use of non-invasive track and camera surveys to provide baseline information on distribution, activity, and habitat associations of mammalian carnivores within the Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains of southeastern Arizona. In total, track and camera stations recorded 241 and 149 detections, respectively, of carnivores and other vertebrates in both mountain ranges. In order of frequency of detections, we recorded gray foxes (112 track and camera detections), white-nosed coatis (33), large skunks (25), ringtails (13), domestic dogs (13), coyotes (9), cougars (7), bobcats (3), and western spotted skunks (2) in both the Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains, and one American black bear was photographed in the Chiricahua mountains. Other vertebrates detected included cattle (12), deer (10), and a variety of small rodents (83), birds (33), lizards (22), and lagomorphs (12). The combination of track and camera data were effective at detecting a variety of species in a range of habitat types,...
Biodistribution and excretion of [11C]benzaldehyde by the rat after two-minute inhalation exposures

1. Based on the decay characteristics of short-lived gamma-emitting radioisotopes a new acute exposure method was developed for studying the kinetics and biodistribution of inhaled toxic agents. Such body-penetrating radiation allows direct, non-invasive determination of the radiation in the animal at any time.2. Rats exposed to 11C-labelled benzaldehyde for 2min accumulated an average of 2.5μg of this aldehyde.3. Inhaled benzaldehyde was rapidly absorbed and at 1.5 min after exposure only 0.8% of the administered dose was resident in the lungs. This aldehyde was quickly distributed with the peak radioactivity in the organs occurring at 1.5 min after exposure. Subsequent loss of radiolabel from tissues was rapid and paralleled the removal from the blood. The adipose tissue cleared most slowly.4. Benzaldehyde was rapidly excreted via the renal system with the kidneys containing 17% of the total administered activity at 5 min. The excreted radiolabeled compound cochromatographed with hippuric acid on t.l.c.
Production of Pyrogenic Exotoxin by Groups of Streptococci: Association with Group A

Several groups of streptococci were tested for production of pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE) with Ouchterlony immunodiffusion, a newly developed passive hemagglutination inhibition assay, and an assay for pyrogenicity and capacity to enhance lethal endotoxin shock. With use of these assays, 68 (91%) of 75 group A streptococcal strains were positive for one or more of SPE types A, B, and C; seven were negative for both the known SPE types and antigenically unrelated pyrogenic exotoxins. Group A strains producing both SPE B and C were the most common, and strains producing A alone or AB and AC together were the least common. All of 11 rheumatogenic group A streptococci elaborated SPE C either alone or together with one or both of SPE types A and B. The 10 nephritogenic strains tested were positive for SPE B; five were positive for B alone. In contrast to group A streptococci, non-group A strains (41 tested) did not produce the known SPE types, and 19 of 19 tested were negative for antigenically unrelated pyrogenic exotoxins. Group A strains from Holland, India, and Japan also elaborated SPE. Several group A streptococci used widely in laboratory experiments were tested for SPE types produced. Three antigenically unrelated group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE), designated types
Correlates of engineering and management effectiveness: design of a strategic university curriculum for corporate engineering executive development (SUCCEED) program

Not only is the need for effective engineering managers increasing, but the nature of management is changing as a result of a range of new management techniques. Most large corporate organizations and many smaller ones, recognize that to meet engineering managers' needs in the present and future, they must develop professional engineering managers through appropriate educational programs. This research examines engineering/management education from a quality assurance perspective, paying attention to measurable ends of such education. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Purdue University Engineering/Management Program as the managers were impacted by the program. Evaluation criteria established from the stated objectives of the program, were used as bases for measuring knowledge, skills and attitudinal change. This evaluation study also attempted to measure those changes that occurred in the knowledge skills and attitudes, from before to after the program- how well did the program experiences meet the needs' of the managers?.
Life-Threatening Hemorrhage from Inadvertent Cervical Arteriotomy

Catastrophic hemorrhage followed accidental puncture of the carotid artery or its branches during attempted preoperative insertion of flow-directed balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheters in 2 patients who underwent open cardiac procedures. Direct repair of two carotid artery lacerations was necessary in 1 patient; the second patient slowly resorbed a large extrapleural hematoma without surgical intervention. This experience suggests that patients experiencing such seemingly innocuous but potentially disastrous arterial injuries should not be heparinized, and that any procedure involving cardiopulmonary bypass should be postponed for several days to allow safe healing of the laceration.
A patient-centered longitudinal care plan: vision versus reality.

Objective As healthcare systems and providers move toward meaningful use of electronic health records, longitudinal care plans (LCPs) may provide a means to improve communication and coordination as patients transition across settings. The objective of this study was to determine the current state of communication of LCPs across settings and levels of care. Materials and methods We conducted surveys and interviews with professionals from emergency departments, acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agency settings in six regions in the USA. We coded the transcripts according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) ‘Broad Approaches’ to care coordination to understand the degree to which current practice meets the definition of an LCP. Results Participants (n=22) from all settings reported that LCPs do not exist in their current state. We found LCPs in practice, and none of these were shared or reconciled across settings. Moreover, we found wide variation in the types and formats of care plan information that was communicated as patients transitioned. The most common formats, even when care plan information was communicated within the same healthcare system, were paper and fax. Discussion These findings have implications for data reuse, interoperability, and achieving widespread adoption of LCPs. Conclusions The use of LCPs to support care transitions is suboptimal. Strategies are needed to transform the LCP from vision to reality.
On algorithms for efficient data migration

The data migration problem is the problem of computing an efficient plan for moving data stored on devices in a network from one configuration to another. Load balancing or changing usage patterns could necessitate such a rearrangement of data. In this paper, we consider the case where the objects are fixed-size and the network is complete. The direct migration problem is closely related to edge-coloring. However, because there are space constraints on the devices, the problem is more complex. Our main results are polynomial time algorithms for finding a near-optimal migration plan in the presence of space constraints when a certain number of additional nodes is available as temporary storage, and a 3/2-approximation for the case where data must be migrated directly to its destination.
Probing nanoscale polymer interactions by forced-assembly

Communication: When two immiscible polymers are brought into intimate contact, highly localized mixing of polymer chains creates an "interphase" region. Materials that are entirely interphase are fabricated by forced-assembly using layer-multiplying coextrusion to form assemblies of thousands of nanolayers. Analysis of the interphase materials. with conventional methods of polymer analysis confirms certain theoretical predictions for the first time. The unique properties of the new interphase materials result from lower free volume than the constituents.