cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parents' Preferences for School- and Community-Based Services for Children at Risk for ADHD.

This study used conjoint analysis, trade-off methodology employed by marketing researchers and health economists, to examine preferences of parents for school- and community-based interventions for childhood ADHD. Participants were 29 mothers (86.2% Caucasian) of boys aged 5–13 years with or at risk of ADHD. Mothers completed a conjoint survey that examined trade-offs across 15 attributes of service content (e.g., materials, resources), process (e.g., time demand, format/delivery mode), and outcome (e.g., improvement in children's behavioral functioning). Findings suggest that parents preferred services maximizing children's behavioral and social outcomes (relative to family functioning). Parents were willing to give up services with desirable delivery features (such as daily homeschool notes and child's frequent participation in therapy) for programs optimizing outcomes. Simulation analyses, forecasting tools that predict how respondents would behave in the real world, revealed that 62.1% of parents were predicted to prefer a standard, evidence-informed school-based service involving daily teacher involvement and monthly parent involvement, while 37.9% of parents were predicted to use a standard, evidence-informed community-based service involving daily parent involvement and monthly teacher involvement. Findings from this study show that parents value improved social and behavioral outcomes more than desirable service delivery features. However, results suggest that if the treatment package includes school-based services in which there is greater teacher involvement and less parent involvement, a majority of parents prefer school services, especially if they involve children's ongoing use of self-control strategies. Results suggest ways in which the delivery of effective treatments needs to be altered to make them more palatable and acceptable by parents. Other implications for school-based practitioners are discussed.
Practical Aspects of Multiscale Optimization Methods for VLSICAD

VLSICAD (computer-aided design for very large scale integrated circuits) gives rise to a variety of optimization problems. Here we consider a family of optimization problems inspired by the circuit placement problem. In addition, we examine a specific model where the goal is to specify the positions of the components in an integrated circuit so as to minimize the sum of the squares of the wirelengths.
Towards a Collective Intelligence: Transmediality and the Wu Ming Project

Since the dawn of the Italian Second Republic, former Prime Minister Berlusconi’s tactics of media domination, as well as his approach to culture creation, have had a considerable effect on the Italian imaginary. The collective Wu Ming, through their multisensorial and multimedial approach to writing, are among those intellectuals who question the cultural paradigms that have become hegemonic in Italy over the last twenty years. The experience of a Wu Ming novel extends past the printed word, as they experiment with all five senses to enhance the way in which the reader lives the content on the page, providing clear examples of Henry Jenkins’s «convergence culture» at work. This essay focuses specifically on the interplay of word and image in Wu Ming’s use of the social media site Pinterest to illustrate how this particular aspect of their project serves as a microcosm of their overall approach to culture creation and art, and how their facilitation of the collective process of consumption contributes to the formation of Arjun Appadurai’s «communities of sentiment» and Jenkins’s «collective intelligence». These formations revitalize the concept of popular culture for the digital age and offer an alternative to an Italian cultural imaginary long dominated by the practices of Berlusconism.
Operant performance patterns of normal and nervous water-deprived dogs.

Previous studies have shown that most food-deprived genetically nervous pointer dogs fail to learn a bar-pressing response for food reward and those which do learn are erratic in bar pressing compared to genetically normal pointer dogs which usually learn rapidly and perform well. Benzodiazepine drugs facilitate learning and performance of the responses in nervous dogs. The present study aimed at finding whether a stronger drive producing state, such as water deprivation, would facilitate learning and performance in even severely nervous dogs. Eight normal line and 7 nervous line dogs successfully learned to perform well a paddle-pressing response which activates a valve releasing water into a drinking pan. One disturbed dog of each line did not learn successfully. Behavior shaping was about as easy and as rapid in nervous line dogs as in normals. Nervous line dogs tended to be as consistent in responding. However, response rates of nervous line dogs averaged about two-thirds those of normal line dogs, the slowed rate of responses being taken up mostly in excessive, rather stereotyped, licking of the water pan. Response rates correlated well with degree of nervousness as measured on independent well standardized behavior tests. This behavior seems to add another dimension to the characterization of the nervousness of these “spooky” pointer dogs.
Stochastic Generation Capacity Expansion Planning with Approximate Dynamic Programming

Failing to consider the many long-term uncertainties that affect the performance of a power generation portfolio can result in suboptimal generation expansion plans. Further, traditional deterministic approaches can omit flexible plans that are able to adapt to future events. In this paper, we explore the use of approximate dynamic programming (ADP) to create forward-looking generation expansion plans. A case study is included with three sequential decision periods; three generation technologies; and four uncertainties: demand growth, natural gas prices, renewable portfolio standards, and the adoption of customer-driven solar generation. The flexible plans found through ADP show a 3 % reduction in total expected cost when compared to myopic planning heuristics while circumventing the computational burdens that accompany high-dimensional dynamic programs.
Genomic profiling and targeted therapy in cholangiocarcinoma to yield positive clinical outcomes.

e23162Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is an uncommon gastrointestinal malignancy that remains relatively understudied even as its worldwide incidence continues to climb. The treatment options for pa...
Facile Synthesis of Sequence-Regulated Synthetic Polymers Using Orthogonal SuFEx and CuAAC Click Reactions

The orthogonal sulfur-fluoride exchange reaction (SuFEx) and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) are employed to synthesize sequence-regulated synthetic polymers. The high efficiency and broad tolerance of SuFEx and CuAAC to diverse chemical functionalities enable the one-pot synthesis of polydispersed sequence-controlled polymers by step-growth copolymerization in high yield and sequence complexity. Furthermore, iterative SuFEx and CuAAC coupling reactions on a solid support, without the need of protecting groups, afford monodispersed sequence-defined oligomers. The use of this orthogonal pair of click reactions provides new opportunities to facilely access sequence-regulated synthetic polymers with a high degree of structural diversity.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Human Resource Management in Parks and Recreation

Arguably the most critical asset for park and recreation agencies is human resources. Generally representing more than 60% of park and recreation agencies' yearly operating budget, human resources put the material resources (i.e., financial and physical) into use and convert them into recreation programs and services (Bartlett & McKinney, 2004). Park and recreation professionals guide and shape their agencies and communities in many ways, including the creation and implementation of new ideas and strategies; innovative programs, parks, and facilities; internal and external relations; decision-making and problem solving; and overall leadership. Simply put, human resources are the primary drivers of the success and, at times, challenges for park and recreation agencies.
Pain management and prescribing practices in otolaryngology residency programs

Abstract Purpose To understand the knowledge, competency and influencing factors regarding postoperative opioid prescribing practices among Otolaryngology Residents. To understand the educational background and resources regarding pain management and opioid prescribing among Otolaryngology Residency Programs. Materials and methods An anonymous electronic survey was distributed to Otolaryngology residents in the greater New York City area. Subjects reported their preferred pain management prescription for eight common otolaryngology surgeries. Questions addressed opioid and non-opioid prescribing influences, use/knowledge of pain management resources, and prior opioid prescribing education (OPE). An anonymous survey was distributed to US Otolaryngology Program Directors addressing resident prescribing influences and OPE in residency training programs. Results Thirty-Five residents and fifteen PDs participated. Resident opioid prescribing was widely variable with averages ranging from 3.8 to 21.1 narcotic pills among eight standard otolaryngology surgeries. Attending/senior preference was believed to largely influence resident prescribing habits among residents (3.66, ±6.68), and PDs (4.73, ±0.46). Only 20% of programs had formal OPE in place, consistent with the 65.71% of residents who reported no prior OPE. Conclusions and relevance A large inconsistency in Otolaryngology resident postoperative pain management exists, despite their responsibility to provide analgesic therapy. The lack of formal OPE programs in US Otolaryngology residency programs may lead to outside factors unrelated to surgery influencing these prescribing practices. This brings light to the need of Otolaryngology Resident OPE to assist in standardizing prescribing practices, provide meaningful patient education on opioid use and disposal and educate residents on the risk assessment tools offered to provide the most appropriate and safe analgesic therapy to patients.
The gastrointestinal system in the critically ill cirrhotic patient.

Purpose of reviewICU admissions due to complications of advanced liver disease continue to rise. Among indications for admission to the ICU in patients with cirrhosis, gastrointestinal issues such as bleeding are common. In patients in whom gastrointestinal issues are not the principal indication fo
Trends in medical conditions and functioning in the U.S. population, 1997-2017.

Abstract Background Over the last several decades, the federal disability rolls grew substantially, though this growth has slowed more recently. Many factors underlie these trends, including changes in demographics, policies, and disability prevalence. Objective We address two research questions: (1) How has the prevalence of certain potentially disabling conditions changed among working-age adults over the last two decades? and (2) Among individuals with these conditions, how has the share who report particular functional limitations changed over time? Methods We use nationally representative survey data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to document regression adjusted population trends since 1997 in some of the most commonly disabling chronic conditions and functional limitations among adult disability beneficiaries. Results We find that the prevalence of several conditions has increased in the U.S. population – most notably, obesity, endocrine conditions, and neoplasms. We also find notable changes in functional limitations. Hearing and vision limitations declined, while adults experienced increases in cognitive, social, and movement limitations. Alongside these long-term trends we find some evidence that reporting of conditions and limitations is countercyclical with the business cycle. Conclusions These changes in condition prevalence and functional limitations are consistent with some but not all documented changes in the federal disability rolls. Increases in social limitations are consistent with the perception that Americans are increasingly socially isolated.
Infectious disease complications of transplant tourism.

The dramatic deficiency of organs throughout the world results in a significant number of transplant candidates who seek organs through alternative routes, including ‘transplant tourism,’ which den...
‘Ma tête mise à nu:’ Wigs and Wigmakers in Madame Bovary

This article examines the moments in Madame Bovary where wigs are mentioned, reading them as a microscope into the novel’s representation of meaninglessness and its consequences. Starting with the ...
Renewed Threat of Nuclear Holocaust Requires Physician Activism.

Threat of Nuclear Holocaust and Physician Activism Dissolution of nuclear arms control agreements and the failure to limit the expansion of nuclear arms have heightened the risk of nuclear confront...
Virtual annotations of the surgical field through an augmented reality transparent display

Existing telestrator-based surgical telementoring systems require a trainee surgeon to shift focus frequently between the operating field and a nearby monitor to acquire and apply instructions from a remote mentor. We present a novel approach to surgical telementoring where annotations are superimposed directly onto the surgical field using an augmented reality (AR) simulated transparent display. We present our first steps towards realizing this vision, using two networked conventional tablets to allow a mentor to remotely annotate the operating field as seen by a trainee. Annotations are anchored to the surgical field as the trainee tablet moves and as the surgical field deforms or becomes occluded. The system is built exclusively from compact commodity-level components--all imaging and processing are performed on the two tablets.
DYNAMIC VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR DISCONTINUOUS ELASTIC FIELDS

Various forms of variational principles are derived for the three-dimensional theory of elastodynamics. The continuity requirements on the fields of stresses or strains and/or displacements are relaxed through Friedrichs's transformation. Thus, the generalized forms of certain types of earlier variational principles are systematically constructed using a basic principle of physics. The variational principles derived herein are shown to generate, as the appropriate Euler equations, the complete set of the governing equations of linear elastodynamics, that is, the stress equations of motion, the strain displacement relations, the mixed natural boundary conditions, the constitutive equations, the natural initial conditions, and the jump conditions. Similarly, generalized variational principles are established for the nonlinear theory of elastodynamics, for the incremental motions in linear elasticity, and for an elastic Cosserat continuum, as well.
The Basic Minimum: A Welfarist Approach

A common presupposition in contemporary moral and political philosophy is that individuals should be provided with some basic threshold of goods, capabilities, or well-being. But if there is such a basic minimum, how should this be understood? Dale Dorsey offers an underexplored answer: that the basic minimum should be characterized not as the achievement of a set of capabilities, or as access to some specified bundle of resources, but as the maintenance of a minimal threshold of human welfare. In addition, Dorsey argues that though political institutions should be committed to the promotion of this minimal threshold, we should reject approaches that seek to cast the basic minimum as a human right. His book will be important for all who are interested in theories of political morality.
Lessons learned in the management of thirteen celiac axis injuries.

Objectives Celiac axis injuries are rare. The purposes of this study were to (1) review institutional experience, (2) determine additive effect on death of associated vessel injuries, and (3) correlate mortality rates with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale (AAST-OIS) for abdominal vascular injury. Methods This was a retrospective, 132-month study (January 1992 to December 2002) of patients with celiac axis injuries. Results Thirteen patients were included in the study. Mean revised trauma score was 5.35+/-2.63; mean injury severity score was 25+/-12. The mechanism was penetrating in 12 (92%) and blunt in 1 (8%); 3 of 13 had Emergency Department thoracotomy (100% mortality rate). Treatment included ligation in 11 and primary repair in 1; 1 exsanguinated. Overall survival was 5 of 13 (38%). Adjusted survival excluding patients who had Emergency Department thoracotomy was 5 of 10 patients (50%). Those surviving with isolated injuries included 57% of patients. Mortality rate versus AAST-OIS was grade III, 43% (3 of 7 patients); grade IV, 50% (1 of 2 patients); and grade V, 100% (4 of 4 patients). Conclusions Celiac axis injuries are rare. Patients with isolated injuries have better survival rates. Mortality rate correlates well with AAST-OIS for abdominal vascular injury.
Acoustic (Underwater) Communications

The need for underwater wireless communications exists in off-shore oil industry, environmental monitoring, speech transmission between divers, control of autonomous underwater vehicles, and mapping of the ocean floor for detection of objects and discovery of new resources. Wireless underwater communications can be established by transmission of acoustic waves. However, the communication channels have limited bandwidth, and often cause severe multipath dispersion and time-variability. Despite these limitations, research efforts of the 90's have culminated in the development of underwater acoustic modems that are capable of transmitting information at rates on the order of several kilobits per second systems over varying distances. The emerging scenario is that of an underwater communication network consisting of both stationary and mobile nodes. Current research is focusing on the design of efficient modulation and coding schemes, adaptive signal processing algorithms for equalization and diversity combining, multiple-access communication methods and network protocols suited for low bandwidth, long propagation delays and strict power requirements encountered in the underwater environment. Keywords: underwater communications; acoustic communications; bandwidt-efficient modulation; adaptive equalization; diversity combining; reduced-complexity receivers; phase-coherent detection; channel estimation; multipath propagation; multiuser detection; underwater networks
Osteoporosis: the role of micronutrients

Osteoporosis and low bone mass are currently estimated to be a major public health threat. Adequate nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; the micronutrients of greatest importance are calcium and vitamin D. Calcium has been shown to have beneficial effects on bone mass at all ages, although the results are not always consistent. Higher doses than the current US recommendation (600 IU) of vitamin D in the elderly (age ≥ 65 y) may actually be required for optimal bone health (800-1000 IU/d). The elderly can clearly benefit from increased vitamin D intakes; however, the potential importance of vitamin Din peak bone mass is just being investigated. Vitamin D has been related to falls, with supplementation reducing the number of falls. There are clear fracture benefits demonstrated in randomized clinical trials of calcium and vitamin D supplementation. The other micronutrient needs for optimizing bone health can be easily met by a healthy diet that is high in fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate intakes for magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and other potentially important nutrients. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the importance of adequate calcium and vitamin D intakes (easily monitored by serum 25(OH)D) for optimal bone health, as well as the prevention of falls and fractures. In addition, a healthy diet that includes 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables should optimize the intake of micronutrients required for bone health.
CCD CZT Spectral analysis applied to real time homomorphics speech analysis-synthesis

In this paper we discuss real time spectral analysis using charge-coupled device (CCD) nonrecursive filters with an application to homomorphic speech analysis-synthesis. We consider the conventional chirp-z-transform (CZT) realization of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and an analogous CZT realization of a sliding transform, a modified DFT, better suited to CCD technology than the DFT. Novel CCD configurations based on both transforms are proposed for improved spectral resolution and frame rate; such schemes utilize parallel spectral processing and interpolation. Stationarity conditions and windowing techniques required by these CCD structures are discussed within the context of short-time spectral analysis. A number of homomorphic schemes and experimental results are presented which illustrate the trade-offs that CCD technology imposes between implementational complexity and synthetic speech quality.
Halsey-Evans—Relocation of operations

Abstract Relocation, what are the advantages of relocating a company? What are the disadvantages? Who will benefit from relocation and who will be harmed? What factors are to be considered when thinking about moving a company? What about production operations, marketing and distribution, human resources, stakeholder groups, a unionized workforce and even local and state governments? In the Halsey-Evans case, is relocation the answer?
Improved Local Correlation Method for Fingerprint Matching

In our previous study, we presented the idea of verifying minutiae based fingerprint match by local correlation methods, where both the global minutiae distribution structure and the local matching similarity between the two fingerprints are considered. In this paper, we conduct two algorithms to enhance the evaluation of local correlation score, thus improve our previous local correlation fingerprint matching method. The local image enhancement algorithm is used to improve the quality of the fingerprint image, based upon local ridge information, when the correlation score is calculated. The gradient decent algorithm is used to boost the speed of local fingerprint image registration around the potential matching areas. FVC2002 DB1 database is used to test the proposed approaches. Experimental result shows the improvement on both time and precision.
Investigation of dynamic Young's modulus for molybdenum disilicide-titanium trisilicide (MoSi2-Ti5Si3)

Molybdenum disilicide-titanium trisilicide (MoSi2-Ti5Si3) is a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) created for the purpose of improving the mechanical properties of molybdenum disilicide. Five alloys of this CMC were prepared by varying the ratio of volume per cent Ti5Si3 to volume per cent MoSi2. Evaluation of the specimens using the piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique (PUCOT) determined the values of Young's modulus to range from 303 to 378 GPa at room temperature increasing with volume fraction of MoSi2. The values of Young's modulus for temperatures up to about 400 °C for each alloy decrease linearly with respect to increasing temperature. Damping within the specimens is independent of strain amplitude at room temperature, but shows some strain amplitude dependence at higher temperatures. The values of density for the alloys, determined using Archimedes' method, range from about 5200 to 5900 kg m−3, and compare favourably with the values determined by the rule of mixtures.
Portals in libraries. A symposium: Symposium summary

Synthese rapide des communications presentees a la preconference: Portals in libraries: A symposium tenue en juin 2004 au Congres annuel de l'ALA (American Library Association)
Farnsworth hue circles

Abstract A tristimulus color mixing device is described which provides a continuously variable circle of colors, as on a color mixture diagram, in the manner of the Farnsworth Hue Circles. The device uses filters instead of pigment colors but the principle should be extended to spectrally pure stimuli.
Capacity building: A primer

The definition and analysis of capacity building in this chapter provides a foundation for understanding how capacity-building expectations and practices are fulfilled by organizations represented in the rest of this volume. The authors also address organizational change through their discussion of catalytic mechanisms.
Anomic depression and the migrating family

Anomic family depression is a form of depression which occurs in reaction to a disruption in a family's ability to discover a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Anomic depression often occurs during times of family migration where there is an increased danger of a disruption in the family's traditional methods of discovering and experiencing meaning. Existential family therapy utilizing network intervention, social skills training, and existential reflection is frequently a useful form of treatment in this kind of practice situation.
Overview of GOES high-resolution interferometer sounder brassboard development and test program

Replacement of the sounder filter wheel in one of the clones of the GOES I-M satellite series with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) interferometer would improve retrieval performance and could be a pathfinder for technology employed in the next generation GOES series. Based on examination of an earlier proposal, NOAA decided to pursue the feasibility of such a FTIR replacement. The FTIR interferometer is to be as nearly a 'plug-in' replacement for the sounder filter wheel as possible. THis imposes some interesting and challenging optical, mechanical, and electronic constraints on the design and fabrication of the interferometer. This overview describes a brassboard design for a replacement FTIR interferometer and provides the background and the status of GHIS brassboard work-in- progress at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
Flexible and efficient network services

Distributed systems that are configured with many small workstations interconnected with a few large servers are becoming more common in the computer science community. In many cases, requesting services across the net requires explicit specification of the name of the large server. Alternatively, designs have been proposed where the it is the responsibility of the operating system to determine which active site should provide the service. In this paper we argue that making site location completely transparent to a user is not a good idea. We present a scheme that allows the user to specify and easily alter the amount of control she exercises over her network services. Once the user has selected or been given default values, these values continue to be used for all future sessions with the same set of services. Hence, all future sessions will appear network transparent without further intervention from the user. We give examples where these concepts are useful both in requesting services resident on a larger host, and storing remote files.
Evaluation of plasma cortisol levels and behavior in dogs wearing bark control collars

On wk 1, 24 healthy mixed breed kennel dogs were screened by physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, and plasma cortisol measurement. Dogs were tested to ensure they barked at an unfamiliar dog. Dogs were randomly assigned to control, electronic bark collar or lemon spray bark collar groups (n = 8 per group). On wk 0 (acclimation baseline), dogs wore inactivated collars 30 min/day for 3 consecutivedays.On wks1and 2,dogsworeanactivatedcollar 30 min/dayfor 3consecutive days.Controls wore an inactivated collar. The bark stimulus was an unfamiliar dog walked in front of the run, three times, 30 sperpresentation.Plasmacortisolwasmeasuredwk1,wk0d3,wk1d1,wk1d3andwk2d3.ACTH was measured wk 0 d 3 and wk 1 d 1. Barking and activity were measured each session. Results: Dogswearingelectronicorlemonspraycollars barkedless thancontrols (P 0.05). Mean plasma cortisol levels werewithin the reference range for all groups throughout the study. Overall, there was a significant time effect (P 0.05). Activity did not change significantly over time (P > 0.05).
Microtoxicology XI: Identification and Differentiation of Seven-New Synthetic Antispasmodics

Abstract The newer antispasmodic drugs, TrasentineB 6-H hydrochloride, Bentyl@ hydrochloride, 2,2-diphenyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-~,~-dioxolhaynder ochloride and methobromide, 5-diethylamino-2,2-diphenylpentanenitrile hydrochloride, 2-diethylaminoethyl-cyclopentyl-hydroxy-2-thienylacetathey drochloride have been subjected to a series of colorimetric and precipitation reagents. Definite differences in reaction of the drugs were observed, but the results were not conclusive. On the other hand, combination of melting point data and optical crystallographic measurements give positive identification of the compounds with very small samples. Such methods should be of interest to toxicologists.
Hormone treatment for mood disorders in women.

Periods of intense hormonal fluctuations have been associated with heightened prevalence and exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness, particularly the occurrence of premenstrual dysphoria, puerperal depression and depressive symptoms during the menopausal transition. It has been speculated that sex steroids, such as estrogens, progestogens, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, exert a significant modulation of brain functioning, possibly through interactions with various neurotransmitter systems. It is therefore intuitive that abrupt alterations of these hormones would interfere with mood and behavior. On the other hand, accumulating data suggest that hormonal interventions may also promote relief or even remission of depressive symptoms, as already demonstrated in studies on perimenopausal women treated with transdermal estradiol. This article reviews the potential role of sex hormones for the treatment of depressive disorders in women. There are preliminary, but promising data on the use of e...
The Design of Economic Acceptance Sampling Plans for a Mixture of Variables and Attributes

Abstract A method is developed for determining economical acceptance sampling plans where the characteristics of interest are a mixture of variables and attributes. The method uses a model which has been developed to represent the total expected cost per lot of exercising acceptance sampling. An optimum plan is found by minimizing the expected cost model with respect to the decision variables which are the sample sizes and control limits on the sample means for variables and the sample sizes and acceptance numbers for attributes. Optimization is accomplished using the pattern search.
Hybrid mixed-integer/constraint logic programming strategies for solving scheduling and combinatorial optimization problems

Abstract In this paper, we present two methods to overcome the combinatorial complexity when solving large discrete optimization problems. The basic idea relies on combining mixed integer programming (MIP) and constraint logic programming (CLP) to exploit their complementary strengths. These strategies are illustrated in the area of job-shop scheduling and trim-loss problems. Comparisons of the strategies are presented with direct solutions on MIP and CLP problems.
Hydrocracking and Hydroisomerization of n -Hexadecane, n -Octacosane and Fischer–Tropsch Wax Over a Pt/SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 Catalyst

The hydroisomerization and hydrocracking of long chain n-paraffins and a Fischer–Tropsch wax produced with a cobalt catalyst were accomplished over a Pt–amorphous silica–alumina catalyst. The relative conversion of the n-hexadecane and n-octacosane mixed feed greatly favored the higher carbon number compound even though the conversions of the pure hydrocarbons were the same within a factor of two or less when converted separately. Thus, vapor equilibrium plays a role for the conversion of the heavier alkanes and in this case the conversion essentially occurs with only the compound present in the liquid phase. The single branched cracked products show a peak at the mid-carbon number, C8 and C14 for the two reactants, but the peak for the multi-branched product occurs at a higher carbon number. Thus, it appears that the multi-branched products are primarily produced in a series reaction with the singly branched compounds being formed as the primary products. The data for wax conversion are consistent with the competitive conversion operating for the higher carbon number compounds; however, the transport of intermediate carbon number products from the reactor occurs more rapidly than their formation rates by cracking reactions. The data clearly show that the hydrocracking of wax is dominated by vapor–liquid equilibrium and that hydrocracking is initially controlled by the compounds present in the liquid phase. Figure shows the catalyst pore filling with low boiling (left) and high boiling (right) hydrocarbons. Each reactant saturates the catalytic sites and the breaking of C–C bond occurs. Once the products from cracking of the liquid phase go into the vapor phase, it should rapidly pass the catalyst bed. This short contact time on gas phase hydrocarbons relative to the liquid phase, limits the conversion of low boiling point hydrocarbons.
Chagas' disease in an obstetrical patient

We report a case of a parturient with documented chronic Chagas' disease with cardiac manifestations presenting for labor management and complicated by the need for emergent hysterectomy after delivery. Chagas' disease is a common human hematogenous trypanosomiasis in Central and South America which is now, because of population migration, appearing in the USA. This disease predominantly affects the heart and the gastrointestinal system. This report discusses the parasite, the acute and chronic phases of Chagas' disease and highlights its medical implications, including maternal-fetal transfer of Trypanosoma cruzi.
An Investigation of the Unusual 57Fe Mössbauer Quadrupole Splittings and Isomer Shifts in 2 and 3-Coordinate Fe(II) Complexes

The 57Fe Mossbauer quadrupole splittings (ΔEQ) and isomer shifts (δFe) in 3-coordinate high-spin Fe(II) complexes are unusually small, and previous attempts to reproduce their ΔEQ values have been unsuccessful. We show here that, by using large structural models and basis sets, both ΔEQ and δFe values can be quite accurately predicted by using density functional theory. Four systems were investigated: the three 3-coordinate species [LFeX]0 (L = β-diketiminate; X = Cl-, CH3-) and [Fe(SC6H2-2,4,6-tBu3)3]-, in addition to an uncommon 2-coordinate high-spin ferrous thiolate, [Fe(SC6H3-2,6-mes2)2] (mes = mesityl = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2). Both Gaussian-type-orbital and Slater-type-orbital basis sets were investigated, and both yielded ΔEQ and δFe values in good accord with experiment. There were no improvements in these property predictions when (approximate) relativistic effects were included in the calculations. An MO analysis provided a detailed picture of the origin of the small ΔEQ values seen in the 3-coordinate...
Annual phytoplankton metabolism in Narragansett Bay calculated from survey field measurements and microcosm observations

Field surveys of phytoplankton metabolism, based on oxygen changes, were made in Narragansett Bay from 1971–73. Annual daytime net production varied from 218 g C per m2 per yr in the East Passage to 429 g C per m2 per yr in the Providence River. The area based average for the bay was 269 g C per m2 per yr. The area based average night respiration was 159 g C per m2 per yr resulting in an annual net carbon available for export or to the benthos of 110 g C per m2 per yr. A set of microcosms, operated so as to simulate the Bay, had an annual net production of 276 g C per m2 per yr and a night respiration of 163 g C per m2 per yr resulting in an annual net carbon available for export or to the benthos of 113 g C per m2 per yr. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY015 00002
Prolactin Receptor-Associated Protein/17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 7 Gene (Hsd17b7) Plays a Crucial Role in Embryonic Development and Fetal Survival

Our laboratory has previously cloned and purified a protein named PRAP (prolactin receptor-associated protein) that was shown to be a novel 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) enzyme with dual activity. This enzyme, renamed HSD17B7 or PRAP/17beta-HSD7, converts estrone to estradiol and is also involved in cholesterol biosynthesis. The major site of its expression is the corpus luteum of a great number of species including rodents and humans. To examine the functional significance of HSD17B7 in pregnancy, we generated a knockout mouse model with targeted deletions of exons 1-4 of this gene. We anticipated a mouse with a severe fertility defect due to its inability to regulate estrogen levels during pregnancy. The heterozygous mutant mice are normal in their development and gross anatomy. The females cycle normally, and both male and female are fertile with normal litter size. To our surprise, the breeding of heterozygous mice yielded no viable HSD17B7 null mice. However, we found HSD17B7 null embryo alive in utero on d 8.5 and d 9.5. By d 10.5, the fetuses grow and suffer from severe brain malformation and heart defect. Because the brain depends on in situ cholesterol biosynthesis for its development beginning at d 10, the major cause of fetal death appears to be due to the cholesterol synthetic activity of this enzyme. By ablating HSD17B7 function, we have uncovered, in vivo, an important requirement for this enzyme during fetal development.
Commentary: botulinum toxin in clinical medicine

The recent introduction of botulinum toxin (BTX) into clinical medicine has revolutionized the practice of medicine and surgery forever. Who would have ever thought that the world's most deadly of all toxins would be used for therapeutic purposes? The discovery of the beneficial effects of BTX has transformed the lives of many unfortunate individuals who have suffered from a variety of unrelated disorders, which have been virtually impossible to treat. With the help of BTX, these and hopefully many other ailments will be easily managed with a few simple injections.
Acculturation in Mexican Immigrants: A Concept Analysis

The concept of acculturation in Mexican immigrants was analyzed using the concept analysis technique developed by Walker and Avant. The related concepts for acculturation are assimilation, separation, and marginalization. The defining attributes identified for acculturation are original cultural identity, exposure to a culture different from one's own, and changes in the behavioral, affective, and/or cognitive domains of one's functioning after exposure to a new culture. An antecedent for acculturation is that identification with one's culture of origin must be well established. Another antecedent is the willingness to modify one's original cultural identity. Transition is identified as a consequence of acculturation. Acculturation is a complex, multifaceted concept and cannot be adequately captured by measures that use language preference alone. Other factors such as social class, employment, education, and income should also be considered when acculturation is a factor in nursing practice and research.
Inhibition of dopamine uptake by cocaine and nicotine: tolerance to chronic treatments

Chronic administration of cocaine (50 mg/kg/day for 7 days, s.c. via an osmotic minipump) produced tolerance to inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake by cocaine in rat striatum but did not produce cross-tolerance to inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake by nicotine. Chronic nicotinic treatment (6 mg/kg/day for 7 days, s.c. via an osmotic minipump), however, produced tolerance to the inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake by nicotine and cross-tolerance to inhibition of uptake by cocaine in rat striatum. Nicotine did not inhibit uptake of [3H]dopamine in the nucleus accumbens of saline-treated animals. In this tissue, both cocaine and nicotine treatments produced tolerance to cocaine, as in striatum. Unlike the effects on [3H]dopamine uptake, chronic cocaine infusion did not have any effect on the ability of cocaine to inhibit [3H]serotonin uptake in either brain region.
The dynamics of the zonal index in a simple model of the atmosphere

A simple nonlinear global model with zonally symmetric forcing displays strong variability in its zonally averaged circulation on time-scales from weeks to months. These variations resemble the behavior of the zonal index in observations, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. In the model, as the zonal index varies, synoptic eddies and their associated fluxes follow the strongest westerlies poleward and equatorward. Synoptic fluxes of momentum sustain the index against dissipation, and are responsible for its persistence. While the momentum fluxes by low-frequency eddies are not well correlated with the index, they are significant in determining its tendency. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1991.t01-4-00005.x
Equal rights? not for 100,000+ American H‐4 visa holders

Currently, there are thousands of women living in the US who are denied the freedom to work, the right to live with their spouse as an equal partner, and the dignity that comes with the ability to make their own choices. These are women residing legally in the US in H‐4 visa status, dependents of an H‐1B visa holder. In the upcoming US congressional session the terms of the H‐1B visa will be reviewed. Changes should also be considered to ensure the rights of the H‐4 holder.
Sensitivity to basis mismatch in compressed sensing

Compressed sensing theory suggests that successful inversion of an image of the physical world from its modal parameters can be achieved at measurement dimensions far lower than the image dimension, provided that the image is sparse in an a priori known basis. The assumed basis for sparsity typically corresponds to a gridding of the parameter space, e.g., an DFT grid in spectrum analysis. However, in reality no physical field is sparse in the DFT basis or in an a priori known basis. No matter how finely we grid the parameter space the sources may not lie in the center of the grid cells and there is always mismatch between the assumed and the actual bases for sparsity. In this paper, we study the sensitivity of compressed sensing (basis pursuit to be exact) to mismatch between the assumed and the actual sparsity bases. Our mathematical analysis and numerical examples show that the performance of basis pursuit degrades considerably in the presence of basis mismatch.
Some effects of ethanol on the disposition of palmitate by intact and adrenalectomized rats.

Summary and conclusionsOur experiments show that adrenalectomized rats oxidize FFA and incorporate FFA into liver lipids as well as the intact rat. In both groups of animals, ethanol increased the content of palmitate-1-C14 in liver lipids at 1 hour and decreased the amount oxidized to CO2. The most marked increase in isotope content of liver lipids occurred in the ADX rats. Among the effects of large doses of ethanol on PL classes was a marked relative increase of palmitate incorporation into the phosphatidylserine fraction of both groups and a corresponding decrease in the amount in phosphatidylcholine. Blood levels of ethanol were higher in adrenalectomized rats than in intact rats.
Serum thyrotropin determinations: comparison of second- and third-generation assays.

Objective: To compare thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH) levels determined by second- and third-generation assays in sera extracted from blood samples withdrawn randomly from 34 subje...
Drug discrimination analysis of ethanol as an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist

Abstract Ethanol has been shown to antagonize N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neurotransmission in a number of in vitro systems. Drug discrimination procedures in rats were used to evaluate ethanol as an antagonist of NMDA discrimination and for its ability to produce discriminative stimulus effects similar to those of competitive and noncompetitive NMDA antagonists. Ethanol (300–1500 mg/kg i.p.) failed to antagonize the stimulus effects of 30 mg/kg NMDA, nor did it substitute fully for either the competitive antagonist NPC 12626 nor the noncompetitive antagonist phencyclidine (PCP). A maximum average of 55.4% PCP-lever responding provided evidence for partial substitution in this model. The effects of ethanol on NMDA discrimination are distinct from those previously reported for competitive NMDA antagonists but similar to those of noncompetitive antagonists. On the other hand, ethanol can be distinguished from both competitive and PCP-like noncompetitive NMDA antagonists using drug discrimination procedures.
A Stream Runs through IT: Using Streaming Video to Teach Information Technology

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report student and faculty perceptions from an introductory management information systems course that uses multimedia, specifically streaming video, as a vehicle for teaching students skills in Microsoft Excel and Access.Design/methodology/approach – Student perceptions are captured via a qualitative survey administered at the end of the course in which a multimedia component is employed. Faculty perceptions are the experiences of the authors who also taught the courses that contained the multimedia component.Findings – Results from the survey indicate that using a multimedia component to convey course material provides benefits to students in the form of greater satisfaction with the learning process, a greater understanding of the material, as well as a reduction in the amount of effort required to complete homework assignments. Furthermore, from an instructor perspective, a marked reduction in visits from students who required additional exposure to previously...
Reduction of Co-Channel Television Interference By Precise Frequency Control of Television Picture Carriers

It is a matter of record that the visibility of co-channel interference has maxima and minima at carrier offset frequencies which are a multiple of frame frequency. Subjective tests were made in the laboratory to determine the possible reduction in the visibility of co-channel interference by precise carrier frequency control and the stability requirements on the carrier frequency. The tests show an improvement of 12 db in the tolerable ratio of desired carrier to undesired carrier for an offset of 10,010 cycles and 18 db for an offset of 20,020 cycles; and that an offset frequency stability of plus or minus five cycles would be adequate. The above offset frequencies are the optimum offsets for a frame frequency of 29.97 cycles; they are even multiples (334 and 668) of frame frequency. For transmissions using a frame frequency of 30 cycles the optimum offsets are 10,020 cycles and 20,040 cycles. The stability requirements on the offset frequencies impose a relative stability on the picture carriers of plus or minus one part per hundred million for the VHF channels.
Interaction of fullerenes with the concave surfaces of perchloroazatriquinacene

Crystal structures of the one-to-one co-crystals of C60·perchloroazatriquinacene and C70·perchloroazatriquinacene show that the rigid, chalice-like azatriquinacene packs between completely ordered fullerene molecules with multiple, close Cl···fullerene contacts.