cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THERMAL, MECHANICAL, AND FRACTURE PROPERTIES OF COPOLYUREAS FORMED BY REACTION INJECTION MOLDING : EFFECTS OF HARD SEGMENT STRUCTURE

A series of copolyureas containing 50% by weight hard segment have been formed by RIM. The hard segment structure was systematically varied to investigate the effects of urea group density, hard segment crosslinking, relative reaction rates, and to compare the properties of aromatic and aliphatic hard segment materials. In each case the soft segment was based on a 2000 molecular weight polyether diamine. The RIM materials formed ranged from flexible elastomers to brittle plastics depending on composition and were characterized by SAXS, DSC, DMA, tensile stress–strain and fracture mechanics studies. SAXS, DSC, and DMA showed that microphase separation had occurred to give materials with a non-equilibrium morphology. DMA and tensile stress–strain studies showed the small strain properties to be very sensitive to the volume fraction of glassy material whereas the ultimate properties were dependent on chemical structure of the hard segment. Fracture properties were determined using the single-edge notch technique. In most cases ductile failure occurred with Gc > 2.5 kJ m−2 and the fracture surfaces showed gross yielding and tearing. In the case of the copolyurea with the highest urea group content, brittle fracture occurred with Gc = 0.06 kJ m−2.
Phase I trial of a Lactobacillus crispatus vaginal suppository for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in women.

Objectives: We performed a phase I trial to assess the safety and tolerance of a Lactobacillus vaginal suppository for prevention of recurrent UTI. Methods: Premenopausal women with a history of recurrent UTI were randomized to use L. crispatus CTV-05 or placebo vaginal suppositories daily for five days. Results: 30 women were randomized (15 to L. crispatus CTV-05). No severe adverse events occurred. Mild to moderate vaginal discharge and genital irritation were reported by women in both study arms. Seven women randomized to L. crispatus CTV-05 developed pyuria without associated symptoms. Most women had high concentrations of vaginal H202-producing lactobacilli before randomization. L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri were the most common Lactobacillus species identified, with stable prevalence over time. Conclusions: L. crispatus CTV-05 can be given as a vaginal suppository with minimal sideeffects to healthy women with a history of recurrent UTI. Mild inflammation of the urinary tract was noted in some women.
House Dust Mite Extracts Activate Cultured Human Dermal Endothelial Cells to Express Adhesion Molecules and Secrete Cytokines

The human skin contacts molecules from house dust mites that are ubiquitous in many environments. These mite-derived molecules may penetrate the skin epidermis and dermis and contact microvascular endothelial cells and influence their function. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of normal human dermal microvascular endothelial cells to extracts of the dust mites, Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and Euroglyphus maynei with and without endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide). Endothelial cells were stimulated with mite extracts and the expression of surface molecules and the secretion of cytokines were measured in the absence and presence of polymyxin B to bind endotoxin. All three mite extracts stimulated endothelial cells to express intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin and to secrete interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Euroglyphus maynei-induced expression of all the cell surface molecules was not inhibited when the endotoxin activity in the mite extract was inhibited. In contrast, endothelial cells challenged with D. farinae or D. pteronyssinus extract depleted of endotoxin activity expressed only constitutive levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin. D. farinae and E. maynei extracts depleted of endotoxin activity still induced secretion of IL-8 and MCP-1 but at reduced levels. Only constitutive amounts of IL-6, G-CSF, and GM-CSF were secreted in response to any of the endotoxin-depleted mite extracts. Extracts of D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and E. maynei contain both endotoxins and other molecules that can stimulate expression of cell adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors and the secretion of cytokines by normal human microvascular endothelial cells.
The Clinical Use of Robots for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Critical Review.

Abstract We examined peer-reviewed studies in order to understand the current status of empirically based evidence on the clinical applications of robots in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Studies are organized into four broad categories: (a) the response of individuals with ASD to robots or robot-like behavior in comparison to human behavior, (b) the use of robots to elicit behaviors, (c) the use of robots to model, teach, and/or practice a skill, and (d) the use of robots to provide feedback on performance. A critical review of the literature revealed that most of the findings are exploratory and have methodological limitations that make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the clinical utility of robots. Finally, we outline the research needed to determine the incremental validity of this technique.
Sensitivity of dual-wall structures under hypervelocity impact to multi-layer thermal insulation thickness and placement

Results are presented from an experimental study in which Al dual-wall structures were tested, under various high-speed impact conditions, with a view to the effect of multilayer insulation thickness and location on perforation resistance. Attention is given to comparisons of the damage sustained by dual-wall systems with multilayer insulation blankets of various thicknesses and at various locations within the dual-wall system, under comparable impact loading conditions. The placement of the insulation has a significant effect on the ballistic limit of the dual-wall structures considered, while reducing insulation thickness by as much as a third did not.
Thermodynamic solution model for trona brines

A thermodynamics solution model has been developed for concentrated trona brines over temperatures ranging from about 0 to 200°C. The model was constructed by regressing on solubility data for the temperature-dependent parameters in Pitzer's activity coefficient model. In addition, the model incorporates published thermochemical data for the solid salts and aqueous species. In some cases it was necessary to estimate solid salt heat capacities, but otherwise no adjustments were made in the thermochemical parameters. With one exception, the model provided an excellent fit to the data. The existence of a high-temperature trona phase reported earlier cannot be reconciled with the model and is believed to be in error. The phase-equilibrium diagram generated by the model appears suitable for design purposes.
THRESHOLD EFFECT IN VISUAL PERCEPTION OF GEOMETRICAL FIGURES

Filtering of the input image has been shown to play a central role in several aspects of visual perception. In our experiments in visual perception of the area of geometrical figures the orientation in random dot patterns, and some visual illusions, we have shown that a threshold effect inferred from the filtering of the input image produces a perceptual error. This error has been explained by using the concept of Image Function. The present paper is a brief review of our experimental results and of the models we have proposed.
Fanconi Anemia pathway heterogeneity revealed by cisplatin and oxaliplatin treatments

Genetic or epigenetic inactivation of the pathway formed by the Fanconi Anemia (FA) proteins occurs in several cancer types, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), rendering the affected tumors potentially hypersensitive to DNA crosslinking agents. However, the cytotoxicity of other commonly used cancer therapeutics in cells with FA pathway defects remains to be defined. Here, we focused on the effects of cisplatin and oxaliplatin in a panel of HNSCC and fibroblast cell lines. We found that FANCC- and FANCD2-mutant cells were unexpectedly more sensitive to platinum drugs than FANCA-mutant cells, and mono-ubiquitination of FANCD2, which is mediated by the FANCA and FANCC containing FA core complex was not required for platinum resistance. Interestingly, platinum hypersensitivity could be dissociated from mitomycin C hypersensitivity suggesting different underlying mechanisms. FANCD2 or RAD51 subnuclear foci were not useful as biomarkers of platinum hypersensitivity of FANCC/FANCD2-mutant cells. Our data add to an emerging body of evidence indicating that the FA pathway is not linear and that several protein subcomplexes with different functions exist. It will be important to establish biomarkers that can predict the sensitivity of tumors with specific FA defects to chemotherapeutic agents.
New challenges in organizational research: high reliability organizations:

This paper describes a multidisciplinary project concerned with the design and management of hazardous organizations that achieve extremely high lev els of reliable and safe operations. The organizations in which the research is being conducted are the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control system, Pacific Gas and Electric Company's electrical distribution system, and two nuclear aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. The paper describes the research strategy and then presents some initial organizational paradoxes and findings. These are discussed in terms of describing the organizations, decision making, interdependence, the "culture" of high reliability and adaptation to technological change. The paper concludes with the admonition that managers in hazardous organizations should consider the cost of safeguards against or ganizational catastrophes versus the costs of catastrophe (in money, lives and public outcry).
Multilayer robust estimation for motion segmentation

In order to recover an accurate representation of a scene containing multiple moving objects, one must use estimation methods that can recover both model parameters and segmentation at the same time. We introduce a new layered model of scene segmentation based on explicitly representing the support of a homogeneous region. Our model employs parallel robust estimation techniques, and uses a minimal-covering optimization to estimate the number of objects in the scene. Using a simple direct motion model of translating objects, we successfully segment real image sequences containing multiple motions.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An investigation for seasonal trends in bovine leukemia virus infection

Monthly incidence rates for the detection of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection were calculated for a 15-month period for cattle over 12 months of age in a 200-cow dairy herd. Detection of BLV infection was based on the presence of persisting antibodies as measured by agar-gel immunodiffusion using the glycoprotein-51 antigen. A non-parametric procedure was used to examine 6-month trends in cumulative monthly incidence rates. Over the 15-month study, 25 heifers were detected as becoming infected with BLV after 12 months of age. No differences were found between the 12 monthly incidence rates (p = 0.77). Cumulative incidence rates between June and September (the fly season) were not higher than those for any other 6-month period (p = 0.29). Similarly, there was no evidence that BLV infection was transmitted during artificial insemination (p = 0.18) or during routine vaccination procedures (p = 1.0). Cumulative rates for a period corresponding to exposure of heifers to the dry herd were excessively high (p = 0.01). These findings suggest that transmission of BLV infection in the cattle studied was associated with close physical contact between susceptible and infected cattle, and not with biting flies, artificial insemination, or vaccination procedures.
Countersuing plaintiffs and their attorneys who have sued for malpractice.

T he Case A 40-year-old Illinois woman underwent a radiographic examination of her right hand because of an injury sustained while playing tennis. The radiologist interpreted the radiographs as showing a dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the fifth finger. without evidence of associated fracture (Fig. I A). An orthopedic surgeon reduced the dislocation and applied a splint. Follow-up radiographs obtained 2 weeks later revealed a small chip fracture arising from the volar surface of the base of the middle phalanx (Fig. 1B). Almost 2 years later, the patient filed a malpractice lawsuit against the radiologist and orthopedic surgeon. claiming that the function of her hand was severely impaired because the fracture of the fifth finger was missed on the initial radiographs. The radiologist retrospectively reviewed the initial radiographs and confirmed that the fracture had not been visible. He then discovered that soon after the original injury the patient had consulted a prominent hand surgeon who had evaluated the patient’s hand and reviewed all radiographs. In a written report to the patient, the specialist had stated that the fracture could not be seen on the original radiographs. treatment would have been the same regardless of whether the fracture had been initially diagnosed. and function was not objectively impaired. The radiologist filed a countersuit against the patient and her attorneys. alleging that they were guilty of willful and wanton misconduct by instituting a malpractice lawsuit without reasonable cause. The plaintiff later withdrew her malpractice lawsuit, but the radiologist’s countersuit proceeded to trial. In a verdict that received much national attention Ill, the jury found in favor of the radiologist and awarded him $20(X) in compensatory damages and $6000 in punitive damages. The patient and her attorneys appealed. and 2
Ascription, attribution, and cognition in the study of experiences deemed religious

There have been two major approaches to the study of ‘religious experience’ in religious studies, which I refer to as the sui generis model and the ascriptive model. The sui generis model assumes, implicitly or explicitly, that there are specifically religious (or mystical or spiritual) experiences, emotions, acts, or objects; the ascriptive model assumes that there are not. I argue that the sui generis model holds little promise in terms of linking the study of religion and brain research, while the ascriptive model, presupposed by attributional theories of religion in social psychology, provides a means of linking the cognitive and cultural approaches to the study of religion. Classical attribution theories of religion [Proudfoot, W., Shaver, P., 1975. Attribution theory and the psychology of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 14(4), 317e330; Spilka, B., Shaver, P., Kirkpatrick, L.A., 1985. A general attribution theory for the psychology of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 24(1), 1e20], however, need to be updated in light of recent work in social cognition and social neuroscience to better understand those experiences that most challenge an attributional model: those that subjects experience as inherently religious. To get at this, we need to distinguish between attributions of causality and ascriptions of qualities; although the former are invariably conscious, something like the latter may take place below the threshold of consciousness. Psychological and neuroscientific research on involuntary experiences, such as dreaming and hallucinations, has the potential to clarify the role of conscious and non-conscious processes in the deeming of things religious. 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Organic nitrogen and caloric content of detritus: I. Utilization by the deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella capitata

The nutritional value of different rations of 32 sources of detritus to macroconsumers was estimated by measuring the growth of the polychaete Capitella capitata as K, i.e. the maximum population density sustained by a given set of environmental factors. Capitella biomass was related to differences in organic nitrogen and available caloric content to the detritus. ‘Available’ caloric content was defined arbitrarily as that portion of total caloric content hydrolized by I N HCl for 6h at 20°C. Multiple regression was used to estimate the relative contribution of organic nitrogen and caloric (both total and available) content to Capitella biomass. When high organic nitrogen rations were included, the caloric content was the primary, and organic nitrogen content a significant secondary predictor variable of food composition to Capitella biomass. Below a nitrogen ration of 100 mg N m−2 day−1, in the range of sedimentation rates reported in the literature, nitrogen was more important but the low available caloric content of detritus derived from vascular plants still affected Capitella biomass. The total caloric content never was significant in the regression. Because many detrital sources are low in nitrogen, workers in the past have emphasized the role of protein enrichment by microbes in detrital aging to eventual detrital availability to macroconsumers; our data suggest that factors regulating the availability of detritus to organic macroconsumers depends on detrital source: the availability of detritus derived from vascular plants that contain a high percent of unavailable energy depends on microbial decomposition and protein enrichment; in contrast detritus derived from seaweeds already high in nitrogen and available energy might be utilized directly.
Loss of bioreactivity and preservation of immunoreactivity of iodothyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Radioiodinated TRH binds to antibodies raised against noniodinated TRH and it has been suggested but not proven that iodo-TRH may possess biological activity. To test the properties of iodo-TRH, the hormone was iodinated with variable amounts of both stable (127I) and radioactive (125I or 131I) iodide using chloramine-T. Depending upon the molar ratio of TRH to I, various proportions of diiodinated TRH (peak I) and monoiodinated TRH (peak II) could be synthesized. Separation of iodo-TRH (peak II) from TRH could be achieved by elution of multiple small fractions from Sephadex G-10 column. The position of TRH was identified by Pauly's reagent. The mean partition coefficients (Kav) ± SD were: TRH = 0.31 ± 0.05; iodo-TRH (peak II) = 0.75 ± 0.09; and iodide = 2.02 ± 0.03. After repurification, iodo-TRH devoid of noniodinated TRH could be prepared. [125I]- and [131I]TRH, bound to TRH antibodies, and 95–105% of the iodinated TRH still reacted with anti-TRH serum after incubation for 3 h at 37 C with fresh normal...
The Sociological Study of Values

Fifty years ago, Robin M. Williams Jr. described eight notable changes in U.S. sociology, one of which was the "widespread diffusion of a relatively clear and sophisticated conception of the place of values in sociological study, as an object of research, as a factor in behavior, and as an element to be controlled in the prosecution of research" (Williams, 1958:621). In this essay, I ask what has become of that rising interest in the sociological study of values? I follow three distinct trajectories of sociological research on values, briefly describing the contributions of each, and identifying several lines of inquiry that strike me as particularly important and promising for the future.
Magnetism in Amorphous Fe-Pd-P Alloys

Amorphous alloys of composition ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}{\mathrm{Pd}}_{80\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{P}}_{20}$ ($13\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}44$) have been prepared by rapid quenching from the liquid state. The M\"ossbauer effect in ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ has been used to study the magnetic properties of these materials. The hyperfine field distribution has been determined from these experiments, as a function of composition and temperature. The results indicate that the electronic state of Fe in these alloys remains essentially constant throughout the composition range, and that the Pd $d$ band is filled by electron transfer from phosphorus. The variation of the magnetic transition temperature with composition has been determined by combining the M\"ossbauer-effect results with complementary magnetic measurements. There is a sharp change in slope in this curve at $x\ensuremath{\simeq}26$. Below this concentration, the long-range magnetic order which prevails in the higher-Fe-concentration alloys breaks down, giving rise to a more local ordering. The M\"ossbauer-effect results confirm the existence of weakly coupled Fe atoms in all the amorphous Fe-Pd-P alloys. These atoms reside in low effective fields, and can participate in the spin-flip-scattering process which produces a Kondo effect (resistivity minimum). The large critical concentration observed is also an indication that the spin correlations are greatly reduced in these amorphous alloys.
Pd/TiO2 Nanofibrous Membranes and Their Application in Hydrogen Sensing

Pd nanofibers were successfully fabricated using the electrospun TiO2 nanofibers as templates through a simple electroless plating method. The effect of electroless plating parameters on Pd deposition was investigated, and the optimum conditions were determined in terms of the best morphology and integrity of the deposited palladium. The as-prepared membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. By controlling the electroless plating time, continuous Pd-layer coated or dense Pd nanoparticle decorated nanofibers have been obtained. The as-prepared Pd/TiO2 nanofibrous membranes show good mechanical and conductive properties, offering an excellent sensing platform. Their application for hydrogen detection is demonstrated, and the developed hydrogen sensor exhibits fast response, excellent recovery behavior, and good sensitivity. Two different hydrogen sensing mechanisms were realized i...
Gene self-control: when pre-mRNA splicing variants become competing endogenous RNAs.

Since Richard J. Roberts and Phillip A. Sharp discovered split genes (genes are interrupted by RNA-encoding regions called exons and non-coding segments called introns in eukaryotic genome) in 1970's, scientists have been finding many genes can generate more than one mRNA transcripts through AS (alternative splicing, e.g., by different exon-exon combination). This AS strategy increases protein repertoire, encodes proteins with diverse and sometimes even antagonistic activities (Kelemen et al., 2013). A new study led by Dr. Kazuhito Tomizawa and first author Bo Zhou from Kumamoto University in Japan reports that CDKAL1-v1 (Cdk5 Regulator Subunit Associated Protein 1-Like), one splicing variant of CDKAL1, has no coding ability but acts as a miRNA sponge RNA, which regulates its full-length CDKAL1 protein (Zhou et al., 2014). Their results give us a unique paradigm of how AS possesses a regulatory role in controlling gene expression.
Meeting the Challenge of Change

Although the largest improvements in the health of the public are likely to come from changing the social and behavioral conditions that influence morbidity, mortality, and functioning, public health training continues to focus more on how to bring about individual behavioral change than how to change larger social conditions and factors. A search of the on-line course catalogs of the 10 leading public health schools reveals that only 1 offers the “trifecta” of courses devoted to policy advocacy, media advocacy, and community organizing, respectively. To meet the challenge of creating large-scale change, public health schools need to do a better job of equipping our students with theoretical and practical tools in these three areas.
Transience and constancy of interactions in a plant‐frugivore network

Plant-animal mutualistic interactions such as frugivory and seed dispersal display great variation in time due to fluctuations in fruit abundance, animal abundance, and behavior. In particular, some species participate in interactions with other species only transiently, while other species are active for longer periods of time. Species with a longer period of activity are able to interact with more species, and thus engage in constant participation in an interaction network. Species with high constancy would thus be expected to help maintain the biodiversity of a community; however, the manner in which constant species link to their partners may be critical to species coexistence. Because species that interact with many partners concurrently could create more competition compared to those species that interact sequentially with many partners, evaluating the concurrence in an interaction network sheds light on how the network can maintain biodiversity. In this study, we investigate how phenological patterns of fruit production and frugivore presence affect the temporal variation of a plant-frugivore network, and focus on the manner in which high degree species collect their interactions over time. We found a clear separation of activity periods: most species appeared only briefly and participated in relatively few interactions, or showed activity for longer time periods and participated in more interactions. Species that were active for longer time periods often shifted interactions, resulting in a sequential collection of their partners in time, rather than concurrence. For the seed dispersal mutualism in particular, sequential accumulation of partners may allow plant species more opportunities to disperse their seeds compared to concurrence. We suggest that for temporally and spatially heterogeneous landscapes, sequential accumulation of partners would serve to reduce competition and facilitate coexistence of species.
Lateral force calibration: accurate procedures for colloidal probe friction measurements in atomic force microscopy.

The colloidal probe technique for atomic force microscopy (AFM) has allowed the investigation of an extensive range of surface force phenomena, including the measurement of frictional (lateral) for...
Low-profile wearable UHF antenna for portable radios and radar applications

A low profile, electrically small wideband array antenna suitable for the portable radio and radar applications has been developed. The availability of low-loss high-permittivity ceramic materials ensures that the antenna element can be designed to cover lower UHF band in 300–1000 MHz, with only about tenth of the longest wavelength in length, while providing very stable radiation characteristics. The eight-element linear array has been tested over the same frequency range, which includes a multi-function box to conduct SAR imaging or implement beamforming. The antenna element can be inserted into the manpack or integrated with the tactical vest for personal radios or short-range radars.
Using Focus Groups in Community-Based Participatory Research: Challenges and Resolutions

A community-based participatory approach requires that community members be involved in all phases of the research process. We describe three focus group studies with American Indians in Kansas and Missouri, using a newly developed method of conducting and analyzing focus groups with community input (72 focus groups, 519 participants). We conducted two needs assessment studies focused on barriers to breast and colorectal cancer screening and one study focused on Internet use for gathering health information. Community members and researchers collaborated to develop guides for the focus group moderators. Community organizations and our community advisory board conducted recruitment, and we trained and employed community members as moderators, assistant moderators, and analysts. Our community partners also helped with dissemination of research findings to their constituents. The methodologic approach and data from these three studies will allow us to more appropriately address health disparities in the American Indian community, with full community support for our research.
Personality: Current Controversies, Issues, and Directions

INTRODUCTION .... . . .. ......... . . . ......... . . ......... ........ . . . CURRENT CONTROVERSIES AND ISSUES . The Person-Situation Controversy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Information-Processing Models and Personality """'''''' ''''' ' ' ' ' '''' ' ' ' ' ' '''''' ' ' ' ' '''' Research Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BRUSH STROKES OF THE LITERATURE .. . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . .... . . . .. . . .. . . . . .
Mechanistic Assessment of PD-1H Coinhibitory Receptor–Induced T Cell Tolerance to Allogeneic Antigens

PD-1H is a recently identified cell surface coinhibitory molecule of the B7/CD28 immune modulatory gene family. We showed previously that single injection of a PD-1H agonistic mAb protected mice from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this study, we report two distinct mechanisms operate in PD-1H–induced T cell tolerance. First, signaling via PD-1H coinhibitory receptor potently arrests alloreactive donor T cells from activation and expansion in the initiation phase. Second, donor regulatory T cells are subsequently expanded to maintain long-term tolerance and GVHD suppression. Our study reveals the crucial function of PD-1H as a coinhibitory receptor on alloreactive T cells and its function in the regulation of T cell tolerance. Therefore, PD-1H may be a target for the modulation of alloreactive T cells in GVHD and transplantation.
A backprojection filtering algorithm for a spatially varying focal length collimator

Fan-beam collimators are used in single photon emission computed tomography to improve the sensitivity for imaging of small organs. The disadvantage of fan-beam collimation is the truncation of projection data surrounding the organ of interest or, in those cases of imaging large patients, of the organ itself producing reconstruction artifacts. A spatially varying focal length fan-beam collimator has been proposed to eliminate the truncation problem and to maintain good sensitivity for the organ of interest. The collimator is constricted so that the focal lengths of the holes vary across the face of the collimator with the shortest focal lengths at the center and the longer focal lengths at the periphery of the collimator. The variation of the focal length can have various functional forms but in the authors' work it is assumed to increase monotonically toward the edge of the collimator. A backprojection filtering reconstruction algorithm is derived for this type of collimation. The algorithm first backprojects the projections, then performs a two-dimensional filtering. The algorithm is efficient and has been tested via computer simulations. >
A state-constrained vehicle-follower approach to the station-egress problem

Vehicle following represents one approach to the longitudinal control of vehicles in an automated guideway transit (AGT) system. Requirements for the use of such control for the merging of a vehicle from an off-line station into a mainline vehicle stream are discussed. Recently, a technique has been developed that incorporates state-variable constraints into the control law of a vehicle-follower controller. A successful application of this technique to the station-egress problem has been formulated which safely merges the egressing vehicle between two vehicles initially operating at minimum headway on the mainline. It is demonstrated that for short headway operations of approximately three seconds or less, the finite length of station ramps introduces to the developed control laws an additional constraint, which must be implemented to assure safe operations. Finally, design trade-offs are shown to exist between the egress ramp lengths and the relative disturbances to mainline traffic as a result of station-egress maneuvers.
Modelling the early detection of breast cancer

A mathematical model was developed to predict the outcome of early detection clinical trials or programs targeted at evaluating mortality benefit from earlier diagnosis of breast cancer. The model was applied to eight randomized breast cancer trials, which were carried out to evaluate the benefits of mammography, physical examination or their combination. The model assumes that breast cancer is a progressive disease and any mortality benefit from earlier diagnosis is generated from a favorable shift in the stage at diagnosis relative to usual care. The model predicted the reduction in mortality for seven of the eight trials within the reported confidence intervals. Input data required by the models are: stage shift distribution, examination schedules, population age distribution, follow up time, and survival conditional on stage at diagnosis. Survival distributions were obtained from the 1973-82 SEER database whereas the remaining data was obtained for each of the trials. Information on sensitivity and stage was ordinarily available during the early phase of the trials. The theoretical model has the promise of being able to predict the long-term outcome of early detection trials or programs during the initial examination phase. The theoretical model is general and may be applied to other chronic diseases, which satisfy the basic assumptions.
Multicarrier modulation with blind detection capability using cosine modulated filter banks

The cosine modulated filter bank (CMFB) is introduced as a multicarrier modulation (MCM) technique for wideband data transmission over wireless channels. Under the name discrete wavelet multitone modulation, CMFB has been considered for data transmission over digital subscriber lines. We propose a new receiver structure that is different from those proposed previously. The new structure simplifies the task of channel equalization, by reducing the number of equalizer parameters significantly. We also propose a novel blind equalization algorithm that fits very nicely in the proposed structure. Moreover, we discuss the bandwidth efficiency of the proposed CMFB-MCM system and show that it is superior to the conventional (single carrier) quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). The CMFB is found to be a signal processing block that stacks a number of vestigial sideband modulated signals in a number of overlapping subchannels in the most efficient way. The proposed CMFB-MCM is also compared to OFDM with respect to bit-error rate performance. Under the conditions that the channel impulse response duration remains less than the length of cyclic prefix, OFDM is found marginally superior to CMFB-MCM. However, OFDM degrades very fast when the channel impulse response duration exceeds the length of the cyclic prefix. CMFB-MCM, on the other hand, is found less sensitive to variations in channel impulse response duration.
Culture and Personality: Toward an Integrated Cultural Trait Psychology

Two theoretical perspectives currently dominate research on culture and personality, the cross-cultural trait psychology approach, in which the trait concept is central, and the cultural psychology approach, in which the trait concept is questioned. Here I review theory and research from both perspectives and propose that the tenets of cultural psychology, at least in their more moderate forms, can be synthesized with the trait psychology approach, resulting in an integrated cultural trait psychology perspective.
A Cautionary Tale: Small Sample Size Concerns for Grouped Lifetime Data

This article evaluates small sample properties of Maximum likelihood estimation for grouped data.
Racial and ethnic differences in drug treatment entry of injection drug users in Massachusetts

This article examines patterns of drug treatment entry among 28,000 adult injection drug users (IDUs), with special attention to racial and ethnic differences. The data analyzed originates from a statewide drug-treatment database covering four years. Through the use of logistic regression analysis, the study identified significant population differences between those who used detoxification only, those who used residential treatment and those who used methadone maintenance. Latino IDUs were approximately a third less likely than Caucasian IDUs to enter residential treatment and African American IDUs were half as likely as Caucasian IDUs to enter methadone maintenance treatment. This article discusses specific programmatic and research implications including the need to determine whether differential entry rates are due to access, client awareness, cultural, referral or other factors.
A Novel Infrared Proximity Array Sensor for 3D Visual Sensing: Modeling and Applications

In this paper, we propose a novel 3D vision sensor, namely Infrared Proximity Array (IPA), capable of detecting position and orientation of components or devices for automation and robotics applications. The IPA sensor utilizes infrared sensor technology to create 3D geometry of sensed objects. Unlike a stereo vision type sensor, it is essentially useful when calibration is a big issue. For instance, a stereo vision based multi-camera system requires submicron level accuracy in device calibration to accurately measure the position of micro parts and devices. Among many areas of applications, therefore, the IPA is most suitable for a micro-robotic workcell that is composed of a 3D realtime visual feedback sensor and a multiple degree of freedom (DOF) manipulator capable of handling 10 to 100 micron parts. Other application areas include 2D proximity sensing or 3D object recognition. Our focus of study in this paper is to demonstrate massive sensor array modeling technique and investigate the feasibility of IPA sensor implementation to robotic application and micro fabrication technology.
Three-dimensional direct particle simulation on the Connection Machine

This paper presents the algorithms necessary for an efficient data parallel implementation of a 3D particle simulation. In particular, a general master/slave algorithm and a fast sorting algorithm are described and the use of these algorithms in a particle simulation is outlined. A particle simulation using these algorithms has been implemented on a 32768 processor Connection Machine that is capable of simulating over 30 million particles at an average rate of 2.4-microsec/particle/step. Results are presented from the simulation of flow over an Aeroassisted Flight Experiment geometry at 100 km altitude.
RuleBase: an industry-oriented formal verification tool

RuleBase is a formal verification tool, developed by the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory. It is the result of three years of experience in practical formal verification of hardware which, we believe, has been a key factor in bringing the tool to its current level of maturity. We present the tool, including several unique features, and summarize our usage experience.
Interactions of Tetrahymena pyriformis, Escherichia coli, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Glucose in a Minimal Medium

A study was made of the food web formed from a protozoon, two bacteria, and a glucose minimal medium in chemostat culture. The system was also divided into simpler parts, first by omitting the protozoon to obtain a competition system, and then by omitting one or the other of the bacteria to obtain two food chains. In the competition studies, one bacterium was displaced by the other at all holding times used. In the food chain studies, sustained oscillations of the population densities of predator and prey developed at short holding times, and then changed to damped oscillations at longer holding times. In addition, the level of residual glucose remained high at long holding times. A new model of microbial growth is necessary to explain these results. In the food web studies, predation of the protozoon on the two bacteria stabilized the competition between the latter and allowed their coexistence in the same habitat. Thus, Gause9s principle was circumvented.
Changes in Technology Use in California's Special Education Programs

AbstractThis study investigated changes in technology use in california's special education programs between the late 1980s and mid-1990s. two groups representing districts that participated in an earlier study were surveyed: special education administrators (n = 149) and special educators who routinely use technology in instruction (n = 189). Results suggest that computers and other technologies are more available today and used more often by administrators, teachers, and students with disabilities. Students are more likely to have technology goals on their individualized education programs, interact with technology in general education settings, and use computers as tools rather than for drill-and-practice. Administrators and teachers remain enthusiastic about technology's benefits. However, although technologies used in school programs have become more sophisticated and more plentiful, barriers to full implementation still exist.
A Disclosure Decision Model: Determining How and When Individuals Will Self-Disclose

Different lines of research have explored many aspects of self-disclosure, yet there are few broad, connecting principles that can be used to describe this behavior. A Disclosure Decision model is introduced that specifies a cognitive process resulting in decisions that affect the content, depth, breadth, and duration of self-disclosure. One of 5 possible disclosure goals must be made accessible. Disclosure must be selected as a strategy for reaching that goal, and a disclosure target must be selected. Potential disclosers then evaluate the subjective utility and the subjective risk of disclosing. The subjective utility of disclosing is hypothesized to decrease breadth and increase duration of disclosure. Subjective risk is hypothesized to decrease depth of disclosure. The Disclosure Decision model is designed to provide a framework for studying and predicting self-disclosure across situations.
Hydrocolloid-based nutraceutical delivery systems

Nutraceuticals are important due to their inherent health benefits. However, utilization and consumption are limited by their poor water solubility and instability at normal processing and storage conditions. Herein, we propose an elegant and novel approach for the delivery of nutraceuticals in their active form using hydrocolloid matrices that are inexpensive and non-toxic with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. Iota-carrageenan and curcumin have been chosen as models of hydrocolloid and nutraceutical compounds, respectively. The iota-carrageenan network maintains a stable organization after encapsulating curcumin molecules, protects them from melting and then releases them in a sustained manner. These findings lay a strong foundation for developing value-added functional and medicinal foods.
DNA Fingerprinting of Clones and Hybrids of American Elm and Other Elm Species with AFLP Markers

The elms represent a diverse group of widely distributed temperate trees that are valued for forest products as well as landscape plants. Genetic diversity was examined among 43 Ulmus accessions, including 19 accessions of American elm and representatives of seven other species. Data from 135 markers from five AFLP primer pairs were used to estimate genetic similarity among accessions and to construct a UPGMA -derived dendrogram. While the species clusters were generally well-resolved, the relationships among clones and hybrids of American elm were less distinct. Our data provides some evidence to support the hybrid origin of two previously unverified U. parvifolia x U. americana clones, and provides evidence that the new clone N3487 (‘Jefferson’), an elm whose origin has been questioned, is an American elm.
Comparison of psychologic outcome in adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia versus sibling controls: a cooperative Children's Cancer Group and National Institutes of Health study.

PURPOSETo determine psychologic outcome, with the focus on emotional or mood state, of young adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared with sibling controls and to identify vulnerable subgroups at highest risk for negative mood.PATIENTS AND METHODSAdult survivors (n = 580), aged > or = 18 years, who were treated before age 20 years on Children's Cancer Group (CCG) protocols for ALL and 396 sibling controls were administered a structured telephone interview and the Profile of Moods State (POMS), a standardized measure of affective state.RESULTSSurvivors had higher total mood scores (which indicates greater negative mood) than sibling controls (P<.01) and reported more tension (P< .01), depression (P<.01), anger (P<.01), and confusion (P<.01), but not more fatigue or less vigor. Female, minority, and unemployed survivors reported the highest total mood disturbance. Overall, survivors were more likely to be unemployed (P<.05) or working less than half-time (P<.01) compared with...
Formation Mechanism and Size Control in One-Pot Synthesis of Mercapto-Silica Colloidal Spheres

Mercapto-silica spheres with controllable size from ∼150 nm to ∼3.5 μm and narrow size distribution have been prepared in water using a one-pot synthesis, in which 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) was used as the sole silica source and ammonia as the base catalyst. The hydrolysis of MPS at the early stage of the reaction produces amphiphilic silicate species which initiate the self-emulsification of the system and lead to the formation of oil-in-water emulsion droplets. Further hydrolysis and condensation promote the nucleation and growth of the mercapto-silica spheres inside the emulsion droplets. These mercapto-silica spheres are both structurally and functionally different from typical silica particles prepared from silicon alkoxides. Understanding the formation mechanism allows systematic tuning of the size of mercapto-silica spheres in a wide range by changing the amount of precursor, the concentration of ammonia, the amount of additional surfactants, and the reaction time. We find that Ostwald...